Cup of Coffee: Perales and Paez shine; Zanetello and Lugo homer

4/28 Cup of Coffee: Each affiliate played a close game on Saturday with strong performances throughout the system. Angel Bastardo and Matthew Lugo had Portland in a position to win until a late bullpen collapse, and Luis Perales returned for Greenville with four strong innings. An inside-the-park home run from Nazzan Zanetello was the highlight of a Salem victory. 

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The WooSox let a five-run lead slip away as they dropped their fourth game of the series. Chase Shugart made his first start of the year, allowing two runs, one earned, over three innings. Brendan Cellucci allowed one run over three innings in his Triple-A debut after being added from Portland earlier in the week. It was another Worcester debut for Sal Romano, who was signed to a minor league deal on Friday. The former major leaguer and Connecticut native allowed one run on three hits in his lone inning. The blown save went to Melvin Adón who allowed four runs while recording one out. 

Most of the offense came from Nathan Hickey who went 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and five RBIs. The triple was just his second in 877 career plate appearances. Chase Meidroth and Mark Contreras also had two hits, while Vaughn Grissom went 1 for 4 with a walk and played the full game at second base. 

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The Yard Goats hit a three-run walk-off home run to beat the Sea Dogs. It spoiled a great start from Angel Bastardo, who tossed six scoreless innings while surrendering only three hits and striking out five. It was a tough outing for Christopher Troye who allowed two walks, a three-run home run, and a third walk before being pulled without recording an out. Felix Cepeda took the loss after allowing the home run in the ninth. Matthew Lugo stayed hot by launching his fifth home run of the year, and Marcelo Mayer went 2 for 5 with a stolen base. 

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After missing his start last week, Luis Perales returned with seven strikeouts over four innings. He allowed one run and walked one while allowing three hits. Dalton Rogers allowed four runs over the next 3 2/3 innings, and Caleb Bolden struck out three in the ninth to earn the save. Tyler Miller went 3 for 4 with a home run and Cutter Coffey went 2 for 5 with a home run to lead the offense. The home run was Coffey's first of the year. Kristian Campbell went 1 for 3 with a double and brought in the tying run when he was hit by a pitch. The go-ahead run scored on a sacrifice fly from Ronald Rosario. 

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Nazzan Zanetello has only played in three games this year, but he has already proven to be one of the most fascinating players in the system. On Saturday he went 1 for 2 with a walk and an inside-the-park home run. It's certainly a unique way to collect his first career homer. More traditionally, Albert Feliz hit a solo home run that broke a tie in the eighth. Johanfran Garcia went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk, and Fraymi De Leon went 1 for 1 with a double and a walk. On the mound, Jedixson Paez was stellar with five innings of one-run ball, and Royman Blanco got the win with three shutout innings. In 15 innings this year, Paez has struck out 17 and walked only two. 

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Player of the Day: Angel Bastardo turned in his best start of the year, though the bullpen cost him his first win. He struck out five without walking a batter over six shutout innings. The 21-year-old did not walk a batter for the first time since July 21 of last season. That was also the last time he did not allow a run in a start. Batters are hitting only .111 off Bastardo through four starts, but that has also come with nine walks in 18 2/3 innings.