Cup of Coffee: Penrod leads a Portland shutout; Yuten drives in three
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Durham Bulls (TB) @ Worcester Red Sox, PPD (rain)
Thursday's game was postponed and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.
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Zach Penrod led the shutout effort with some help from Ryan Zeferjahn. Penrod went the first 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit and three walks while striking out six. He tallied 16 swinging strikes in 85 pitches, keeping his ERA at 0.00. Zeferjahn moved swiftly through the next 1 2/3 innings, while Christopher Troye and Felix Cepeda added a scoreless inning. The Sea Dogs had some trouble on the basepaths as the first three runners to reach base were all caught stealing. Matthew Lugo opened the scoring with an RBI double in the seventh and added an RBI groundout in the eighth. Roman Anthony finished 2 for 3 with a walk, and Eddinson Paulino went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks.
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Despite a quick early lead, the Drive fell to Wilmington on Thursday. Cutter Coffey laced a two-run double, and Karson Simas went 1 for 3 with a double in the losing effort. Cooper Adams was tagged on the mound for five runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three, allowing his first runs of the year in his third start. Making his fifth appearance, Jonathan Brand allowed just an unearned run over 2 2/3 innings. The box score lists Drew Ehrhard as throwing the last 1 2/3 innings, but that may be a mistake as Ehrhard is on the roster as an infielder. There is no record of him pitching, dating back to his college days at the University of Tampa.
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The Garcia brothers continued to shine, with Jhostynxon Garcia and Johanfran Garcia leading Salem to victory. Jhostynxon went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk, and Johanfran went 0 for 2 but walked twice, stole two bases, and threw out the tying run at second base in the eighth inning. Natanael Yuten drove in three of the team's five runs while going 1 for 2 with a double and two walks, and Marvin Alcantara went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Matt Duffy got the start but got chased with two outs in the fifth, so he did not record a victory. He allowed three runs on seven hits. The win went to Royman Blanco, while Isaac Stebens picked up the save with two scoreless innings.
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Player of the Day: One week after striking out eight over five shutout innings, Zach Penrod followed that up with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 on Thursday. The 26-year-old left-handed pitcher continues to be a revelation after signing out of the Pioneer League in August 2023. While Penrod was great in limited action for Greenville last year and the Arizona Fall League this offseason, he did combine to walk 19 over those 34 2/3 innings. He has walked three over his first 10 1/3 innings this year, and refining that command and control will help determine his ultimate ceiling.
Photo Credit: Zach Penrod by Kelly O'Connor