Somerset Patriots 13, Portland Sea Dogs 1 (Game 1) – BOX
Portland and Somerset (NYY) played a pair of seven-inning affairs on Wednesday, with the second game being a makeup of a rainout on April 5th. Let’s talk about the first game in as few words as possible.
Somerset had 15 hits in six innings, scoring multiple runs in four of them. They teed off on starter Cade Feeney and reliever Max Carlson for seven extra base hits, while stealing five bases. Right fielder Will Turner homered for the only Sea Dogs run. On to game two…
Portland Sea Dogs 6, Somerset Patriots 5 (Game 2) – BOX
Rehabbing Yankee starter Gerrit Cole got the ball for Somerset in Game Two. Some people in social media circles are saying that Cole looked a little bit hefty in his postgame interview. Not me, I would never say something like that. Cole allowed home runs to Johanfran Garcia and Max Ferguson. We’re certainly posting video of both of these.
Cole went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs, and striking out three. With the game tied 3-3 entering the seventh inning, the Sea Dogs scored three runs, all on RBI doubles by Max Ferguson, Will Turner, and Tyler McDonough. The Patriots cut the lead to one on a Jace Avina two-run homer but Reidis Sena eventually locked down the save in a 6-5 win.
Blake Wehunt went the first three innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
On Thursday, Portland’s starter at 6:35 ET is TBD.
Greenville Drive 8, Hub City Spartanburgers 7 (BOX)
The Drive blew a late lead before winning in dramatic fashion in extra innings on Wednesday against Hub City (TEX).
Entering the ninth inning up 5-3, reliever Danny Kirwin allowed a two-run homer to Luke Hanson, tying the game. Malcolm Moore did the same off of Matt McShane in the top of the tenth, putting the Spartanburgers up 7-5.
And that’s when Yoeilin Cespedes happened, again. Cespedes had already homered in the third inning and, in the bottom of the tenth, hit a two-run dinger with a man on to tie the game. The Drive walked it off on a potential double-play ball, which Freili Encarnacion beat out at first to win 8-7.
On the day, Cespedes was 4-for-5, with three RBI, to go along with the two home runs. Encarnacion had homered in the second inning, and Justin Gonzales added three hits as part of a 13-hit effort for the Drive. Alex Bouchard had a standout relief appearance, allowing just one run over 5 ⅓ innings.
On Thursday, Kyson Witherspoon (0-1, 6.00) will take the hill for Greenville at 6:45.
Wilson Warbirds 5, Salem RidgeYaks 1 (BOX)
Starting pitching Dylan Brown continued his excellent start to the season, throwing 5 ⅔ innings without allowing an earned run, and striking out seven against the Warbirds (MIL). In a 1-1 game in the eighth, the bullpen for the RidgeYaks got roughed up a bit, leading to a 5-1 L.
Third baseman Ty Hodge’s long ball accounted for the lone run for Salem.
Madison Frias (0-1, 11.08) will toe the rubber on Thursday at 7:05.
Worcester Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings – Ppd.
The Worcester and Rochester game was postponed on Wednesday, with a doubleheader coming up on Thursday, which already got underway at 11:05 ET. Worcester’s is starting Alec Gamboa in game one, and although game two is currently unlisted for the Woo Sox, Rochester will be throwing Riley “The Great” Cornelio.
