Cup of Coffee: Garcia, Monegro propel Portland to win in extras

4/17 Cup of Coffee: Boston's affiliates went 2-1 on Wednesday. Worcester's game in Rochester was postponed due to inclement weather. Jhostynxon Garcia and Yordanny Monegro (pictured) played key roles in Portland's win over Hartford in extras. Yophery Rodriguez tripled and drove in a run in Greenville's loss to Winston-Salem. Brandon Clarke struck out six while Franklin Arias plated two runs in Salem's come-from-behind victory over Lynchburg. 

-----

Wednesday's game between the WooSox and Red Wings was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a seven-inning doubleheader beginning at 3:35 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon.

-----

Brayan Bello got the start for Portland as he continued his rehab assignment Wednesday night. The righty allowed four earned runs on six hits (including a three-run home run), one walk, one hit batsman, and seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. He threw 71 pitches (51 strikes) and generated 16 swings and misses. Fellow rehabber Liam Hendriks worked a scoreless sixth inning before making way for Yordanny Monegro, who notched the win in relief by yielding just one unearned run on four hits, zero walks, and nine strikeouts across four impressive frames.

Offensively, Jhostynxon Garcia led the way by going 3 for 4 with one double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and one walk. Mikey Romero also registered multiple hits, as he went 2 for 5 with one run scored and his first stolen base of the year. Blaze Jordan and Corey Rosier each drove in a pair of runs with their only hits of the contest. Max Ferguson recorded an RBI single and scored two runs while Ahbram Liendo doubled and crossed home plate twice as well.

-----

Danny Kirwin took the loss in his second start for Greenville, allowing three earned runs on three hits (including one home run), one walk, one hit batsman, and five strikeouts over three innings. Eduardo Rivera and Cooper Adams surrendered one run apiece out of the bullpen, while Darvin Garcia struck out a pair across two scoreless frames in his first appearance since April 8. At the plate, Nelly Taylor and Marvin Alcantara accounted for four of their side's six hits. Taylor went 2 for 4 with a double, and Alcantara went 2 for 4 with one run scored. Yophery Rodriguez tripled to drive in Alcantara with his lone hit of the night in the bottom of the seventh.

-----

Brandon Clarke went 2 1/3 innings in his second start for Salem, yielding one earned run on two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. The lefty threw 49 pitches (31 strikes) and induced 11 whiffs. Fellow southpaw Shea Sprague struggled in relief, surrendering six runs (four earned) on eight hits, zero walks, and two strikeouts in three innings. Matt McShane and Nicolas De La Cruz then combined for 3 2/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen to close things out.

Three members of Salem's lineup enjoyed multi-hit performances on Wednesday. Antonio Anderson went 2 for 5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Kleyver Salazar went 2 for 4 with one double, one RBI, one walk, and one run scored. Frederik Jimenez went 2 for 4 with one RBI, one walk, two runs scored, and one stolen base. Franklin Arias and Yoeilin Cespedes each had one hit, with the former driving in two runs and the latter scoring another after doubling to lead off the seventh. Starlyn Nunez, meanwhile, went 1 for 3 with two RBIs, one walk, two runs scored, and one stolen base.

-----

Player of the Day: Yordanny Monegro gets the nod after a strong showing in Hartford Wednesday night. Through two outings to begin the season for Portland, the 22-year-old righty has allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits, one walk, and 15 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. He is currently ranked as the No. 28 prospect in the organization.