PawSox win in Nava's return

7/23 Cup of Coffee: Another late-inning loss in Lowell prevented a perfect day down on the farm, with Portland winning big and Greenville and Pawtucket winning late.

Lars Anderson singled to score Daniel Nava in the bottom of the tenth to give Pawtucket a 5-4 walk-off win over Toledo (DET). Nava made a triumphant return to the minors, tying the game at 3 with a three-run jack to left in the third inning en route to going 2 for 3 with a pair of walks. Ryan Kalish and Niuman Romero each had a pair of hits, with Kalish also driving in a run. Ramon A. Ramirez returned from the DL to go 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and striking out 4. Tommy Hottovy allowed a run on 3 hits, and Robert Manuel held the Mud Hens scoreless in the final 3 innings to get the win.

Ryan Lavarnway continued to swing a hot stick since his promotion to Double-A, going 3 for 5 with a double and 3 batted in as Portland trounced Harrisburg (WAS) 9-1. Chih-Hsien Chiang also homered and drove in 3 for the Sea Dogs, while Luis Exposito, Anthony Rizzo, and Yamaico Navarro each had multi-hit games. Alex Wilson held the Senators to 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 3 in 5.1 innings, and Eammon Portice combined with Bryce Cox to hold them scoreless for the final 3.1 innings.

Under the watchful eye of our own Chris Hatfield, Salem hung a crooked number in the third thanks to an Alex Hassan grand slam in a 5-1 victory over Lynchburg (CIN). Stolmy Pimentel dazzled on the hill for Salem, allowing a solo home run and a single in the second and proceeding to set down the next 13 batters in order before a walk in the seventh. Pimentel struck out 7 in as many innings, and Seth Garrison fanned 3 in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Mitch Dening was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Oscar Tejeda added 2 hits in the win.

Shannon Wilkerson smacked a 2-run double to break a 1-1 tie in the eighth to give Greenville a 3-1 win over Kannapolis (CWS). Kendal Volz continued to be the ace of the Drive staff, striking out 5 and allowing 6 hits in 6.0 shutout innings. The Drive took a 1-0 lead in the sixth and Jeremiah Bayer gave it back in the eighth, but held on to go 3.0 innings and allow just a run while striking out 4 and picking up the win. Chris McGuiness picked up his 41st RBI of the season, and five different players accounted for Greenville's five hits.

Lowell spoiled a perfect night for the farm teams with their tenth straight loss, this one a 4-3 come-from-behind Brooklyn (NYM) win. Brandon Jacobs drove in a run with a second-inning double and scored on Miles Head's first professional home run later that inning, but Miguel Celestino and Garrett Rau couldn't hang onto the 3-0 lead. Each allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, with Celestino going the first 4 and Rau the final 4.1 before allowing the game-winner in the ninth. Nick Robinson and Bryce Brentz each had a pair of hits in the loss.

The GCL squad did a pretty apt impression of the rest of the affiliates, using timely late hitting and impressive starting pitching to top the Orioles 4-1. Fransisco Taveras pitched the first 5.0 shutout frames, striking out 6 and walking just 1 while allowing 3 hits. Not to be outdone, Luis Bastardo added 4.0 frames of relief, allowing just an unearned run and striking out 6 of his own. Henry Ramos, who went 3 for 4 with a double, gave the Red Sox a lead in the fourth by stealing home. Keury De La Cruz was also 3 for 4 with a double, and Wilfred Pichardo smacked a two-run home run in the win.

Player of the Night: Daniel Nava picked up the form that earned him his memorable call-up in his return to Pawtucket, scoring the game-winning run and belting a three-run home run en route to a 2 for 3 night. He also walked twice in the win.

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