Cup of Coffee: Anthony breaks out for Salem; Yorke goes deep

9/7 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough evening for moundsmen across the organization, as the three affiliates in action combined to surrender 32 runs on 44 hits. There were highlights at the plate, however. Roman Anthony (pictured) doubled and reached base three times in Salem's loss. Nick Yorke went deep for the 11th time this year, while Alex Binelas continued to show signs of emerging from a summer-long slump

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Sterling Sharp was solid through three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth, as the Rumble Ponies scored four runs. He finished with four runs allowed on five hits in 3 2/3, striking out six, and walking two. Taylor Broadway struck out the only two batters he faced out of the bullpen in his second outing with the Sea Dogs. Alex Binelas doubled as part of a two-hit night. Binelas has struggled mightily since a June promotion to Portland, but he is showing signs of finishing the season strong with a second straight multi-hit contest and a modest five-game hitting streak. David Hamilton, who joined Binelas coming from the Brewers in the Hunter Renfroe deal, added a pair of hits, as did Izzy Wilson.

With Somerset postponed by rain, Portland's second-half lead in the Eastern League's Northeast Division fell to 2 1/2 games with 11 remaining.

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Greenville was the only affiliate who led at any point on Tuesday, grabbing a 3-1 advantage that lasted half an inning. Home runs continue to plague starter Yusniel Padron-Artiles. The right-hander allowed three in his five innings of work and has given up 26 in 112 2/3 frames this year. Jacinto Arredondo was a highlight out of the bullpen, striking out three and walking one in two hitless frames. Nick Yorke blasted his 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the seventh that brought the Drive within a run. Philip Sikes was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored and a walk. 

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Fredericksburg stormed out to an 8-0 lead before Salem even came to bat. An ill-timed error on a potential force out at home plate led to seven of the eight runs charged to Reidis Sena to be unearned. Sena had allowed just eight runs total in his previous nine appearances. Roman Anthony was a highlight for the Red Sox, going 2 for 3 with a double, walk, and two RBI. The double was his first extra-base hit since joining Salem when the FCL season ended. Brainer Bonaci was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two steals out of the leadoff spot. 

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Player of the Day: Second-round compensation pick Roman Anthony had a strong pro debut in the Florida Complex League but had slumped to a 2-for-18 start with Salem. He doubled his hit total and snagged his first extra-base hit at the level on Tuesday as part of a 2-for-3 effort. Anthony has hit .339 in 16 games across two levels while making very consistent contact: in 66 plate appearances, the 18-year-old has struck out just seven times.