August 28, 2010 at 7:51 AM
Reddick, Saltalamacchia power PawSox comeback
8/28 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket enjoyed an impressive come-from-behind victory Friday night, while the GCL Sox kept themselves right in the thick of the playoff race with a win over the Twins.
After Josh Reddick's three-run ninth inning home run, Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled to score Bubba Bell and give Pawtucket a 6-5 win over Rochester (MIN). Ramon Ramirez surrendered 3 runs in 6.0 innings, and Santo Luis allowed a pair to score in an inning of relief before TJ Large and Fernando Cabrera tossed scoreless innings to close it out. Saltalamacchia and Eric Patterson had 2 hits apiece, Reddick had 3 hits and 4 RBI, and Niuman Romero had 3 hits of his own in the win.
Ryan Lavarnway hit a three-run shot in the sixth to power Portland to a 5-1 win over New Hampshire (TOR). Chih-Hsien Chiang added a solo home run in the ninth, and Nate Spears drove in the Sea Dogs' first run in the second inning. Alex Wilson struck out 8 and allowed a run on 3 hits in 4.1 innings, and Mitch Herold, Ryne Lawson, and Jason Rice combined for 4.2 innings of shutout relief.
Salem fell to 2.0 games out of first place after losing 2-1 to Kinston (CLE). Brock Huntzinger took a tough loss, allowing 2 runs in 6.0 four-hit innings. Zach Hammes struck out 2 and allowed a hit in 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, while Ronald Bermudez doubled and scored on a Ryan Dent sacrifice fly in the third to account for the Sox' only run.
In games with big SAL playoff implications, Greenville split Friday's doubleheader with Asheville (COL). The Drive won the first game 5-3 when Kolbrin Vitek's fifth-inning double broke a 3-3 deadlock. Manny Rivera struck out 5 and gave up 3 runs, 2 earned in 5.2 innings of work and Dennis Neuman notched his 14th save of the season with 1.1 innings of relief. Jeremy Hazelbaker was 2 for 3 with a double and a stolen base, and Derrik Gibson, Michael Almanzar, and Sean Kileen drove in a run apiece in the win.
Drake Britton fanned 6 in 5.0 innings in game two, but the Drive fell 4-2. Britton allowed 4 runs, 2 earned in 5.0 innings and Jordan Flasher tossed 2.0 perfect innings of relief. Michael Almanzar and Reymond Fuentes each had a single and an RBI in the loss.
Felix Sanchez collected 3 hits and Jose Garcia drove in 3 runs as Lowell thrashed Staten Island (NYY) 7-1. Tyler Wilson picked up his third win, allowing a run on 4 hits in 5.0 innings, and Charlie Rosario tossed 4.0 shutout innings of relief. Bryce Brentz was 1 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored, and Josue Peley drove in a run in the loss.
The GCL Red Sox kept their playoff hopes alive with a 9-3 pounding of Twins. Swen Huijer followed up Francisco Taveras' 3.0 inning, three-run performance by striking out 7 in 4.0 innings of shutout ball. Justin Erasmus added 2.0 innings of scoreless relief. Willie Holmes was 2 for 3 with a three-run homer and Trygg Danforth hit a solo shot in the win. The Red Sox and the Blue Jays are .5 game back of the Mets for the wild card with one game to play.
Player of the Night: Josh Reddick was 3 for 5 with a home run and 4 RBI in Pawtucket's come-from-behind win Friday. He's batting .560 with 5 home runs and 12 RBI in his last 5 games.