Cup of Coffee: Muñoz sets hit streak record; Seabold dominates
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It was a record-setting night in Scranton, as right fielder Yairo Muñoz ripped a third-inning RBI single, the 26th straight game in which he recorded a base hit. That breaks the Pawtucket/Worcester franchise record of 25 games set by Jacoby Ellsbury back in 2007. Muñoz added another hit, finishing the night 2 for 4. Connor Seabold was outstanding, turning in his strongest start of the season. The righty allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings, striking out 10 and walking one. Unfortunately, a six-run eighth inning by Scranton left Seabold with a no-decision. Ryan Fitzgerald starred at the plate, finishing a homer short of the cycle in a 3-for-4 effort.
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Chris Murphy made his Double-A debut in the opener, spinning a quality start. Murphy allowed just two runs in six innings, striking out eight, and walking one. The lone negative for the lefty was again the long ball, as he gave up a pair of solo shots. Murphy has allowed 19 homers in 74 1/3 innings across two levels. Devlin Granberg led the way at the plate out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Hudson Potts also notched a pair of hits, while Pedro Castellanos added his 11th double of the year.
It was a long nightcap in Binghamton, as Portland managed just five hits and never lead. Granberg supplied the offense with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Frank German cruised through four innings allowing just one run but ran into trouble in the fifth. The Rumble Ponies plated three runs in the frame, and German finished with four runs allowed in 4 2/3.
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The Brian Van Belle scoreless streak came to an end, but not before he added three innings to his total to extend the mark to 25. Rome finally reached Van Belle for three runs in the fourth inning, the first blemish on the 24-year-old right-hander since June. The bullpen picked him up, giving up just one run in five innings to secure the win. Yorvin Pantoja got credit for the victory for his two hitless innings, striking out four and walking one. Joe Davis blasted a solo homer and scored twice as part of a 2-for-4 evening. Cameron Cannon ripped his 24th double of the season as part of his two-hit effort.
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First-place Salem fell despite a perfect night from Gilberto Jimenez. Jimenez was 5 for 5 with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored. His three doubles in two games match his total from June and exceed his May output. Matthew Lugo was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk before being lifted after being thrown out at the plate on a fielders choice in the sixth. Nick Yorke extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a sixth-inning single. Jeremy Wu-Yelland was solid in his start, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings, striking out three, and walking two.
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Player of the Day: It's hard to select against a five-hit name and a franchise-record hitting streak, but 25-year-old righty Connor Seabold was electric in his outing, showing that he is nearly ready to help the big-league staff. Seabold had given up 10 runs (seven earned) in 8 1/3 innings since returning from the injured list before weaving six shutout frames Wednesday night. The 10 strikeouts matched a career-high he set as a member of the Reading Fightin Phils back in 2018.
Photo Credit: Connor Seabold by Kelly O'Connor