PawSox win big, GCL win ugly

7/16 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket and Portland had vastly different results as they returned from their respective All-Star breaks Thursday, while the GCL Red Sox scraped out a win despite committing an astounding 5 errors.

Pawtucket returned from the All-Star break swinging, hanging a 5-spot in the second inning of their 8-2 win over Syracuse (WAS). Six players had 2 hits for the PawSox, including Gil Velazquez, who smacked a two-run double in the second and added an RBI triple. Ryan Kalish added an RBI triple, and Niuman Romero was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Kris Johnson picked up his fourth win of the season, striking out 6 in as many innings while allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Santo Luis made his Triple-A debut, yielding a run on 2 hits and 2 walks, and Tommy Hottovy and Kason Gabbard each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

Portland, on the other hand, couldn't get much going after a couple of days off in a 3-0 loss to New Britain (MIN). Manny Delcarmen was sharp in his first rehab appearance, inducing 3 groundouts in a quick first inning before Jeremy Kehrt took over and carried a no-hitter into the fifth before allowing 3 runs on 4 hits in 5.0 innings. Mitch Herold and Ryne Miller combined for a pair of shutout innings to finish the game. Jeremy Hermida had 2 of the Sea Dogs' 5 hits, and Luis Exposito doubled in the loss.

One big inning was all it took in Salem, as Caleb Clay and Cesar Cabral were tagged for 5 runs in the sixth as the Red Sox fell to Winston-Salem (CWS) 9-6. Clay was charged with 5 runs on 8 hits in 5.1 innings before Cabral came in and promptly ceded a home run. Jon Hee was 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Mitch Dening was 2 for 5 with a triple. Tim Federowicz added 2 hits, and Drew Hedman drove in a pair in the loss. Zach Hammes fanned 3 in 2.0 innings of one-run ball, and Pat Ryan struck out 1 in his debut.

Despite collecting a dozen hits, Greenville was only able to push two runs across in a 3-2 loss to Savannah (NYM). The Sand Gnats scored the winner in the fifth inning off Ryan Pressly, who surrendered 3 runs and struck out 4 in 6.0 innings. Derrik Gibson's RBI base knock in the seventh brought the Drive to within one, but it wasn't enough. Gibson was 2 for 5, while Ronald Bermudez was 2 for 4 with a double and Christian Vazquez added an RBI. Armando Zerpa fanned 3 in 2.0 innings of relief.

Lowell's struggles continued Thursday night, as the young Spinners squad was thumped by Batavia (STL) 16-2. Madison Younginer was very hittable, as the Muckdogs tagged him for 9 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in 3.1 innings. Charle Rosario allowed 7 runs, 3 earned on 9 hits in mop-up duty. Miles Head was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Kolbrin Vitek went 2 for 4 with a run scored in the loss.

A team that commits five errors rarely can call themselves winners, but the GCL squad can do just that as their opponents committed six of their own in a 7-4 win over the Rays. Heiker Meneses was 3 for 4 with a double, a pair of triples and an RBI, and Henry Ramos went 2 for 4 with a pair driven in. Eric Curtis yielded a pair of earned runs in 3.1 innings, and Scott Swinson picked up the win by allowing 2 unearned runs and striking out 5 in 5.2 innings.

In the Dominican Republic, the Rangers got to Raul Alcantara early en route to a 5-2 win over the Sox. Alcantara gave up 4 runs on as many hits in 3.0 innings, and Ricardo Betancourt gave up a run on 5 hits in 4.0 innings before Iago Januario tossed a scoreless eighth. Curtney Doran was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Xander Bogaerts added 2 hits in the loss.

Player of the Night: Scott Swinson tossed 5.2 innings of relief Thursday, striking out 5 and not allowing an earned run in the GCL squad's 7-4 win.

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