Cup of Coffee: Rodriguez dominates for Salem; Mayer, Gonzalez put power on display

Seven members of Worcester's starting lineup enjoyed multi-hit performances in Sunday's rain-shortened win over Scranton. Chase Meidroth led the way by going 5 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Matthew Lugo went 3 for 4 with a two-run double, three runs scored, and one walk. Bobby Dalbec and Mark Contreras each went 3 for 5, with the former collecting two RBIs and the latter clubbing a two-run homer for his eighth big fly of the year. Tyler Heineman also crushed a two-run shot as part of a 2 for 5 afternoon. Mickey Gasper drove in a team-high five runs in the process of going 2 for 5 while Nathan Hickey went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Grant Gambrell got the start on the mound and allowed three earned runs on six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Brad Keller took over out of the bullpen and surrendered two additional runs across 2 1/3 innings in his first appearance since being optioned last week. Joely Rodriguez contributed by retiring the only three batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh. The game was then called in the top of the eighth due to additional rain.

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Hunter Dobbins improved to 5-2 on the season with another solid start for Portland. The righty allowed just one earned run on four hits, two walks, and one hit batsman with six strikeouts over six innings. He finished with 87 pitches (56 strikes) and induced nine swings-and-misses. Brendan Cellucci, celebrating his 26th birthday, and Caleb Bolden combined to strike out four more across three scoreless frames of relief.

Marcelo Mayer homered for the seventh time this season as part of a 2 for 4 day at the plate in which he drove in an additional run on an RBI single. Kyle Teel and Tyler McDonough each recorded two RBIs as well, though McDonough stroked three hits (including a double) in the process of doing so. Kristian Campbell, meanwhile, went 1 for 3 with one RBI, one run scored, one walk, and one stolen base. He was also hit by a pitch.

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This game was shortened to seven innings as a result of a rain delay that lasted just over two hours. Connelly Early got the start for Greenville and went four-plus innings, yielding two earned runs on six hits, two walks, one hit batsman, and seven strikeouts. Adam Smith and Nathan Landry combined to give up nine runs (eight earned) out of the bullpen. Bryan Gonzalez did most of the damage offensively by going 2 for 3 with a pair of home runs (and three RBIs) to bring his season total up to 15. Cutter Coffey went 1 for 3 with an RBI double. Mikey Romero also went 1 for 3 but had to be helped off the field after taking a pitch off his right foot/shin in the bottom of the seventh.

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Elmer Rodriguez was the tough-luck loser for Salem on Sunday despite spinning a gem. The righty allowed just one unearned run on three hits and zero walks with nine strikeouts over a season-high six innings. He threw 70 pitches (52 strikes) and elicited 17 swings-and-misses. On the flip side, Albert Feliz accounted for his side's lone run when he cranked a solo shot in the eighth inning for his seventh homer of the season.

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Player of the Day: Elmer Rodriguez wrapped up his month of June by putting together his best start of the season to date. Including Sunday's stellar performance, the 20-year-old Puerto Rican posted a 0.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts to four walks in four June outings (20 innings) for Salem in which opponents batted .155 against him. He is currently ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the organization and is seemingly inching closer to a promotion to Greenville.