May 16, 2010 at 6:57 AM
Pimentel perfect in Salem's big win
4/16 Cup of Coffee: A pair of highly-touted prospects impressed in New Hampshire, but Stolmy Pimentel threw 6.0 perfect innings for Salem and Pawtucket won their fifth straight to steal the spotlight Saturday night.
It was a bullpen game in Pawtucket, as five pitchers combined to allow just 3 hits in a 6-4 win over Syracuse (WAS). Dusty Brown hit a three-run home run in the sixth while Daniel Nava, Aaron Bates, and Jorge Jimenez each had multi-hit games. Nava and Bates both scored twice. Dustin Richardson allowed all 4 runs for the PawSox, but starter TJ Large and relievers Ramon A. Ramirez, Scott Atchison, and Robert Manuel combined to hold the Crunch scoreless and strike out 8 in the win.
In a matchup of top pitching prospects, Casey Kelly was out-dueled by Kyle Drabek as Portland fell 5-0 to New Hampshire (TOR). Kelly fanned 6 and walked 3, allowing 1 run on 2 hits in 3.2 innings, but Drabek's 7.0 shutout frames got the job done for the Fisher Cats. Tommy Hottovy was responsible for the rest of the damage, giving up 4 earned on 5 hits in 1.2 innings, and Bryce Cox tossed 1.2 scoreless frames to finish the game. Anthony Rizzo and Jose Iglesias each singled off Drabek in the loss.
Stolmy Pimentel faced the minimum and his teammates backed him up with 19 hits as Salem trounced Myrtle Beach (ATL) 9-1. Pimentel struck out 4 and retired all 18 batters he faced before being lifted after 6, and Will Latimer tossed a perfect seventh before allowing a run and 3 hits in the eighth. Will Middlebrooks, Ryan Lavarnway, Drew Hedman, and Ryan Dent were all 3 for 5 on the night, and Alex Hassan added a two-run home run. Hedman and Lavarnway each drove in a pair, while Tim Federowicz was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Blake Maxwell pitched a perfect ninth.
Christian Vazquez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to pull back within one, but Greenville couldn't complete the comeback, falling 5-4 to Lakewood (PHI). The Drive struck out 14 times and couldn't get much going offensively, with Vladimir Frias collecting the only multi-hit game game. He was 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored. Starter Yieper Castillo gave up 4 runs, 3 earned in 5.0 innings, striking out 2 and walking 3 to take the loss. Anatanaer Batista allowed an unearned run in 2.0 innings, and Cesar Cabral threw 2.0 shutout innings for the Drive, who fell to 18-18 with the loss.
Player of the Night: Stolmy Pimentel, who was perfect in 6.0 innings of work, lowered his ERA to 4.15 as Salem won 9-1.