Cup of Coffee: With Mayer in Boston, Garcia grabs Worcester spotlight

5/25 Cup of Coffee: There was plenty of action down on the farm beyond Marcelo Mayer searching in vain for his car keys. While the 2021 first-round pick made his way to Boston, every affiliate in action picked up a win, with the only loss coming in the nightcap of Worcester's doubleheader. Jhostynxon Garcia (pictured) had five hits across the twinbill for the WooSox. Connelly Early and Brandon Clarke continued their outstanding seasons with strong outings to lead Portland and Greenville. Noah Song joined Salem to continue his rehab, while Zach Penrod began an assignment in the FCL.

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The post-Marcelo Mayer era kicked off in Worcester with a doubleheader. The opener was a thriller, with both teams matching zeroes for the first six innings. Durham plated a run in the top of the seventh, but the WooSox walked off on a Nate Eaton base hit that scored Tyler McDonough and Jhostynxon Garcia. Garcia led the offense, going 3 for 4. Eaton, McDonough, and Vaughn Grissom each had two hits, with McDonough also swiping a bag. Roman Anthony, the last of the Big Three left in Triple-A, was held hitless but did draw a walk. Tyler Uberstine was excellent in his start, scattering five hits across five scoreless frames, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Austin Adams struck out all three batters he faced, while Isaiah Campbell was the beneficiary of the comeback, getting credit for the win. 

After being held hitless in the first contest, Anthony led things off with a home run in the nightcap, ripping a line drive over the right-center field wall at 116 mph. Anthony finished the nightcap 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Garcia added two more hits, giving him five on the day. Wyatt Mills got the spot start, allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings, taking the loss. Jose De Leon went four innings in relief, with both runs surrendered on solo homers

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Connelly Early was outstanding on the mound once again as the Sea Dogs won their third straight. Early allowed just one hit, a second-inning single, in his five shutout innings of work. He walked four and struck out nine, including the final three batters he faced. Early has allowed just 13 hits in 29 innings across seven appearances, posting a 1.55 ERA. Zach Bryant went two innings of relief, allowing one run on for hits, and Yovanny Cruz finished things off with two hitless frames. At the plate, Mark Koloszvary went deep with a two-run homer in the sixth. Blaze Jordan stayed hot, going 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.

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Brandon Clarke turned in a strong outing and god plenty of help from the bats. Clarke gave up just two hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Max Carlson followed, giving up one run in 1 2/3 innings to get credit for the win. Adam Smith got the save with 2 2/3 perfect innings, striking out five of the eight batters he faced. 

Miguel Bleis led the way at the plate with a 2 for 3 night, highlighted by a two-run homer in the third. Bleis walked, scored twice, and stole a base. Franklin Arias had a pair of hits and three runs scored out of the leadoff slot. Nelly Taylor and Brooks Brannon had two hits apiece, both driving in a pair of runs. It is the first time Brannon has posted consecutive multi-hit games since July 2024. 

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Noah Song continued his long rehab road with his first full season appearance. The right-hander needed just 12 pitches to get through a perfect first inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Luis Cohen piggybacked, giving up three runs on eight hits in five innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. Jay Allmer gave up one hit in three scoreless innings to pick up the save. Yoeilin Cespedes was 2 for 5 with a run scored for Salem. Natanael Yuten also had a pair of hits to go with a run scored, RBI, and stolen base. Kleyver Salazar was on base three times with a single and pair of walks. 

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With Song moving up to Salem, Zach Penrod began his rehab assignment down in Fort Myers. The lefty went one hitless inning, walking one and striking out a pair. Yoelvin Chirino got the win, going 3 2/3 innings while allowing one run on just one hit. He struck out four and walked two. Yoandys Veraza gave up two runs in 1 1/3 before Gilbel Galvan closed things out with a scoreless seventh. The FCL Sox offense ran wild on the basepaths, swiping eight bags in the contest. Yohander Linarez was 2 for 2 with a walk, two RBI, and a stolen base. Jhoan Peguaro hit his first home run of the season and also had a steal. Ilan Fernandez and Jorge Rodriguez both swiped second and third the only they reached. 

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Player of the Day: Jhostynxon Garcia has been finding the International League to his liking. The 22-year-old outfielder, promoted from Portland on Monday, was 5 for 8 in Worcester's doubleheader split. In five games since the promotion, he is 10 for 21 with a double, two homers, and five RBI, posting a .476/.500/.810 slash line.  Garcia has continued to ascend the SoxProspects.com rankings board, reaching No. 13 spot in the system in the May edition.