June 18, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Huntzinger outstanding in Salem win
6/18 Cup of Coffee: Offense was at a premium throughout the system Thursday, but a quartet of PawSox hurlers and Brock Huntzinger had very impressive outings to put a notch in their club's win column.
It took eleven innings, but Dusty Brown singled to score Lars Anderson and give the Pawtucket pitching staff a well-earned 1-0 victory over Columbus (CLE). Randor Bierd struck out 3 in 5.0 innings and combined with TJ Large, Fernando Cabrera, and Robert Manuel on a five-hit shutout. The PawSox put runners on third base in the first, fourth, sixth and tenth innings, but couldn't push a run across until the eleventh. Josh Reddick was 3 for 4 with a double and Aaron Bates, Angel Sanchez, and newcomer Ryan Shealy added 2 hits each in the win.
Portland fell victim to an impressive pitching performance Thursday, as Erie (DET) starter Brooks Brown yielded just 5 hits en route to a complete-game 6-1 win over the Sea Dogs. Jeremy Kehrt gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks in 5.0 innings to take the loss, while Ryne Miller made his first appearance out of the pen this season, allowing a solo home run in 2.0 innings. Tommy Hottovy struck out 3 in 2.0 innings of perfect relief, and Yamaico Navarro scored on a Ryan Khoury sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to provide the Sea Dogs' only run.
Yet another sterling start from Huntzinger propelled Salem to a 3-2 victory of Wilmington (KC). Pete Hissey singled to score Mitch Dening to give Salem the win in the eighth, but it was Huntzinger, who lowered his ERA to 2.83 with 7.0 innings of four-hit, one-run ball, who stole the show for Salem. Kyle Fernandes got the win, allowing a run on 3 hits in 2.0 innings. Oscar Tejeda was 2 for 4, and Ryan Lavarnway, Tim Federowicz, and Alex Hassan all chipped in a double each in the win.
All but one player in the Greenville starting nine had hits, but they left 8 runners on base in a 4-0 loss to Hickory (TEX). Ryan Pressly, who gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 4.0 innings, was relieved by Anatanaer Batista, who gave up a run on 3 hits and struck out 3. Chris Court gave up 1 hit in a scoreless eighth. Shannon Wilkerson tripled and Michael Almanzar doubled in the loss.
In DSL action, the Red Sox fell to 12-6 with an 8-7 loss to the DSL Tigers. Mario Alcantara picked up his second loss of the season, allowing 6 earned on 11 hits in 3.2 innings. Dreily Guererro hit a three-run double in the third inning, while Lewis Urena and Jesus Loya each added 2 hits. Kiler Gil gave up 2 runs, 1 earned in 2.1 innings of relief and Ellis Jimenez pitched a scoreless eighth in the loss.
Player of the Night: Brock Huntzinger tossed 7.0 stellar innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and striking out 2 in a 3-2 win over Kingston.