Hedman's big night leads Salem to victory

5/2 Cup of Coffee: Lars Anderson collected his first Triple-A hit and RBI as the PawSox lost to Gwinnett while Portland and Salem both collected victories Saturday night.

The PawSox jumped out to a 4-run lead in the top of the first, but fell 7-6 to Gwinnett (ATL). Josh Reddick tripled and scored on a Daniel Nava double and Tug Hulett tripled to score a pair before Anderson singled to knock in his first Triple-A RBI later in the first. The Braves got runs back in the second, third, and fourth to make it 4-3, but Jorge Jimenez singled with the bases loaded to score 2 in the top of the sixth to put Pawtucket up 6-3. Starter Kris Johnson gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and Chad Paronto allowed 1 run on 4 hits Joe Nelson threw 1.2 hitless innings of relief before Fernando Cabrera blew his second save of the season, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and walking in the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Jimenez and Gustavo Molina each had a pair of hits for Pawtucket.

In Portland, the Sea Dogs won for the second straight night, topping New Britain (MIN) 4-1 on the back of a solid start by Felix Doubront. The Sea Dogs got on the board first when Yamaico Navarro grounded out to score a run in the bottom of the second. New Britain pulled even in the top of the top of the third, but Portland pulled ahead for good when Nate Spears hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Navarro and Luis Exposito knocked in a run apiece in the eighth. Doubront went 5.2 innings, striking out 3 and allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. T.J. Large and Bryce Cox combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Sea Dogs.

Salem got to old friend Nick Hagadone early, plating 3 runs in the first inning en route to a 6-1 win over Kinston (CLE). Ryan Lavarnway drove in a run before Drew Hedman knocked in two to stake Salem to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Salem picked up another in the fourth to make it 4-1 and Ryan Dent hit a solo shot to make it 5-1 an inning later. Salem starter Brock Huntzinger walked 5 batters in 5.0 innings, but struck out 2 and allowed just 1 run on 1 hit. Mike Lee struck out 4 and gave up just 1 hit in 4.0 innings of scoreless relief. Hedman was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI, and Dent was 2 for 3 in the win.

Manny Rivera gave up a run in each of his first two innings and the Drive couldn't recover as they fell 6-5 to West Virginia (PIT). Greenville trailed 5-0 when Derrik Gibson went deep with a man on in the bottom of the eighth to make it 5-2, and West Virginia scored in the top of the ninth before Michael Thomas, Ken Roque, and Wilfred Pichardo drove in runs to make it 6-5 before the Drive ran out of time. Rivera went 5.0 innings, allowing just the 2 runs and 3 hits while striking out 4. Anatanaer Batista allowed 2 runs, 1 earned in an inning of relief and Dennis Neuman gave up 2 runs, 1 earned of his own in 3.0 innings. Zach Gentile and Roque had multi-hit games in a losing effort for the Drive.

Player of the Night: Drew Hedman raised his batting average to .359 on the back of a 3 for 4 night Saturday. He also drove in a pair in Salem's 6-1 win over Kinston.

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