August 9, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Sox affiliates split Futures at Fenway
An early lead and initially solid pitching by Charlie Zink were not enough to hold back the Tide(s), as Norfolk ultimately coasted to a 7-3 victory over Pawtucket in the second game of the Futures at Fenway double-header. Zink, who went 3.0 scoreless before running into trouble, ended up going 5.1 innings yielding 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1 but taking the loss (5-12). TJ Large was the first Pawtucket reliever but he provided little relief, going 1.2 innings allowing 2 runs of his own on 3 hits and a walk. Rocky Cherry put a cherry on this one with 2.0 scoreless frames, striking out 2. Jeff Bailey was the production leader for the Red Sox, going 1 for 3 with a 2-run single in the third, while Chris Carter went 2 for 4.Earlier in the day at Fenway Park, Portland and Bowie were involved in a hard-fought and even battle, one that was ultimately won by the home-town nine, 3-2. It all began with a solid start from Felix Doubront, who struck out the side in the first and ended up going 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7 in all. Ryne Miller (1-1) was up next and ended up earning the win as he held Bowie scoreless in his 2.o innings of work. Dustin Richardson finished this one off with 2.0 scoreless innings of his own to earn the save. All the Sea Dogs offense was provided by nine hitter Jason Place, who went 1 for 3 with a 2-run home run, the only extra-base hit by a Sox prospect during either game at Fenway, and an RBI hit by pitch. Jon Still and Luis Exposito each went 2 for 4.
The pitching wasn't quite as solid down in Kinston, as Salem struggled to a 7-1 setback. Despite taking the loss to fall to 6-6, Eammon Portice put in a solid effort, going 5.0 innings allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks, striking out 5. Kyle Fernandes had a bit less luck, as he allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk in just 1.0 inning. Robert Coello went the last 2.0 innings, recording 5 of his 6 outs on strikeouts. Tim Federowicz drove in the only Salem run and went 2 for 4. Aaron Reza and Kris Negron each went 1 for 3.
Greenville made sure that at least one Sox affiliate would have a good night at the dish, pounding out 11 hits and scoring 9 runs in a 9-2 drubbing of Bowling Green. Mitch Dening once again led the charge, going 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Pete Hissey wasn't far behind, going 2 for 2 with a walk, a triple, an RBI, a stolen base and 3 runs scored. Oscar Tejeda also had a strong game, going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI. It was the Caleb Clay and Will Latimer show on the mound, as the former went 5.1 allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk with 6 strikeouts, and the latter went 3.2 scoreless to earn the win (1-0).
It was an extra-innings heart breaker in Lowell Saturday night, as a 3-0 lead transmogrified into a 4-3 loss to Batavia in ten innings. Pedro Perez got the start, going the first 5.0 innings allowing just 1 run on 2 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Anatanaer Batista followed him to the bump and allowed the tying runs to score, only 1 of which was earned, on 4 hits in his 3.0 innings, although he did strikeout 7. Kyle Rutter (1-1) took the loss when he gave up the winning run in the tenth, going 2.0 innings in all allowing 4 hits and a walk. Hits were hard to come by for the Spinners, as Drew Dominguez and Sean Killeen each went 2 for 4 to pace the offense.
In a game that was tame in the early innings and wild at the end, the GCL Red Sox prevailed over the GCL Reds, 5-4, scoring 2 runs in the eighth and ninth. Ken Roque, whose bloop 2-run double in the ninth provided the margin of victory for the Red Sox, went 2 for 3 with a walk. Tyler Yockey went 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Bryan Peterson also went 2 for 4, including a double and an RBI. Roman Mendez went the first 1.1 innings and allowed a hit and a walk before being replaced by Randy Consuegra, who went the next 4.2 innings allowing only 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4. Michael Lennox allowed 2 runs in his 2.0 innings but emerged with the win (2-0), and Dustin Mercandante tossed a perfect ninth to earn his third save.
In an equally wild one in the Dominican Summer League, the DSL Red Sox nearly came back from a 9-0 deficit afte 2.0 innings, but ended up falling 13-9 to the DSL Mets. Nestor Lestreto was roughed up in the first, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits while recording only 2 outs to fall to 6-2. Ronald Juan went 4.1 innings to keep the Red Sox in it, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and a walk. Eduardo Medina allowed a run in his inning of work, and Samuel Garcia allowed 3 runs while recording only 1 out in the seventh. Danny Dilon went the rest of the way, going 1.2 scoreless. Offensively, only two Red Sox players had impressive performances, including a 3-for-3 showing by Aly Gonzalez. Keury De La Cruz went 3 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI.