Cup of Coffee: Alvarez goes 5 for 5, Dean takes no-hitter into sixth inning
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Eddy Alvarez led the way offensively by going 5 for 5 with one double, one solo home run, and three runs scored. Niko Kavadas went 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI singles. Both Tyler Heineman and Mark Contreras homered for their only hits of the night. Despite going hitless, Nick Yorke drew two walks, scored one run, and stole one base. On the mound, Jason Alexander got the start and allowed three earned runs on four hits, one walk, and one hit batter while striking out four over five innings. All three runs came in on a homer from old friend Pablo Reyes in the bottom of the first. In relief of Alexander, Sal Romano and Cam Booser combined to surrender five additional runs out of the bullpen.
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Fresh off being named Eastern League Player of the Month for June, Kristian Campbell stayed hot for Portland by going 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Tyler McDonough went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Both Kyle Teel and Karson Simas recorded doubles as well. Alex Binelas, meanwhile, had the biggest hit of the night in the form of a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the seventh inning. It was Binelas' first big fly since returning from the injured list on June 29.
Juan Encarnacion got the start for the Sea Dogs and allowed four earned runs on five hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and three strikeouts over four innings. Despite issuing six walks, Brendan Cellucci only gave up one run across 2 2/3 innings after taking over for Encarnacion out of the bullpen. Alex Hoppe then fanned five of the eight batters he faced over 2 1/3 scoreless frames to close it out and earn the win.
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David Sandlin went three innings in his start for Greenville, allowing two earned runs on three hits, zero walks, and five strikeouts. The righty retired the final five batters he faced after giving up a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. In relief of Sandlin, Jedixson Paez, and Jeremy Wu-Yelland combined for seven more punchouts over six scoreless frames. At the plate, Ahbram Liendo, Juan Chacon, and Eduardo Lopez each had two hits. Liendo went 2 for 5 with one run scored, Chacon went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, and Lopez went 2 for 3 with a double, a triple, a walk, and one run scored. Miguel Bleis and Bryan Gonzalez each had doubles as well while Allan Castro and Enderso Lira both drove in runs.
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Noah Dean was solid yet again in his start for Salem. The lefty allowed two runs (one earned) on zero hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and seven strikeouts over five-plus innings. Both of those runs scored after he had already been pulled. Marvin Alcantara paced the Red Sox lineup by going 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Andy Lugo went 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI doubles and one run scored. Freili Encarnacion also doubled and scored a run while Natanael Yuten recorded an RBI triple. Albert Feliz drew a walk and cranked a solo shot for his eighth home run of the season.
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Player of the Day: Coming off an impressive June, Noah Dean got his July off to an encouraging start on Wednesday. The 23-year-old southpaw has now gone five or more innings without giving up a hit in three of his 13 outings for Salem this season.
Photo Credit: Noah Dean by Kelly O'Connor