August 30, 2005 at 8:56 AM
8/30 Cup of Coffee
With one week left in the season regular season schedule, and playoff hopes fading ever so slightly, Pawtucket refuses to go down without a fight, as they beat Ottawa last night, 2-1. Kelly Shoppach went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run, which would be all the PawSox would need as Juan Perez and Charlie Zink were impressive as they combined to shut down Ottawa through eight frames of work. It was a close one as Wilmington beat Lynchburg to the tune of 4-3. Iggy Suarez went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, while Bryan Pritz went 1 for 3 with a double, in addition to scoring Wilmington's other two runs. Tommy Hottovy got the start, going four innings and allowing two runs, but it was Feliz Romero who picked up the win in relief, after pitching a scoreless fifth and sixth inning. Greenville beat Savannah 5-2 in SALLY League action. Andrew Pinckney went 2 for 4 with triple, home run, and a pair of RBIs. Tony Granadillo went 2 for 3 with a double and a run knocked. On the mound, Roger Lincoln looked shaky, allowing two runs four hits while walking seven through five innings of work. Lowell could not complete the organizational sweep, as they lost to Tri-City, 9-4. Jed Lowrie and Yahmed Yema both continue to swing a hot bat, as each player went 2 for 4 at the plate yesterday. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as Lowell starter Mario Pena was tagged for six runs on six hits in four innings of work, as he absorbed his sixth loss of the season.
Player(s) of the Night: This is a tough one, but given the situation in Pawtucket, I have to hand it to both Juan Perez and Charlie Zink of Pawtucket. Both were called on in emergency duty- Perez from the bullpen and Zink from Portland- and both pitched exceptionally well, holding Ottawa to eight shutout innings while scattering six hits. Add that Pawtucket is fighting for a playoff chance, and these guys could not have come up any bigger.