Cup of Coffee: Doubleheaders galore as Arias continues strong start
4/13 Cup of Coffee: As the week of postponements and bad weather continues, the organization recorded just a single win across four games, consisting of a pair of doubleheaders. Juan Valera toed the mound for his second start of 2025, Franklin Arias continued his strong start to the season, and Miguel Bleis (pictured) powered Greenville to victory.
-----
Columbus Clippers (CLE) @ Worcester Red Sox, Postponed (Weather)
Snow blanketed the Northeast on Saturday morning and four inches of heavy, wet snow fell in downtown Worcester, forcing the postponement of Saturday's game. A make-up date was not announced.
-----
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) @ Portland Sea Dogs, Postponed (Weather)
The Sea Dogs haven't been able to catch a break with the wintry weather and also were forced to move Saturday's game. The squads will play a doubleheader on Sunday.
In a continuation of a suspended game on Thursday, Greenville had taken a 3-0 lead prior to the delay with all three runs driven in by Miguel Bleis on a fielder's choice in the top of the first and a two-run single in the top of the third before rain stopped the proceedings in the middle of the fourth. Noah Dean pitched well in his first start of the year, striking out five in three innings, though he did walk four.
Hayden Mullins relieved Dean in the continuation and maintained Greenville's strong pitching with four scoreless innings, scattering a pair of hits and striking out seven. The Drive added a run in the seventh after Juan Montero singled in Andy Lugo, who doubled to open the inning. Bleis capped his impressive outing with a solo home run in the eighth to extend the lead. Max Carlson closed the final two frames with another five strikeouts.
-----
Looking to sweep the doubleheader, Greenville fought back from behind before falling in the bottom of the eighth inning behind a walk-off three run home run. The Drive struck first on a sacrifice fly by Yophery Rodriguez, who continues to impress in his first week in the organization. After a pair of runs put Greenville behind, Marvin Alcantara doubled home Zach Ehrhard to knot things at 2-2, pushing the game to an extra frame, where they could not complete the come-from-behind win.
Juan Valera made his second start of the season, tossing four innings of one-hit ball, allowing a single run on a home run, walking a pair and striking out two. Valera has struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings while pitching to a 3.52 ERA. Jojo Ingrassia relieved Valera, pitching the remaining 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while being charged with the loss.
-----
In the opening game of a doubleheader, Salem could only muster a pair of hits in the contest as Franklin Arias led off the game with a single and Andruw Musett doubled in the fourth inning. After pitching five scoreless innings in his professional debut, Blake Aita turned in another strong outing. The 2024 sixth-round pick surrendered three runs over five innings, walking one and striking out three. Austin Ehrlicher tossed the final frame in relief, striking out the side in a scoreless sixth.
-----
After struggling to manufacture offense in the first game of the doubleheader, Salem could only put together four hits, with both runs coming from a two-run home run by Starlyn Nunez in the fourth inning. Although Salem combined for seven hits across the two games, Franklin Arias accounted for two of those hits, running his hitting streak to eight in a row while hitting .467 in that span.
Griffin Kilander started for Salem, giving up a pair of runs in 2 1/3 innings while allowing a single hit, walking two and striking out five. Trennor O'Donnell finished the final 3 2/3 innings in relief allowing three runs on three hits to go along with three walks and six strikeouts.
-----
Player of the Day: Miguel Bleis played just one of the two games Greenville had on Saturday, but made quite an impact. After going 2 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs, the 21-year-old outfielder has started the season 2 for 8 with a home run and five RBIs.
Photo Credit: Miguel Bleis by Kelly O'Connor