Cup of Coffee: Kavadas and Mayer both homer; Shugart tosses five scoreless
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Brian Van Belle took the loss in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader. The right-hander surrendered nine earned runs on nine hits (including one homer), four walks, and five strikeouts over four innings. Ryan Zeferjahn took over for Van Belle and allowed two unearned runs across two innings in his Triple-A debut. Both of Worcester's runs came by way of the long ball, as Enmanuel Valdez and Mark Kolozsvary each went deep. Niko Kavadas also went 2 for 2 with a walk.
Chase Shugart was on point in his second start for Worcester. The 27-year-old righty scattered three hits and zero walks along with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings. He needed just 57 pitches (39 strikes) and induced a game-high seven swings-and-misses. Sal Romano closed things out by twirling two scoreless frames of his own. At the plate, Niko Kavadas picked up where he left off in Game 1 by crushing a two-run homer in Game 2 for his seventh big fly of the year. Nick Sogard also went deep as part of a 1 for 2 night in which he drew a walk and stole a base.
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The big three made their mark on Wednesday, but it was not enough for Portland. Roman Anthony went 2 for 4 with a double and one run scored out of the leadoff spot. Marcelo Mayer drilled a two-run shot for his third homer of the season while adding a walk and stolen base. Kyle Teel doubled for his lone hit of the night. Mickey Gasper went 2 for 4 with a run-scoring double. On the mound, Hunter Dobbins was charged with the loss in his fifth start of the year after yielding two earned runs on six hits, one walk, and four strikeouts over five innings.
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This game was suspended in the bottom of the first inning due to inclement weather. Hayden Mullins had allowed one unearned run in the top half of the frame while Ronald Rosario and Bryan Gonzalez each drove in runs in the bottom half. Wednesday's contest is slated to resume at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. It will be followed by Thursday's regularly scheduled game, which will now go seven innings.
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A delayed start did not seem to bother Luis Cohen on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old righty lowered his ERA on the season to 4.07 after allowing two earned runs on three hits, zero walks, and three strikeouts over five innings. Both runs came on a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Still, Cohen finished with 68 pitches (46 strikes) and induced 12 whiffs. Out of the bullpen, Danny Kirwin and CJ Weins combined to fan six in three scoreless frames of relief. Offensively, Salem's lone run came on a Natanael Yuten sacrifice fly. Nelly Taylor, who scored that run, went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
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Player of the Day: Between Games 1 and 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader in Buffalo, Niko Kavadas went 3 for 5 with a two-run homer and a walk. The 25-year-old slugger is now batting .296/.453/.654 with eight doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBIs, 22 runs scored, 20 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 28 games (106 plate appearances) for Worcester this season. He is currently regarded as the No. 57 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Niko Kavadas by Kelly O'Connor