Johnson goes 5 scoreless in Pawtucket win

4/17 Cup of Coffee:

Pawtucket prevailed 1-0 in a well-pitched game at Rochester last night. Kris Johnson (1-0) got the win, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out 3 while yielding only 2 hits and 2 walks. Side-arming lefty Chris George followed him with 2.2 scoreless innings before Fernando Cabrera slammed the door with 1.1 scoreless innings of his own. For the second time this season, Carlos Maldonado caught Johnson and drove in the only run of the game, going 1 for 3 with a double. Travis Denker, Chip Ambres, and Ivan Ochoa each went 1 for 3 as well.

In Eastern League action, Binghamton edged Portland 4-3 in a hard-fought game at Hadlock Field. Jarod Plummer started for the Sea Dogs, giving up 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in 4.0 innings. The loss was charged to Chris Province (0-1), who gave up 1 earned run on 3 hits in his 2.0 innings of work, walking 1 and striking out 2. Justin Hedrick finished the game giving up 1 earned run in 2.0 innings. Shortstop Argenis Diaz was the hitting star for Portland, going 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, and 2 RBI. Lars Anderson also went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and a run scored, and Jorge Jimenez went 2 for 4 with an RBI of his own.

Salem was beaten to the tune of 8-2 in game 1 of double-header action against Potomac in a game that was called after 7 innings. Eammon Portice (0-1) racked up 7 strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work, but he also gave up 4 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks and took the loss. Lefty Jose Alvarez followed Portice to the mound, giving up 4 earned runs of his own on 4 hits and 2 walks in 2.0 innings. Jason Place drove in both runs for Salem, going 3 for 4 with a double and a stolen base. Ryan Kalish went 0 for 2 but did walk twice and score a run while stealing his third base of the season. Five other Salem hitters each had 1 hit in the game, including catcher Luis Exposito, who went 1 for 3 and also threw out the only runner who tried to steal against him.

Things didn't go much better for Salem in game 2, as the team lost a 5-1 decision to Potomac, this time in an 8-inning affair. Derrick Loop held the 2008 Carolina League champions to only 2 walks over 4 hitless innings, striking out 3. Jason Rice threw 2.0 innings, giving up only 1 unearned run on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4. Submariner Josh Papelbon (0-1) wasn't quite as successful, yielding 4 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk in his 2.0 frames and taking the loss. Designated hitter Mike Jones went 2 for 4 in the game for Salem, while catcher Will Vazquez and first baseman Jered Stanley each went 1 for 3 with a double. Luis Segovia drove in the only Red Sox run, going 1 for 4.

In a tight ball game in North Carolina, Greenville edged visiting Hickory 4-3. Bryan Price kicked off the game for the Drive, twirling 5.0 impressive scoreless innings, giving up only 2 hits and 2 walks while whiffing 4 Crawdads. Big Hunter Strickland (1-1) picked up the win despite giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits, including 2 home runs, in his 4 innings of work. He struck out 3 and did not walk a batter. David Mailman led off for Greenville and went 1 for 4 with a triple, 2 runs scored and an RBI. He was also able to steal 2 bases after reaching base via a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 5th, swiping both second and third while Oscar Tejada (1 for 3, double, 2 RBI) was at the plate. Centerfielder Mitch Dening went 2 for 3 in the game with 2 doubles, while catcher Tim Federowicz went 2 for 4 hitting out of the cleanup spot.

Player of the Night: Kris Johnson, who went 5.0 scoreless innings to pick up the win for Pawtucket. He has now pitched 10.0 scoreless innings to start the season.

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