Cup of Coffee: Anthony homers in WooSox loss; Wehunt strikes out nine
5/28 Cup of Coffee: Tuesday was a tough night for the Red Sox affiliates as the teams were 0-4 on the night while Greenville and Salem were rained out. Roman Anthony, Nate Eaton, and Nathan Hickey homered for the WooSox but the pitching staff was hit hard in a bullpen game. Blake Wehunt (pictured) struck out nine batters in a strong start for the Sea Dogs but the lineup was unable to provide him with any run support outside of a two-run homer by Blaze Jordan. The FCL Red Sox picked up just four hits total across both games of a doubleheader against the Rays, losing both contests.
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All eyes are on Roman Anthony with the Red Sox' recent struggles and Marcelo Mayer's promotion to the big league team over the weekend. The 21-year old slugger has been on a tear and continued his hot streak with a 115.5 mph home run leading off Tuesday night's game. Nate Eaton followed Anthony with a two-run homer to give the WooSox a 3-0 lead in the first. The WooSox added runs in the fourth and fifth on a Ryan Noda sacrifice fly and an RBI forceout by Anthony. However, the offense stalled in the later innings and Worcester was unable to hang onto the lead. Nathan Hickey hit a solo home run in the eighth inning as part of an impressive performance in which he went 2 for 3 with two runs and a walk.
The WooSox trotted out Wyatt Mills to start a bullpen game. Mills threw the first two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three. The RailRiders strung together rallies against Brendan Cellucci in both the third and fifth innings, as the southpaw allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Jose Adames was also knocked around, as he allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. Wyatt Olds finished the game with two shutout innings, striking out three and allowing one hit.
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Starting pitcher Blake Wehunt ran into some trouble in the early innings, allowing a run in the second (though it was unearned) and two in the third. However, he settled in and turned in a strong performance in Sea Dogs' opening game in Altoona, striking out nine batters while walking none and allowing only four hits. Jonathan Brand pitched well in relief, allowing a solo home run but otherwise retiring all the hitters he faced and striking out four in two innings.
Fresh off being named the Eastern League Player of the Week, Blaze Jordan generated all of Portland's offense in Tuesday night's loss with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Overall, Jordan was 1 for 3 with a walk. Jordan's recent stretch has pushed his season slash line to .307/.404/.504 and he now has six home runs. Sixth-ranked prospect Mikey Romero walked in all four of his plate appearances and scored a run out of the leadoff spot.
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Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) @ Greenville Drive (postponed)
The opening game of the series in Greenville was postponed due to rain. The Drive and BlueClaws have scheduled a doubleheader for Wednesday.
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Salem Red Sox @ Carolina Mudcats (MIL) (postponed)
On a rainy night in North Carolina, Salem's opener against the Mudcats was postponed as well. They will also aim to play a doubleheader on Wednesday.
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The FCL Red Sox lineup struggled in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader. In the opener, the team collected only three hits and pushed across only one run. Center fielder Anderson Fermin was 2 for 3 and Avinson Pinto was 1 for 3 with a walk and his tenth stolen base of the season. Starting pitcher Yermain Ruiz tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk. Gilbel Galvan allowed a run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out two. Abis Prado allowed two runs on a hit and two walks in 2/3 of an inning in the sixth.
The lineup's cold day continued in the second game of the day as catcher Jorge Rodriguez's second-inning home run was the team's only hit of the game. Starting pitcher Merlin Bido allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings but struggled with his control, walking four batters. Juan Henriquez allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. Wuilliams Rodriguez finished the game with two perfect innings, striking out two.
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Player of the Day: His night got off to a shaky start as he allowed three runs to cross the plate in the first three innings but Blake Wehunt was dominant across the final three innings of his outing, retiring all nine hitters he faced and striking out five. In total, he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings, fanning nine batters. Wehunt took the loss, dropping his record to 1-5, but he has a 3.58 ERA with 9.80 strikeouts and 3.35 walks per nine innings in 37 2/3 innings in Portland this season. A ninth-round pick in 2023, Wehunt is ranked as the 24th prospect in the system.
Photo Credit: Blake Wehunt by Kelly O'Connor