Cup of Coffee: Trio of Greenville arms hurl no-hitter to open twinbill; Castro homers three times
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Richard Fitts and the WooSox were done in by a disastrous second inning. Fitts allowed three home runs in a four-batter stretch, putting Worcester in a hole it would not dig out of. Overall, Fitts allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings, striking out three while walking one. Sal Romano and Jorge Benitez kept things close with a combined five innings of shutout relief, but the offense managed only four hits. Bobby Dalbec scored two of the three Worcester runs, picking up a single and two walks. Matthew Lugo doubled for the only extra-base hit of the contest.
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Eddinson Paulino and Nick Decker stepped up at the plate and a quartet of hurlers combined for a two-hitter as Portland rolled despite the big three of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kyle Teel all having the night off. Decker had three doubles in his first multi-hit game since May 29. Paulino was 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kristian Campbell scored two runs, singled, and walked.
Jacob Webb drew the opener assignment, allowing an unearned run on one hit, walking one and striking out a pair. Robert Kwiatkowski picked up his organization-leading 10th win of the season, firing two hitless innings, striking out and walking two apiece. Wyatt Olds struck out three and allowed one hit in two scoreless, while Brendan Cellucci polished off the win by striking out four of the six batters he faced in two perfect frames.
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The Drive opened their doubleheader with a seven-inning no-hitter by a trio of hurlers. Dalton Rogers went the first four innings, striking out five against three walks. Jeremy Wu-Yelland got the win with his two innings of relief, striking out three against one walk. Incredibly, Wu-Yelland was the starter and winning pitcher in the last Greenville no-hitter as he made his High-A debut back on September 2, 2021. Zach Fogell struck out a pair in a perfect seventh inning to secure the no-hit bid.
Kicking off with a Jhostynxon Garcia three-run homer in the top of the first, the Greenville lineup supplied more than enough offense. Allan Castro starred, blasting a two-run homer in the third inning and another in the sixth, finishing 3 for 3 with a walk Miguel Bleis scored three times, going 2 for 4 with a homer, double, walk, and stolen base. Luis Ravelo and Juan Chacon had two hits apiece
Greenville let its chances for a sweep slip away as Reidis Sena issued free passes to four batters in the seventh, including three with the bases loaded, in the literal walk-off loss. Sena's control issues spoiled a strong start from Jedixson Paez. The 20-year-old right-hander allowed one run on two hits in five innings, walking one and striking out eight. Paez now has 45 strikeouts and just four walks since his promotion to Greenville, and 80 punchouts against eight walks across two levels. Castro went deep again in the nightcap, kicking off the scoring with a solo home run in the first. He would also score in the sixth inning after reaching on a fielder's choice, giving him five runs on the day.
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Salem Red Sox @ Down East Wood Ducks (TEX), postponed
Unplayable grounds and more rain in the forecast led to Thursday's game being called over five hours before first pitch. They'll play a doubleheader on Friday.
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The Sox struck first, but a Pirates comeback puts the teams in a virtual tie for second place in the FCL South division, 1 1/2 games behind the FCL Rays. The start was delayed nearly an hour by rain, but that had no apparent effect on starter Juan Valera (pictured, right). The 18-year-old righty tossed four perfect innings, striking out six of the 12 batters he faced. It was the fourth time in his last six starts that Valera did not surrender a hit. Since the start of June, he has allowed nine hits in 22 1/3 innings, striking out 22. Yeferson Vargas took the loss in relief, surrendering a pair of solo homers to Richard Ramirez as he allowed three runs on six hits in three frames. Franklin Arias led off the bottom of the first with a home run, but the FCL Sox offense generated just two hits thereafter. Arias did add a walk and a stolen base, his 20th swipe of the year.
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Team Red moved to 18-7 on the year, maintaining the top spot in the DSL West Division. Edwin Brito blasted a two-run homer as part of a seven-run fifth-inning outburst. Avinson Pinto extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2 for 4 with a stolen base, RBI, and run scored. Madinson Frias picked up the win, scattering four hits across five shutout frames, striking out three without issuing a walk.
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The Blue squad has been going in the opposite direction, falling to their ninth loss in 11 games as the contest was called in the fifth inning due to rain. Top international free agent signing Vladimir Asencio snapped a 1-for-12 skid with a single, but he was promptly cut down trying to steal second in something of a microcosm of Team Blue's recent struggles. Starter Jose Golindano took the loss as he struggled with his control, walking five batters in two innings as he surrendered two runs on two hits. Enrique Carta went two scoreless frames out of the 'pen.
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Player of the Day: On a day with several standout pitching performances, it was a dominant effort at the plate by Allan Castro that stands out. Across the two games of the doubleheader, Castro was 4 for 6 with three home runs, five runs scored, and five RBI. After hitting four homers in the season's first three months, the 21-year-old outfielder has six round trippers in eight July contests. In those eight games, Castro is 11 for 31 with eight extra-base hits and only four strikeouts, translating to a slash line of .355/.412/1.000. Castro is currently ranked 17th in the system.
Photo Credit: Allan Castro, Juan Valera by Kelly O'Connor