Cup of Coffee: Story, Anthony power WooSox in slugfest; Duffy dominates as Salem is eliminated

9/6 Cup of Coffee: It was a split on Thursday night while the major league squad had the night off. Worcester and Portland had good nights in their respective playoff pushes, despite very different approaches. The WooSox banged out 19 hits and got significant help from MLB rehabbers Trevor Story and Liam Hendricks as well as top prospect Roman Anthony. Portland needed only four knocks to slide back into first place. Matt Duffy (pictured) struck out 10 in five shutout innings for Salem, but an extra-inning loss knocked the Sox out of playoff contention in the Carolina League. Greenville, also out of contention, took its eighth loss in nine games.

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It was a wild evening in Rochester as the two teams combined for 23 runs and 32 hits. Trevor Story indicated he may indeed be close to a major league return with a monster day at the plate, going 4 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Perhaps more importantly, Story played shortstop for a second consecutive day, a key test in his rehab. Roman Anthony scored three runs out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with a pair of walks and a stolen base. Kristian Campbell hit yet another home run, a three-run blast in the sixth inning. Bobby Dalbec also went deep, capping off a four-hit effort. Tyler Heineman was 2 for 4 with a walk and a solo blast. 

Jason Alexander turned in a solid start, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk. Liam Hendriks gave up one hit in a scoreless sixth inning as he continues his rehab from last year's Tommy John Surgery. The Red Wings mounted a major comeback, pulling to within two runs after having been down 12-0, but Wyatt Olds slammed the door with a perfect ninth, striking out all three batters he faced. 

With the win, Worcester moves into a three-way tie for second place in the second-half standings, joining Indianapolis and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre four games behind first-place Columbus.

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It was a very different type of contest in New Hampshire, as Portland needed only four hits to reclaim first place. The Sea Dogs took advantage of some sloppy Fisher Cat play in the seventh as two walks, a hit batsman, and an error led to three scores. Elih Marrero singled and drew a pair of walks, including the one at the center of the rally. Following his free pass to load the bases, Max Ferguson grounded what looked to be an inning-ending 5-3 double play. But the throw sailed past the first baseman, allowing Marrero to score. 

On the mound, Juan Daniel Encarnacion turned his best performance since his midseason promotion to Double-A, giving up two hits across four scoreless innings, striking out two, and walking one. Jacob Webb got credit for his 10th win of the season, going 2 1/3 hitless innings and surrendering one run as he walked two and struck out three. Alex Hoppe struck out three as he allowed one run in two innings, and Reidis Sena got the final two outs of the contest to pick up the save.

The win, combined with a loss by Somerset, moves the Sea Dogs back into the division lead. Portland holds a 1/2-game advantage with nine games remaining on the schedule. 

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The Drive held an early 3-1 advantage, but the Dash clawed their way to the come-from-behind win. Bryan Gonzalez and Miguel Ugueto hit back-to-back solo homers in the second to give the Drive the lead. Both players had two hits on the night, as did the recently promoted Fraymi De Leon. Justin Riemer had a single, walk, and stole a pair of bases. Dalton Rogers turned in a strong start, allowing just one unearned run on six hits in five innings, walking three against three strikeouts. Isaac Stebens went 1 1/3 and surrendered one run, taking the loss. 

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Matt Duffy turned in a dominant start, but the bullpen struggled in the 10th inning to officially eliminate Salem from playoff contention. Duffy scattered four hits across five scoreless innings, striking out 10 of the 19 batters he faced without issuing a walk. It was a tough loss for Trennor O'Donnell, who went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs in the seventh and another three in the 10th. Caden Rose led the way at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two doubles, a walk, and a run scored. Daniel McElveny and Andruw Musett had two hits apiece. 

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Player of the Day: It was a tough way for the Salem playoff hopes to end, but it was no less an impressive performance by Matt Duffy. The 2023 fourth-round pick out of Buffalo's Canisius College went five scoreless to finish the season with a 2.83 ERA and an even 100 strikeouts across 98 2/3 innings. The ERA is the second-best mark in the organization among players with at least 80 innings, behind only Elmer Rodriguez. Duffy is currently holding the 60th slot in the SoxProspects.com rankings.