Cup of Coffee: Meidroth wins it for Worcester with walk-off walk; Portland's season ends
9/16 Cup of Coffee: Both Worcester and Portland played their final home games of the 2024 regular season on Sunday. Roman Anthony reached base three times while Chase Meidroth drew a walk-off walk as part of an exciting afternoon for the WooSox at Polar Park. Despite getting six scoreless innings from Caleb Bolden, the Sea Dogs were shut out at Hadlock Field and were subsequently eliminated from playoff contention.
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A four-run ninth inning propelled the WooSox to a come-from-behind win in their final home game of the regular season. Vaughn Grissom and Corey Rosier each went 2 for 4, with the former scoring one run and the latter driving in another. Leadoff man Roman Anthony reached base three times, going 1 for 3 with a game-tying RBI single and two walks. Chase Meidroth came up empty in his first four trips to the plate before drawing a bases-loaded walk-off walk with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Quinn Priester started on the mound and went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits (including a two-run home run), three walks, and two strikeouts. Jose Adames and the rehabbing Lucas Sims combined for one scoreless frame of relief while Brian Van Belle gave up one run on three hits (including a solo homer), two walks, one hit batsman, and five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Yohan Ramirez then worked a scoreless top of the ninth and ultimately notched the winning decision.
With Sunday's victory, the WooSox improved to 41-28 in the second half. They remain 4 1/2 games back of the Columbus Clippers (45-23) for first place in the International League.
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Not much went right for the Sea Dogs offensively on Sunday as they were held to just three hits. Jhostynxon Garcia and Blaze Jordan each doubles while Nathan Hickey went 1 for 3 with a walk. On the mound, Caleb Bolden got the start for Portland. The righty scattered two hits, two walks, and one hit batsman while striking out six over a career-high six scoreless innings. Robert Kwiatkowski followed with two additional scoreless frames out of the bullpen before Reidis Sena and Jonathan Brand combined to surrender four runs in the top of the ninth. Sena was charged with the loss as a result.
With Sunday's defeat, the Sea Dogs (42-27) finished the second half 1 1/2 games behind the Somerset Patriots (43-25) for first place in the Eastern League Northeast. Despite finishing the season with the best overall record in the Northeast division at 78-60, Portland did not qualify for the playoffs.
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Player of the Day: Caleb Bolden gets the nod ending his season with Portland on a strong note. In 21 appearances (10 starts) for the Sea Dogs, the 25-year-old hurler posted a 3.88 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 58 strikeouts to 27 walks over 58 innings. Opposing hitters batted just .133 against him in September.
Photo Credit: Chase Meidroth by Kelly O'Connor