Middlebrooks goes deep twice in Drive victory

It was some good, some bad for Sox affiliates in Tuesday's action. In the Triple-A debut of Junichi Tazawa (0-1), Pawtucket fell to Buffalo 2-1. Tazawa went 6.0 strong innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, but still took the loss. He struck out 3 and did not walk a batter. Marcus McBeth went the rest of the way, firing 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings including a walk and 2 strikeouts. The only multi-hit game for Pawtucket belonged to Chris Carter, who went 2 for 4, while Chris Duncan went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Bubba Bell's RBI ground out in the seventh plated the only run for the Red Sox.

In Eastern League action, Portland annihilated Reading by a score of 12-1. Blake Maxwell (3-6) started and picked up the win with 5.0 innings of 1-run ball. Maxwell yielded only 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5 Phillies. Dustin Richardson was next to the bump, firing 2.0 scoreless innings of his own, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. Andrew Dobies and Chad Rhoades each tossed a scoreless frame to close things out. The Sea Dogs pounded out 15 hits, led by a 3-for-3 performance by Josh Reddick which included a double, and RBI, and 2 runs scored. Ryan Kalish and Jon Still each went 3 for 6 with a double and 3 RBI, while Juan Apodaca went 2 for 3 with a double, 2 walks and 3 runs scored. Ryan Khoury also had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 with an RBI.

In a tightly fought contest, Salem lost a tough one to Frederick, 3-2. Stephen Fife went the first 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 5. Jason Rice kept the game tight with 2.0 scoreless innings, but Dave McKae (1-4) gave it up in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a run on 3 hits in 0.2 innings to take the loss. Luis Exposito went 2 for 3 with a walk, while Luis Segovia went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored on a sacrifice fly by Che-Hsuan Lin (0 for 3) in the fifth. David Mailman drove in the other run for Salem with a ground out in the sixth.

Greenville broke out the lumber to the tune of 12 hits, easily dispatching Lakewood 8-1. Getting the start and picking up the win was Brock Huntzinger (6-8), who went the first 5.0 innings allowing only 1 unearned run on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts. Mitch Herold went the next 3.0 innings giving up 4 hits and a walk but no runs, and Jason Blackey tossed a scoreless ninth to end the game. Eight Drive hitters had at least 1 hit in the game, led by Will Middlebrooks, who went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. Ryan Lavarnway went 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBI of his own, while Zach Gentile went 3 for 4 with a run scored. Jered Stanley went 1 for 3 with a double, a walk, and 2 RBI.

The Spinners couldn't keep the good times rolling, dropping a 9-3 decision to Tri-City. Kason Gabbard (0-1) got the start, got roughed up, and took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in 4.1 with 2 strikeouts. Kyle Rutter finished off the fifth with 0.2 scoreless innings, but not before giving up 2 walks. Cesar Cabral went the final 3.0 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks, recording 1 strikeout as well. Lowell did manage 8 hits in the game, including a 3 for Chris McGuiness, 2 of them doubles. Wilfred Pichardo had a double and a triple of his own in 4 at-bats and scored a run, while Ryan Westmoreland and Derrick Gibson each went 1 for 5 with an RBI.

Player of the Night: Will Middlebrooks, who went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs to help lead the Drive to victory.

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