May 21, 2010 at 6:55 AM
Fuentes' 5 RBI pace Drive
5/21 Cup Of Coffee: A pair of dominant pitchers shut down Pawtucket and Portland, but Reymond Fuentes provided more than enough offense in a big win for Greenville Thursday evening.
The PawSox couldn't muster much of anything against Jake Arietta, who fanned 10 as Norfolk (BAL) topped Pawtucket 8-1. Fabio Castro, who got his first start since May 2, didn't fare nearly as well, allowing 6 earned on 8 hits in 4.2 frames. Lars Anderson and Ryan Khoury each had two hits, and Anderson's solo shot in the ninth provided the PawSox' only run. TJ Large and Scott Atchison each gave up a run in relief and Fernando Cabrera pitched a scoreless eighth in the loss.
In the lone afternoon game on the slate, Portland fell victim to a masterful pitching performance by 2009 first-round pick Kyle Gibson in a 6-2 loss to New Britain (MIN). Kyle Weiland finally came back down to earth for the Sea Dogs, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 5.0 innings to take the loss. Portland scored both of its runs in the sixth, with Mike Cameron doubling to score Jacoby Ellsbury, who scored on a Luis Exposito single two batters later. Cameron went 1 for 4 and Ellsbury was 3 for 4 with a double and a stolen base. Santo Luis allowed a run in 2.0 innings of relief, and Jason Rice tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in the loss.
Ryan Lavarnway hit a two-run shot to left to tie the game in the eighth, but Salem fell to Kinston (CLE) 5-4 when Kyle Fernandes walked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Salem wasted an impressive start by Alex Wilson, who gave up just 3 hits and an unearned run in 5.0 innings. Wilson left with a 2-1 lead after an Oscar Tejeda RBI double and a run-scoring Tim Federowicz single in the third. Mitch Dening had 3 hits, and Tejeda, Federowicz, and Will Middlebrooks each had 2 hits in the loss. Mike Lee gave up 3 runs in 2.0 innings of relief.
In Greenville, the Drive hung a couple of crooked numbers early to put away Augusta (SF) 11-4. Fuentes paced the Drive offense, falling a double short of a cycle and driving in 5 runs. Vladimir Frias was 2 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI and Michael Almanzar added a solo home run while Dan Butler and Derrik Gibson drove in a run each in the win. Yeiper Castillo struck out 4 and allowed 4 runs, 3 earned in 5.2 innings to get the win, and Cesar Cabral tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Player of the Night: Reymond Fuentes was 3 for 5 with 5 RBI in Greenville's 11-4 win Thursday night. Fuentes scored 2 runs and hit his third home run and fourth triple of the year.