Reddick does it again for Pawtucket

8/26 Cup of Coffee: The evening was highlighted by Pawtucket's extra inning victory as the GCL Sox couldn't keep pace in the playoff race and Portland and Salem were both unable to pull out close contests.

After blowing an early lead, Pawtucket roared back in extra innings for an 8-5 victory over the Buffalo Bisons (NYM). Rich Hill received the start for the PawSox and went 5.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and a pair of walks. Hideki Okajima pitched the sixth inning and gave up 1 run on 1 hit. Tommy Hottovy pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Robert Manuel picked up the victory as he pitched the final 3.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and a walk. Pawtucket got on the board in the second as they plated two on Jack Hannahan's RBI single. Lars Anderson's sacrifice fly in the third extended the PawSox lead to 3-0. The Bisons chipped away and scored singular runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to tie the game and send it to extras. Pawtucket exploded for five runs in the top of the tenth, receiving an RBI single from Jorge Jimenez and a Josh Reddick grand slam. The red-hot Reddick was 2 for 6 with the grand slam and 4 RBI to lead the PawSox offense.

Portland was unable to dig themselves out of an early hole as they fell to the Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 5-3. Jeremy Kehrt tossed 6.0 innings, allowing 5 runs on 10 hits, striking out 6. Eammon Portice followed Kehrt with 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 3. Down 2-0 in the third, Portland was gifted a run when the Harrisburg first baseman muffed the third out of the inning and allowed a run to scamper home. The Senators answered with three in the bottom half of the inning and opened up a comfortable four run advantage. Anthony Rizzo's RBI ground out in the seventh pulled the Sea Dogs one run closer, 5-2. Chih-Hsien Chiang's solo home run opened the ninth inning but was not enough to ignite a rally. Jose Iglesias was 3 for 5 from the top of the order to pace the Portland offense.

Despite a masterful pitching performance from their starter and an early lead, Salem was nipped by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (ATL) 3-2. Mike Lee returned from the DL in brilliant fashion, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out 6. Cesar Cabral hurled 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. Patrick Ryan allowed Myrtle Beach to walk off with the victory as he recorded just one out in the ninth, allowing 1 run on 2 hits. The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Salem received an RBI single from Mitch Dening and a sacrifice fly from Alex Hassan to take a 2-0 lead. Myrtle Beach tied the game in the seventh and then walked off with a win in the ninth. Hassan was 2 for 3 to lead the Red Sox offense.

Lowell was postponed due to rain for a second straight day and will play a doubleheader this evening against the Staten Island Yankees starting at 6 PM.

The GCL Red Sox, looking to keep their playoff hopes alive, were stung by the GCL Rays 7-3. The loss eliminates the Red Sox from the division race and leaves them 1.5 games behind the GCL Mets for the wild card. Jacob Dahlstrand pitched the first 2.0 innings, allowing just 1 hit. Jason Garcia picked up the loss for his 2.2 innings of work in which he allowed 7 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits. Luis Bastardo added 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out 6. John Killen came on in the eighth, allowing just a walk and striking out 2. The Red Sox got on the board first as Heiker Meneses laced an RBI single in the second inning. Down 7-1 in the eighth, Jason Thompson cracked a two run home run but it was too little too late for the Red Sox. Sean Coyle recorded his first professional hit, a single, in the ninth inning.

Player of the Night: Josh Reddick, who was 2 for 6 with a tenth inning grand slam, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored in Pawtucket's 8-3 victory.

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