Almanzar drives Greenville to easy victory

8/30 Cup of Coffee: Greenville brought out their bats as Lowell stayed hot and Pawtucket got some help from a few rehabbing players to bring home victories on Sunday.

Pawtucket jumped out to an early start and was able to double up the Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 6-3. Adam Mills picked up his fourth victory of the year for his 5.0 innings of work, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk. Tommy Hottovy, Robert Coello and Francisco Cabrera combined to finish the final 4.0 innings in scoreless fashion. The PawSox struck for three in the first thanks to Jarrod Saltalamacchia's three run home run. In the third, Lars Anderson laced an RBI single through the middle to take a 4-2 lead. After Rochester inched closer in the fourth, Anderson and Bubba Bell smacked RBI singles in the fifth to give Pawtucket a 6-3 advantage. Bell, Anderson and the rehabbing Eric Patterson each had two hits to lead the PawSox offense.

Portland attempted a comeback in the ninth, but were ultimately struck down by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 6-3. Kyle Weiland picked up the loss despite his 5.0 innings during which he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits. Ryne Miller followed Weiland and tossed 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Jason Rice pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Portland took a 1-0 lead in the second as Ryan Lavarnway scampered home on a double play ball. Down 6-1 in the ninth, the Sea Dogs added two runs on a Lavarnway bases loaded walk and a Ray Chang hit by pitch that forced in a run. Despite the two runs scoring with no outs, Portland was unable to complete the comeback, striking out three times with the bases loaded.

Salem was crushed by the Kinston Indians (CLE) 15-2. The Indians used a 12 run fifth inning to cruise to the easy victory. Caleb Clay received the start, going the first 4.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Cesar Cabral followed Clay and only recorded the first out of the fifth, allowing 8 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. Kyle Fernandes finished off the fifth, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Will Latimer and Patrick Ryan combined to pitch the last 3.0 innings in scoreless fashion. The Red Sox scored singular runs in the second and eighth on an RBI single by Ronald Bermudez and an RBI ground out by Oscar Tejeda. Bermudez and Alex Hassan both recorded two hits to lead the Salem offense.

Greenville received stellar pitching and plenty of run support in their 13-1 drubbing of the Ashville Tourists (COL). Pete Ruiz picked up his tenth victory of the year for his 5.0 innings of work, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Jeremiah Bayer tossed 4.0 scoreless innings in relief of Ruiz, picking up his ninth save. Greenville got things started in the second as Kolbrin Vitek scampered home on a wild pitch. The Drive took the lead in the fourth as Reynaldo Rodriguez smacked his eleventh home run of the season. Greenville added three more in the sixth on a Reymond Fuentes RBI single and a Christian Vazquez RBI double. In the seventh, Vazquez, Vitek, and Michael Almanzar each laced RBI singles and Fuentes brought home another on his RBI ground out. The Drive continued their scoring in the eighth on an Almanzar three run home run and a wild pitch. Almanzar was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBI to lead the Drive offense.

Lowell continued its recent winning ways, downing the Staten Island Yankees (NYY) 7-6. Hunter Cervenka picked up his first victory of the season for his 5.0 innings of work, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks. Garrett Rau relieved Cervenka and was hit hard in his 2.1 innings, allowing 5 runs on 4 hits. Tyler Lockwood stopped the Yankees comeback by hurling 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up his fourth save. The Spinners got started early, scoring two in the first on a Miles Head RBI ground out and a Brandon Jacobs RBI single that was misplayed by the Yankees center fielder. Lowell added two more in the second on Jayson Hernandez and Joantoni Garcia sacrifice flies. In the sixth, the Spinners took a 6-1 lead on a Jacobs solo home run and a Garcia RBI single. The Spinners added the game's decisive run in the seventh on a Head sacrifice fly. Lowell will look to complete a rare sweep of Staten Island this evening.

Player of the Night: Michael Almanzar, who was 3 for 5 with a home run, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored in Greenville's 13-1 victory.

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