Cup of Coffee: Eaton, Grissom lead Worcester to 13 runs; Rodriguez belts clutch homer

6/12 Cup of Coffee: Worcester exploded for 13 runs against Lehigh Valley, with Vaughn Grissom and Nate Eaton (pictured) leading the way. Portland split a doubleheader, with Zach Ehrhard going deep and Connelly Early delivering a nice outing. Yophery Rodriguez came through in the clutch for Greenville with a late home run to propel them to a win. 

 

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Vaughn Grissom led the way for Worcester, starting things off early with an RBI single in the first. He ended the night 4 for 5 with three runs scored. Nate Eaton had a monster game as well, going 3 for 5 with a double, a two-run home run, and three runs scored. Trayce Thompson knocked in five runs with two big swings, a three-run blast and a two-run double. Nathan Hickey had two hits, while Seby Zavala drove in three runs. Jhostynxon Garcia also crushed his fifth home run in just 18 games with Worcester. Wyatt Mills started off a bullpen game with a pair of shutout innings on just one hit allowed. Chris Murphy was awarded the win in his first game with the WooSox since 2023. The lefty allowed one run in two innings of work, striking out two and walking one. Bryan Mata tossed two shutout frames with two strikeouts and no walks, while Wyatt Olds and Isaiah Campbell each threw a shutout inning. 

 

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Portland only had three hits, but was able to take the lead in the fifth inning when two runs scored from a throwing error on a ball hit by Marvin Alcantara. The rally was started on a single by Caden Rose and back-to-back walks from Ahbram Liendo and Zach Ehrhard. Alcantara, Rose, and Ehrhard each swiped a bag as well. Drew Ehrhard added a single and an RBI. Connelly Early was tremendous on the mound, tossing five innings and allowing three runs (one earned). He punched out eight and walked just one. He is now 5-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. Yovanny Cruz nabbed a two-inning save without allowing a run. He gave up just one hit, struck out one, and did not issue a free pass. 

 

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This game started out well for Portland, as Zach Ehrhard and Allan Castro each belted solo shots in the first inning, but that was all the scoring they would do. Ehrhard and Castro both ended 2 for 3, with Ehrhard adding a double to go along with his home run. Karson Simas went 1 for 3 with his fourth double of the year. Reidis Sena did not have his best stuff, as he was tagged for six runs (five earned) on three hits and three walks in just 1 1/3 innings. Jorge Juan did not fare much better, giving up three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Noah Song was terrific for two shutout innings, striking out three without a walk. His ERA for the season across four different levels remains at 0.00 in 10 1/3 innings with 15 strikeouts and only three walks. Drew Ehrhard pitched for the third time this year and threw a scoreless inning. 

 

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The Drive had a great comeback win, scoring three in the eighth and two in the ninth to steal a win against Hudson Valley. The biggest hit of the night came off the bat of Yophery Rodriguez, who crushed a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. Nelly Taylor and Nazzan Zanetello set the table for him with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. Taylor also drew two walks and scored twice. Antonio Anderson went 1 for 4 with a walk and a huge two-run single in the ninth inning. Max Carlson started for Greenville and went the first four innings, surrendering three earned runs on six hits. He struck out six and only walked one. Danny Kirwin earned the win in relief with four strong innings, allowing no runs on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Isaac Stebens picked up his fourth save despite allowing one run in the ninth. 

 

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The Sox jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning when Kleyver Salazar roped a three-run double. Starlyn Nunez, who started the inning with a single, went 2 for 4 with a walk and three stolen bases. Natanael Yuten had a nice night, going 2 for 3 with two singles, a walk, a run, a stolen base, and an RBI. Luis Cohen pitched well, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. He was missing bats, with a season-high eight strikeouts and just one walk. Eybersson Polanco earned a three-inning save, allowing no runs with four strikeouts and one walk. 

 

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Player of the Day: Nate Eaton is having a very good season in his first campaign in the Red Sox organization. In 60 games, he is hitting .289/.373/.482 with 19 doubles, a triple, and seven home runs. The 28-year-old outfielder has seen action in 72 big league games, all with Kansas City in 2022 and 2023. He was acquired by the Sox as a minor league free agent this past winter.