July 9, 2010 at 6:00 AM
Holliman, Latimer combine for 15 K's
7/9 Cup of Coffee: Many fans got their first glimpse of Robert Coello Thursday night, but Mark Holliman, another pitcher the Sox plucked out of independent ball in Canada, combined with Will Latimer to strike out 15 in Salem's big win.
Coello couldn't recreate his previous success for the television audience, allowing a pair of home runs in Pawtucket's 9-2 loss to Rochester (MIN). He allowed just 4 hits but surrendered 6 runs while striking out 6 and walking 4 in 5.0 innings. Blake Maxwell yielded 2 runs on 3 hits in 1.2 innings and Tommy Hottovy allowed a run on 2 hits. Fernando Cabrera tossed a scoreless ninth. On the offensive side, 13 of the PawSox 14 hits were singles, with Ryan Kalish collecting 4 hits and Bubba Bell adding 3. Josh Reddick was 2 for 4 with a double, with Lars Anderson and Jorge Jimenez driving in runs in the loss.
In Portland, Jeremy Kehrt lost his sixth decision in 9 Double-A appearances as the Sea Dogs fell 8-2 to New Hampshire (TOR). The Fisher Cats did all of their damage early, scoring 8 times in the first 4 innings off of Kehrt, who walked 6 and gave up 7 hits in 3.2 innings of work. Matt Sheely was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored, and Yamaico Navarro added two hits. Ryne Lawson and Mitch Herold combined to hold New Hampshire scoreless for the remainder of the game, while Luis Exposito and Che-Hsuan Lin sacrificed to drive in a run each.
Where lightning didn't strike twice for Coello, Mark Holliman had another impressive outing as Salem thumped Kinston (CLE) 7-2. Holliman fanned 8 and gave up 2 runs on 6 hits in 5.2 innings before Will Latimer continued to miss bats, striking out 7 of his own in 3.1 shutout innings of relief. Jorge Padron hit a bases-loaded double to score 3 in the top of the third, and Oscar Tejeda was 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Tim Federowicz and Jon Hee added RBI singles in the fifth.
Greenville lost an early lead and saw a comeback in the bottom of the tenth fall short as Hagerstown (BAL) snuck past the Drive 6-5. Jeremy Hazelbaker had 2 hits, including a triple, and stole his 36th base of the year but struck out with the tying run on second to end the game. Ronald Bermudez has 2 hits and drove in a pair, while Vladimir Frias and Derrik Gibson drove in runs as well. Drake Britton struck out 3 and allowed just 1 hit in 3.0 innings, and Tom Ebert yielded 4 runs, 2 earned and struck out 6 in 6.0 innings of solid relief. Dennis Neuman suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering a pair in the tenth.
Even with a day's rest, Lowell couldn't find a way Thursday night as they were dropped 5-4 by Jamestown (FLA). Jed Lowrie continued his rehab assignment with the Spinners, going 1 for 2 with a walk and one driven in. Miles Head collected 2 hits and an RBI, while James Kang was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, 2 runs scored and a run batted in. Hunter Cervenka pitched into the sixth inning, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 4 before making way for Jay Broughton, who walked 3 and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 4.0 innings of work.
In GCL action, Jason Place had his best game since returning last week as the Red Sox topped the GCL Rays 5-1. Place was 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, while Jason Thompson, Keury De La Cruz, and Luke Yoder each drove in a run for the winners. Sergio Gomez had his best start to date, giving up just a single in 3.0 frames. Raynel Velette took over from there, fanning 6 and allowing 2 hits, one of which was a solo home run before Justin Erasmus retired the side in the ninth.
Down in the Domincan, Curtney Doran hit a three-run home run in the fifth to cap a 6-2 win over the Rays. Lewis Urena was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored, while Jair Bogaerts and Javier Gutierrez drove in a run each. Yunior Ortega saw his miniscule ERA rise to 1.59 after allowing 2 runs on 6 hits in 4.2 innings of work. Sully Bonnelly allowed just a hit and 2 walks in 4.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Player of the Night: Pitchers who come on in relief of a starter who just struck out 8 rarely steal the show, but that's what Will Latimer did Thursday night. He retired 7 of 13 batters he faced via the K, and allowed just 2 hits in earning his second save of the season.