July 3, 2010 at 7:15 AM
Bowden stars in win
7/3 Cup of Coffee: Starting pitchers took center stage Friday night, with Michael Bowden and Brock Huntzinger giving their teams outstanding starts on an evening that saw a total of 5 home runs hit by our affiliates.
Bowden's 2010 resurgence continued as he allowed just a solo home run in 7.2 innings pitched as Pawtucket topped Scranton/Wilkes Barre (NYY) 5-1. He struck out 4 and hasn't allowed more than 3 earned runs in his last 8 starts. Randor Bierd came off the DL for an inning and a third of shutout relief to close it out. Ryan Kalish and Tug Hulett had each had 2 runs scored and a pair of doubles, and Bubba Bell drove in 2 runs with a pair of base hits to make it 6 RBI in his last 3 games. Lars Anderson added an RBI in the win.
In the first of a pair of seven-inning games Friday night, Portland nearly fell victim to a perfect game in a 10-0 drubbing by Binghamton (NYM). Alex Wilson surrendered 8 earned on 9 hits and 4 walks in 4.1 innings, and Jason Rice allowed 2 runs and struck out 4 in 1.2 frames of relief. Che-Hsuan Lin singled and Luis Exposito doubled in the seventh to save face for the Sea Dogs.
Portland reversed their luck in the second game, hanging a 10-spot of their own in a 10-2 win over the Mets. Ryne Lawson went 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned on 4 hits, and Ryne Miller allowed just 1 hit and retired all six batters he faced via the strikeout. Ray Chang was 4 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Anthony Rizzo was 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run home run. Yamaicco Navarro had a home run and 4 RBI, and Nate Spears and Chih-Hsien Chiang added 2 hits each in the win.
The Salem bullpen couldn't hold a lead for Brock Huntzinger in a 5-2 loss to Frederick (BAL). Huntzinger gave the Sox six strong, striking out 4 and allowing 1 run on 6 hits, but Zach Hammes yielded 3 runs in the seventh and Will Latimer allowed a run in the final two innings to give the Keys the win. Will Middlebrooks was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored, while Drew Hedman and Luis Segovia drove in a run apiece in the loss.
Kendal Volz continued the night's impressive string of starting pitching performances in Greenville's 8-3 win over Savannah (NYM). Volz fanned 3 and limited Savannah to 3 runs on 8 hits in 6.0 innings of work, and Anatanaer Batista struck out 5 in 3.0 innings of shutout relief. Ronald Bermudez was 3 for 4 with a pair of two-run home runs, and Jeremy Hazelbaker was 3 for 4 with a triple and a home run. Chris McGuinness added a pair of hits, and Will Vazquez had an RBI in the win.
In Lowell, the Spinners dropped their fifth straight, a 7-3 decision to Vermont (WAS). Freddy Sanchez was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Nick Robinson had 2 of the Spinner's 5 hits. Hunter Cervenka picked up his first loss of the season, walking 4 and allowing 4 runs on 6 hits in 3.2 innings of work. Cesare Angeloni gave up 1 run and struck out 6 in 3.1 innings of relief, and Wilson Matos yielded 2 unearned runs in 2.0 innings of work. Miles Head and Jose Garcia added RBI in the win.
Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the GCL game against the Twins was suspended. Sergio Gomez struck out 4 and surrendered 3 runs in 3.0 innings before Francisco Taveras held the Twins scoreless in 2.0 innings. Luis Bastardo fanned 3 and allowed a run in 1.2 frames of relief. Rehabbing Jason Place and Mark Wagner were each hitless, but James Kang, Luke Yoder, and Heiker Meneses had 2 hits each before the game was suspended. Meneses added 2 RBI.
The DSL squad couldn't muster much offense in a 3-0 loss to the Indians. William Cuevas picked up a tough loss, striking out 5 in as many innings and allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Francellis Montas yielded a run in 2.0 innings. Xander Bogaerts and Aly Gonzalez had 2 hits each in the loss.
Player of the Night: Michael Bowden gave the PawSox 7.2 innings of one-hit ball in their win over the Yankees. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to 3.77.