Cup of Coffee: Jordan homers; Zanetello makes season debut
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Worcester Red Sox @ Toledo Mud Hens (DET); PPD (rain)
This game was washed out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 11:05 am Eastern Time.
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Blaze Jordan was the star of an otherwise tough night for Portland. The third baseman went 2 for 5 with a solo home run and a three-run double. It was his first long ball of the 2024 campaign. Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel had productive nights as well, both going 1 for 3 with a single and two walks. Phillip Sikes also singled, walked, and scored a pair of runs. Isaac Coffey labored through four innings, allowing four hits and four walks, but limiting the damage to just two runs. He punched out four. Robert Kwiatkowski continued his solid season so far with no runs allowed over 1 1/3 innings. His ERA is 2.08 in 8 2/3 innings this year.
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The Drive put together a great full game last night, led by Juan Daniel Encarnacion. The 23-year old righty fired five shutout innings and allowed just three hits. He punched out six and did not issue a free pass. He got through those five innings in just 61 pitches, 47 of which were strikes (77%). Cade Feeney followed Encarnacion with 2 1/3 scoreless frames of his own with two strikeouts and no walks. Jonathan Brand closed it out with no runs allowed and three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. His ERA is still 0.00 on the year and now has 18 strikeouts to just three walks in 11 2/3 innings.
At the plate, eight of nine starters had at least one base hit. Cutter Coffey, from the leadoff spot, singled and doubled as part of a 2-for-5 night, scoring two runs. Ahbram Liendo, Ronald Rosario, and Miguel Ugueto each had two hits as well. Caden Rose added a two-run single and Juan Chacon roped an RBI double.
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Despite a rough night for Salem, a pair of 2023 draft picks made some noise. Most notably, Nazzan Zanetello, the Sox' second-round pick last year, made his 2024 season debut. He was the DH and went 1 for 4 with a single. On the mound, 2023 ninth-rounder Blake Wehunt started and tossed five tremendous innings. He allowed just three hits and no runs with five strikeouts and one walk. His ERA was lowered to 1.69 in three starts. Jojo Ingrassia pitched well in relief with 1 2/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts and no walks. The rest of the offense was quiet, but Miguel Bleis ripped a double and Albert Felix reached twice with a single and a walk.
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Player of the Day: An extremely efficient five innings from Juan Daniel Encarnacion earns him the honor for last night. An international free agent signing in 2018, Encarnacion has seen time with Greenville in each of the past three seasons. He appeared in 24 games last year (21 starts) and had a 6.32 ERA. His strikeout numbers were impressive, with 101 in 99 2/3 frames. So far this year, he has 17 strikeouts and only five walks in 12 1/3 innings, and opponents are hitting just .217 off him.
Photo Credit: Juan Daniel Encarnacion by Kelly O'Connor