Cup of Coffee: Gonzalez sharp as Sea Dogs hold division lead; DSL Red nears title

8/30 Cup of Coffee: It was a day of strong pitching performances across the system. Portland and Salem both delivered combined shutouts featuring Wikelman Gonzalez (pictured) and Matt Duffy, respectively. Worcester fell despite a strong outing by Jason Alexander, while Greenville dropped its third straight. Down in the Dominican, the DSL Red Sox Red are rolling through the playoffs and are now standing just one win away from the league championship.

-----

Worcester managed only five hits as Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Kyle Teel each got the night off. Jason Alexander did his part, allowing one run on three hits in five innings, striking out six against one strikeout. Cam Booser was sharp as he started his rehab assignment, allowing a quick leadoff single before striking out the next three batters. He threw 16 pitches in his inning of work, 13 for strikes. The loss went to Zach Penrod, who came on for the eighth and walked two of the four batters he faced. Both of those baserunners came on to score on a home run off of Yohan Ramirez. All of the five Worcester hits were singles, including one by Chase Meidroth, who maintains a commanding lead in the International League on-base percentage race with a .451 mark. 

The loss, only Worcester's second in its last 12 games, combined with a win by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, drops the WooSox a 1/2 game out of first place in the East Division. 

-----

It was a dominant all-around effort by the Sea Dogs, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Jacob Webb served as the opener, striking out three and allowing two hits in two scoreless frames before giving way to Wikelman Gonzalez. Gonzalez continued his re-emergent second half, giving up just one hit across five frames, striking out five while walking one. Zach Bryant closed things out with two shutout innings. Mikey Romero led the way at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. The 2022 first-round pick has hit safely in each of his three games since being promoted to Portland. Jhostynxon Garcia was 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI, while Alex Binelas blasted an insurance two-run homer in the eighth. 

The win helped Portland maintain its 1 1/2 game lead in the Eastern League Northeast Division as Somerset (NYY) won its fifth straight. 

-----

Greenville squandered a 4-1 lead as Bowling Green used a five-run sixth inning to win its third straight game of the series. Tyler Uberstine was first out of the gate for Greenville as he made his second appearance in his comeback from last year's Tommy John surgery. Uberstine went 1 1/3 scoreless, giving up two hits and striking out two. Hayden Mullins followed in a bulk role, cruising through the fifth inning but running into trouble in the sixth. He gave up a leadoff home run followed by three singles, with all three runners coming on to score on a grand slam surrendered by Jeremy Wu-Yelland. Overall, Mullins allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings, getting saddled with the loss. Miguel Bleis was responsible for the bulk of Greenville's scoring, hitting a two-run homer in the third followed by a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Justin Riemer was 2 for 4 with a run scored and the other Greenville RBI. 

The series has significantly damaged Greenville's playoff hopes. Entering the series just 1 1/2 games behind Bowling Green in the South Division, the Drive now trail the Hot Rods by 4 1/2 with just nine games remaining. 

-----

A trio of Salem hurlers combined for the six-hit shutout while the lineup overcame 17 strikeouts. Matt Duffy was sharp in his start, scattering two hits across 4 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one, lowering his ERA to 2.98 on the year. Conor Steinbaugh got credit for his sixth win of the season, giving up just one hit, striking out three, and walking one in 2 2/3 shutout frames. Luis Talavera got the save with two innings of relief. Franklin Arias was a catalyst out of Salem's leadoff spot, going 2 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Marvin Alcantara and Kelvin Diaz added a double apiece. 

The win moves Salem within two games of first-place Fredericksburg (WAS) in the North Division standings, with Carolina (MIL) positioned in between at a 1/2-game out. 

-----

Team Red's undefeated run through the DSL playoffs continued, this time with an assist from Mother Nature as the game was called due to rain in the sixth inning. Dalvinson Reyes was excellent in his start, spinning three scoreless innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits, and striking out three without issuing a walk.  Yermain Ruiz went the final two scoreless innings to get his second win of the postseason. Catcher Jorge Rodriguez has been a hero in the postseason and he continued that on Thursday with what proved to be a decisive two-run homer in the second inning. Alexander Fermin had a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot, and Justin Gonzales had a single and a walk. 

The Red squad will have a chance to clinch the championship on Friday in the second game of the best-of-three series. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00am. 

-----

Player of the Day: Through his first 10 starts of the season, Wikelman Gonzalez had scuffled to an unsightly 8.00 ERA, struggling badly with his control with 26 walks and nine hit batsmen in 36 innings. He was moved the bullpen for a reset on June 15 and has been dominant ever since. In 38 2/3 innings across 12 outings, he has a 1.86 ERA and has allowed opponents a punchless .154/.250/.215 slash line. Thursday's effort was his third straight scoreless appearance, with 15 strikeouts and only three hits allowed over 14 innings. The right-hander is currently the 21st-ranked prospect in the system.