Cup of Coffee: Anthony departs with injury; Miller blasts Hadlock walk-off

4/26 Cup of Coffee: The major league squad may have been rained out, but there was a full slate down on the farm. Lucas Giolito had what should be his final rehab tuneup before making his Red Sox debut next week. Tyler Miller (pictured) carried the Portland offense in the system's only win of the day as David Sandlin was solid on the mound for the Sea Dogs. Greenville and Salem both fell despite the continued strong play of shortstops Marvin Alcantara and Franklin Arias.

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Injuries were the biggest news as Worcester saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. Roman Anthony got his first start in center field since April 6 and went 1 for 2 with a walk and run scored, but he left the game in the sixth inning after fouling a ball off his right foot. Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports that the removal was precautionary, and that Anthony is likely day-to-day. On his way back from an injury is Lucas Giolito, making his final planned rehab start before his long-awaited Boston debut. Giolito battled his control as he allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six against four walks. SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall was in attendance and noted that Giolito's changeup was his sharpest offering, with a slider that improved through the evening.

Isaiah Campbell was the highlight out of the bullpen, firing two scoreless innings. Outfielder Phillip Sikes was deployed on the mound to mop things up, giving up a run in the ninth. 

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The organization's lone victory of the day came in dramatic fashion, as Tyler Miller capped a big night with a walk-off solo homer. Miller had three of Portland's five hits and drove in both Sea Dog runs. Before the homer, he plated Jhostynxon Garcia with a game-tying single in the sixth. Garcia was on base three times with a single and a pair of walks. David Sandlin turned in a strong start, allowing one run on four hits in 4 1/3, striking out three without issuing a walk. Jack Anderson struck out three and walked one without allowing a hit in 2 2/3 innings, and Reidis Sena was credited with the victory after his two hitless frames. 

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The Drive fell for the third time in four games in their inaugural visit to Spartanburg, doomed by a 1-for-15 effort with runners in scoring position. Marvin Alcantara picked up a pair of hits as he raised his batting average to a robust .377 in the early going. Andy Lugo and Albert Feliz also had two hits apiece. Juan Valera took the loss, surrendering four runs on eight hits in four innings. His control was a bright spot as he struck out three without issuing a walk, throwing 39 of 60 pitches for strikes. Jojo Ingrassia went four innings out of the bullpen, giving up two runs on two hits. 

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Salem fell despite the efforts of its middle infield. Shortstop Franklin Arias and Starlyn Nunez had three hits apiece at the plate and turned a double play in the field for the Sox. It was the third three-hit game and eighth multi-hit game of the young season for Arias. Yosander Asencio drove in two of the four Salem runs, opening the scoring with a single in the second and blasting a solo home run in the fourth. Blake Aita went five innings on the mound, giving up four runs on eight hits, walking one, and striking out four. The Crawdads reached Austin Ehrlicher for a pair of runs in the sixth, handing him the loss. Eybersson Polanco went two scoreless innings to close things out.

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Player of the Day: Tyler Miller has been a steady contributor since being tabbed in the ninth round of the 2021 draft class. On a night where offense was hard to find for both sides, the former Auburn Tiger drove in both Portland runs, the last coming on a game-winning homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth. The 25-year-old Miller has been Portland's main source of power in April, leading the team with four of the 12 Sea Dog homers.