Rizzo's bat helps Sea Dogs to win

7/19 Cup of Coffee: It was a light slate for Sox affiliates on Sunday, with Salem and GCL off for the day, and the DSL holding its All-Star game. The teams that did play split their decisions:

Pawtucket couldn't get anything going on offense, managing only 3 hits and a walk on the afternoon in a 3-0 loss to Syracuse (WAS). All three PawSox hits came in the first four innings, and only one - a Lars Anderson double with two outs in the fourth - went for extra bases. Anderson and Niuman Romero were each 1 for 3 to lead the offense. On the mound, Robert Coello was lucky to allow only 3 runs in his 4.0 innings, as he allowed 4 hits and also walked 4, though he did strike out 8. Rich Hill was equally wild, allowing 3 walks in his 2.0 innings, but he did not allow any hits and also struck out 3. Chad Paronto allowed only a walk in his 2.0 innings to finish the game.

Portland built an early lead to back a strong start by Stephen Fife, and the Sea Dogs earned a solid 4-2 win over New Britain (MIN). Fife went the first 6.0 innings and did not allow a run, yielding only 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Ryne Lawson ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on a hit and 2 walks in the inning, but settled down to get through the eighth and hand the game off to Jason Rice, who closed things out for his tenth save. Anthony Rizzo got the scoring started in this one, launching his tenth home run of the year with two outs in the fourth. Chih-Hsien Chiang's RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0, and back-to-back doubles by Luis Exposito and Rizzo both knocked in runs, giving Portland a 4-0 lead through six. Jorge Padron also had a nice game, going 2 for 4 with a double as the Sea Dogs left fielder.

Salem, along with the rest of the Carolina League, was idle on Sunday.

A five-run second and a balanced, eleven-hit attack helped Greenville to an easy win over Savannah (NYM), 8-4. All the Drive damage in the second came with two down, when back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for Derrik Gibson, who doubled in two. Two more scored on a Sand Gnats error, and Chris McGuiness doubled to cap the scoring and make it 5-0. A Michael Almanzar double in the third made it 6-0, and after Savannah got one back in the fourth, a two-run double by Ronald Bermudez put the game out of reach. All of that was plenty to back Manny Rivera, who allowed only 2 runs on 4 hits in 5.1, walking nobody as he struck out 2. The Drive bullpen tandem of Pedro Perez and Anatanaer Batista had a bit of a bumpier road, allowing a combined 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks the rest of the way, but did the job to seal the win. Reynaldo Rodriguez had the best offensive day for Greenville, going 3 for 5.

Lowell's tough season continued on Sunday, as the Spinners almost had as many errors (2) as hits (3) and lost 4-0 to Aberdeen (BAL). Seth Garrison had himself a nice little start for the Spinners, going 3.0 innings allowing only a hit and a run, striking out 3. Hunter Cervenka was almost as good in relief, going 5.0 innings allowing only 2 unearned runs on 1 hit. He did walk 4, but struck out 8. Wilson Matos got roughed up a bit in the ninth, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. Lowell didn't manage a base runner until the sixth, when Bryan Peterson and James Kang registered subsequent singles, but Kolbrin Vitek grounded out to end the rally. The seventh looked more promising, as the first two Spinners reached base, but the next two hitters struck out, and a fly out snuffed that chance as well.

The GCL Red Sox were also idle on Sunday.

In the Dominican, the DSL All-Star Game was the only contest on the Sunday slate, pitting the NL All-Stars against the AL All-Stars. Javier Gutierrez got an at-bat in the game, while Raul Alcantara represented the Red Sox on the mound. The AL won the game, 4-3.

Player of the Night: Anthony Rizzo, who was 2 for 4 with a home run in a big win for Portland.

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