Lavarnway, Padron ignite Salem in victory

6/17 Cup of Coffee: With Pawtucket and Greenville resting, Alex Wilson made his Double-A debut with Portland, Salem found themselves on the winning end of an offensive struggle and the DSL Red Sox played the rival Yankees in a short but sweet contest.

Wilson's Double-A debut was not one to remember, as Portland was smoked by the Erie SeaWolves (DET) 9-3. Wilson went the first 3.0 innings, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Ryne Lawson followed Wilson out of the bullpen with 3.0 innings of his own, allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Santo Luis pitched a stellar seventh and eighth, allowing just 2 hits while punching out 4. Jason Rice struggled with control as he pitched the ninth inning, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 3 walks. The Sea Dogs were held in check until the ninth, where they scored three on a Yamaico Navarro two-run home run and an RBI triple by Matt Sheely. Sheely and Ray Chang both collected two hits on the evening to lead the Portland offense.

Continuing their dominance over Wilmington, Salem's bats led the way in a 9-6 victory over the Blue Rocks (KC). Salem starter Miguel Gonzalez hurled the first 4.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Mike Lee followed Gonzalez and pitched 4.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 to pick up his fifth victory of the season. The Red Sox got on the board quickly in the first, picking up three runs on Jorge Padron's RBI single and a costly throwing error on the throw home from the Wilmington right fielder. In the third, Peter Hissey walked, stole second, advanced to third on Ryan Lavarnway's single and scored as Oscar Tejeda lofted a sacrifice fly. Salem expanded their lead to 6-2 in the fifth, as Will Middlebrooks smashed an RBI double and Tim Federowicz hit a sacrifice fly. The Red Sox would continue their offensive outburst in the seventh, adding three key insurance runs on a Lavarnway solo home run and a Federowicz RBI double. Lance McClain pitched the ninth inning, allowing 1 unearned run on 1 hit and a walk. Padron was 4 for 4 with 2 RBI and Lavarnway was 3 for 4 with the home run and 3 runs scored to lead the Salem offense. The victory brings the Red Sox record to 8-1 this season against the Blue Rocks.

In a shortened contest, the DSL Red Sox easily defeated the DSL Yankees2 5-2. Red Sox starter Raul Alcantara picked up his second victory of the season by pitching a complete game 5.0 inning gem, allowing just 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits while striking out 1. The Red Sox got on the board in the third on Lewis Urena's RBI single. After the Yankees tied the game in the fourth, the Red Sox retaliated in the fifth, aided by walks and errors by their foes. With two outs and a runner on first, Urena walked and was followed by Xander Bogaerts who grounded a routine chopper to third that was muffed by the Yankees third baseman. Curtney Doran and Dreily Guerrero followed by walking and forcing in runs. Derward Ruiz capped the scoring as his routine grounder to short was botched, allowing two more runs to scamper home. The game was called in the top of the sixth with the Red Sox at bat. The victory helped the Red Sox stay in a tie for first with the DSL Indians.

Player of the Night: Ryan Lavarnway, who went 3 for 4 with a home run, 3 runs scored and an RBI in Salem's 9-6 victory over Wilmington.

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