Cup of Coffee: Anthony drives in two; Mullins returns to the mound

5/26 Cup of Coffee: Worcester is hoping for good news after Jhostynxon Garcia was pulled from the game with an injury. In Portland, Hayden Mullins returned from injury, while Zach Ehrhard (pictured) had his best game since being promoted. Franklin Arias and Brooks Brannon were the lone bright spots for Greenville, and Freili Encarnacion had another strong game for Salem.

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An injury scare for Jhostynxon Garcia overshadowed a series-clinching win for the WooSox. Garcia appeared to injure his side and was replaced by Corey Rosier in the sixth inning. There is no word yet on the severity of the injury. Roman Anthony provided all the offense Worcester would need, driving in two runs as part of a 2-for-4 day. Nathan Hickey went 2 for 3, and Ryan Noda went 2 for 4. Cooper Criswell, Brian Van Belle, and Alex Hoppe each threw two scoreless innings, and Nick Burdi converted his fourth save with a clean ninth. 

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Reading scored four times in the top of the ninth to steal one from the Sea Dogs. Making his first appearance since May 1, Hayden Mullins threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He threw 46 pitches as he was likely on a pitch count. Jeremy Wu-Yelland kept Reading off the board for 2 2/3 frames, and Gabriel Jackson had allowed one run over three innings. Portland brought Jackson back out for the ninth, but he allowed an RBI single before turning it over to Christopher Troye. Troye allowed a single followed by a two-run triple that turned into a three-run play after a throwing error by Ahbram Liendo. Blaze Jordan stayed hot as he went 2 for 3 with a walk. Zach Ehrhard led the way going 2 for 4 with two doubles, and Allan Castro went 2 for 4 with an RBI. 

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The Drive struck out only three times but were still blanked by the Hot Rods. Franklin Arias and Brooks Brannon accounted for all the offense, with Arias going 2 for 4 with a double, and Brannon going 2 for 2 with a walk. Arias has hit safely in 15 of 18 games in May, with a line of .395/.437/.568. Juan Valera struck out five over 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and walking one. Matt McShane allowed an earned run for just the third time this year, giving up two runs over 2 2/3. 

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Blake Aita allowed four runs in his second straight outing as Salem failed to tie up the series. Aita allowed 10 hits over six frames, striking out five without issuing a walk. The loss went to Nathanael Cruz who was tagged for three runs. Justin Gonzales notched his first extra-base hit since May 8 as he went 2 for 4 with a double. Freili Encarnacion went 2 for 5 with a double, and Kleyver Salazar went 2 for 3 with a walk. 

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Player of the Day: Zach Ehrhard was the only player to have multiple extra-base hits on Sunday as he went 2 for 4 with two doubles. The 21-year-old had struggled in his first few games since being promoted from Greenville earlier in the week. He went 9 for 19 in his last week with the Drive, but had started off 1 for 14 with the Sea Dogs. The cold stretch with Portland has not done a lot of damage to his overall line in May, which sits at .355/.425/.500 across the two affiliates.