Cup of Coffee: Aita flirts with perfection, Anderson stays hot with homer in Salem
0
4
5/2 Cup of Coffee: Boston's affiliates went 4-1 on Thursday to kick off the month of May. Shane Drohan struck out seven while the rehabbing Connor Wong homered in Worcester's win over Toledo. Hayden Mullins impressed in his first Double-A start while Mikey Romero drove in a pair of runs in Portland's extra-innings win over New Hampshire. Yophery Rodriguez and Andy Lugo both homered while Juan Valera and Cooper Adams missed plenty of bats as Greenville split its doubleheader against Asheville. Finally, Antonio Anderson (pictured) and Blake Aita lifted Salem to a close win over Fredericksburg.
-----
Shane Drohan picked up the win in his fifth start of the season for Worcester. The 26-year-old lefty allowed three earned runs on five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts over five innings. All three of those runs came on a three-run homer off the bat of Jahmai Jones in the top of the fourth. He otherwise finished with 83 pitches (51 strikes) and generated 16 swings and misses. Bryan Mata surrendered an additional run in the sixth inning while Jose Adames and Isaiah Campbell combined for two scoreless frames of relief.
Shortly before Thursday's game started, Marcelo Mayer was scratched from Worcester's lineup with back tightness. He was replaced at shortstop by Nick Sogard, who went 2 for 3 with one double, one RBI, two runs scored, two walks, and one stolen base. Abraham Toro and Nate Eaton both doubled, drove in two runs, and drew one walk. Mark Kolozsvary doubled and scored one run. Roman Anthony went 1 for 4 with one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. The rehabbing Connor Wong crushed a 422-foot solo shot in the third inning for his lone hit of the contest.
-----
Hayden Mullins went 5 2/3 innings in his Double-A debut for Portland. The 24-year-old lefty allowed one earned run on three hits, four walks, and 10 strikeouts, matching his career high in that category. He threw 83 pitches (50 strikes) and induced 11 whiffs. Jack Anderson took over and struck out four more over 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen. Zach Bryant then closed things out in the 10th inning to notch his second save of the season.
Mikey Romero led the way offensively by going 2 for 5 with one double, two RBIs, and one run scored out of the leadoff spot. Portland's only other extra-base hit belonged to Caden Rose, who went 1 for 2 with a triple, two runs scored, and two walks. Like Romero, Ronald Rosario drove in a pair of runs as part of a 2-for-5 night at the plate. Karson Simas went 1 for 3 with one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. Jhostynxon Garcia and Ahbram Liendo each singled and drew a walk.
-----
Juan Valera got the start for Greenville in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader. The 18-year-old righty yielded three runs (two earned) on five hits (including a solo homer), one walk, and four strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. He finished with 69 pitches (48 strikes) and induced 13 swings and misses. Matt McShane, making his High-A debut, closed things out by fanning a pair across 2 2/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
Yophery Rodriguez paced the Greenville lineup by going 2 for 3 with a triple and a go-ahead home run out of the leadoff spot. Andy Lugo also crushed a 401-foot solo shot for his second homer of the season. Nelly Taylor went 3 for 3 with two runs scored, one walk, and three stolen bases. Marvin Alcantara recorded an RBI single, drew a walk, and stole a base. Nazzan Zanetello and Hudson White both drove in runs as well.
Cooper Adams took a tough luck loss in the nightcap of Thursday's twin bill. The 24-year-old righty went the first five innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits (including a solo homer), one walk, and a career-high eight strikeouts. He threw 61 pitches (43 strikes) and generated 17 whiffs. Darvin Garcia surrendered an additional two runs in the sixth inning.
Zach Ehrhard stayed hot at the plate by going 2 for 4 with one double and one run scored to extend his hitting streak to five games. Kolby Johnson went 1 for 2 with one RBI, one run scored, two walks, and one stolen base. Lugo doubled for his only hit while Alcantara went 1 for 3 with one RBI and one walk. Miguel Bleis also drew a bases-loaded walk to bring his RBI total on the year up to 16.
-----
Blake Aita was solid yet again in his fifth start of the season for Salem. The 21-year-old righty allowed just one hit and no walks over six scoreless innings in which he struck out seven of the 18 batters he faced. Of the 67 pitches he threw, 45 went for strikes and 14 elicited a swing and miss. Joe Vogatsky had four walks in 1 2/3 scoreless frames before making way for Nicolas De La Cruz, who nearly blew a five-run lead in the ninth. Diego Viloria, however, held on for the first save of his professional career.
Antonio Anderson recorded his third straight multi-hit game, as he went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run, a walk, and a stolen base. Batting in front of him, leadoff man Yoeilin Cespedes went 3 for 5 with one RBI and one run scored. Frederik Jimenez and Starlyn Nunez each went 2 for 4 with a double, as the latter drove in the former with his two-base hit in the fourth inning. Natanael Yuten also doubled as part of a 1-for-3 night in which he scored two runs and drew one walk.
-----
Player of the Day: Antonio Anderson gets the nod for putting together another impressive night at the plate. The 19-year-old infielder extended his hitting streak to six games and is now batting a stout .360/.457/.520 with six doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs, 17 runs scored, one stolen base, 15 walks, and 21 strikeouts through 20 games (92 plate appearances) for Salem this season. He is not currently ranked among the organization's top 60 prospects.
Photo Credit: Antonio Anderson by Kelly O'Connor