Cup of Coffee: Big nights by Bleis, Lugo power affiliates to sweep
5/4 Cup of Coffee: Some big offensive performances and across-the-board excellent pitching propelled the Sox system to a Friday-night sweep. Miguel Bleis (pictured) and Nazzan Zanetello supported Jedixson Paez in a Salem shutout. Matthew Lugo continued his resurgent 2024 and extended his hitting streak as Portland's offense exploded at Hadlock. Luis Perales and Kristian Campbell provided the highlights for Greenville, while Niko Kavadas sparked a game-winning rally for the WooSox.
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A solo home run off the bat of Enmanuel Valdez in the first inning kicked things off as Worcester won for the fourth time in five games. Corey Rosier did not record an out, going 2 for 2 with two walks and two RBI. Niko Kavadas keyed the game-winning rally in the eighth, delivering an RBI double to snap a 2-2 tie and then coming on to score on a Rosier single. Jamie Westbrook also notched a pair of hits. Romy Gonzalez began his rehab stint, batting second in the designated hitter role. He was 0 for 2 on the night. Jason Alexander gave up three hits across 5 1/3 scoreless frames, walking three against two strikeouts. Veteran lefty Lucas Luetge earned the win in relief, striking out a pair and allowing just one hit in 2 2/3 innings.
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The Portland lineup exploded for 15 hits, including another four-hit night by scorching-hot Matthew Lugo. Lugo extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 4-for-5 performance, blasting a fourth-inning solo homer and adding another RBI with a single in the sixth. The home run was the sixth of the season for the 2019 second-round pick, surpassing last year's total. Roman Anthony, Nick Yorke, and Blaze Jordan each delivered two hits and a walk apiece. Marcelo Mayer doubled for the third straight game, giving him eight in his last 13 contests.
The offensive outburst was more than enough support for an in-control Hunter Dobbins. The 24-year-old righty gave up one run on four hits in five innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk, throwing 52 of 76 pitches for strikes. Christopher Troye surrendered a pair of runs in the sixth. Wyatt Olds dominated, firing three scoreless frames, surrendering one hit, and fanning five of the 10 batters he faced.
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Kristian Campbell continues to find the famously hitter-friendly environs of Asheville's McCormick Field to his liking. Campbell was 2 for 4 with a double, bring him to 9 for 16 with five extra-base hits through four games of Greenville's series. A two-run homer by Tyler Miller in the seventh inning provided key insurance as the Drive staved off a late rally. Luis Perales was excellent in his start, giving up just three hits in four scoreless innings, striking out seven, and walking two. Bryce Bonnin went two scoreless innings to get credit for the win, and Zack Fogell pitched the final 1 1/3 to earn his first professional save.
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A breakout effort by Miguel Bleis highlighted a well-rounded Salem victory. Bleis doubled, walked, stole a base, and scored a pair of runs as part of a 3-for-3 evening. Nazzan Zanetello led off the bottom of the first with his second home run of the young season, adding a single, walk, steal, and another run scored. Natanael Yuten was 2 for 3 with a triple, walk, and two RBI. The trio of Salem hurlers had things well in hand with a combined four-hit shutout. All four hits were allowed by an otherwise efficient Jedixson Paez, who went five shutout innings, striking out seven without allowing a walk. Paez needed just 66 pitches to get through those five frames, throwing 47 for strikes. Danny Kirwin struck out three in his three perfect innings of relief, and CJ Weins also did not allow a baserunner as he closed things out in the ninth.
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Player of the Day: On a Friday with a bevy of qualified candidates, the nod goes to Miguel Bleis. The 20-year-old outfielder entered the day with a .187/.282/.280 despite some encouraging underlying numbers. Bleis, currently ranked fifth in the system, saw his OPS rise over 70 points with a double, walk, and pair of singles. He's also shown encouraging patience at the plate in the early going of 2024, as the 10 walks he has drawn in 20 games matches his total from both 2023 (31 games) and 2022 (40 games).
Photo Credit: Miguel Bleis by Kelly O'Connor