Cup of Coffee: Valera exits with injury; Cespedes, Rodriguez combine for four homers

This game was suspended with two outs and one runner on in the top of the fourth inning due to inclement weather. It will resume at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday and be followed by Friday's regularly scheduled contest, which will now be seven innings.

Before the rain arrived on Thursday, Jake Bennett had scattered three hits over three scoreless innings to begin his fourth start of the season. At the plate, Anthony Seigler had doubled for Worcester's only extra-base hit. 

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Eduardo Rivera shoved in his second start of the season as Portland kept Altoona winless. The 22-year-old lefty scattered three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts (tying a career high) over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He threw 75 pitches (53 strikes) and generated 18 whiffs. Joe Vogatsky followed with 3 1/3 additional scoreless frames out of the bullpen to notch the save and preserve the shutout.

Offensively, Marvin Alcantara led the way, going 3 for 5 with a solo shot for his first home run of the season. Max Ferguson, in his first game since April 7, crushed a grand slam for his lone hit of the night and second homer of the year. Raudelis Martinez drove in a pair of runs as part of a 1-for-4 showing. Nate Baez doubled and scored one run, while Miguel Bleis and Nelly Taylor combined for two walks and four runs.

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Juan Valera exited his start with an apparent injury (elbow inflammation, according to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo) in the second inning. The 19-year-old righty walked one and struck out another in one-plus scoreless, no-hit frames before leaving the field with a trainer. Joey Gartrell, Steven Brooks, and Hudson White combined to allow nine runs (eight earned) out of the bullpen. 

At the plate, Yoeilin Cespedes and Yophery Rodriguez provided some pop by combining for four home runs. Cespedes went 2 for 4 with his first two homers of the season, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Rodriguez went 3 for 4 with his first two homers of the year, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Henry Godbout and Mason White each went 2 for 4, with the former scoring one run and drawing one walk and the latter doubling and scoring one run. Justin Gonzales also doubled, scored one run, and drew one walk out of the leadoff spot.  

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Dylan Brown went 3 1/3 innings in his third start for Salem, surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits, five walks, and four strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches (40 strikes) and generated three whiffs. Brandon Neely allowed an additional run and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Offensively, Andrews Opata stood out by going 2 for 5 with his first professional home run, three RBI, and one run scored. Starlyn Nunez and Stanley Tucker each went 2 for 4, with the former tripling, stealing one base, and drawing one walk. Avinson Pinto and Ilan Fernandez drove in one run apiece, while Anderson Fermin scored one run, stole one base, and drew one walk.  

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Player of the Day: Yophery Rodriguez gets the nod for putting together his first multi-homer game since 2023. Following Thursday's performance, the 20-year-old outfielder is batting .289/.325/.553 through 10 games (40 plate appearances) with Greenville to begin his 2026 season. He is ranked as the organization's No. 56 prospect after coming over from the Brewers in last April's Quinn Priester trade.