August 13, 2010 at 7:00 AM
Rizzo homers again for Portland
8/13 Cup of Coffee: It might not have been the most impressive slate of starters on paper, but that didn't stop them from grabbing the opportunity and keeping their team in the thick of things Thursday night.
Pawtucket's series finale against Lehigh Valley was postponed due to rain. They return home to face Buffalo tomorrow night.
On the back of a five-run second, Portland thumped Bowie (BAL) 9-2. Five Sea Dogs, including Anthony Rizzo and Ryan Lavarnway, had two hits, with Rizzo adding a two-run home run and Jorge Padron driving in 2 runs of his own. Blake Maxwell allowed an unearned run on 4 hits in 5.0 innings, while Eammon Portice and Mitch Herold tossed 2.0 innings of relief apiece. Chih-Hsien Chiang added 3 hits, and Ray Chang drove in 2 in the win.
In the completion of last night's suspended game, Salem fell to Kinston (CLE) 3-2. Stolmy Pimentel had his start cut short and took the hard-luck loss, going 4.0 innings and surrendering a run on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts. Ryan Dent hit a solo shot in the seventh for Salem's only run, while Jon Hee added two hits in the loss. Seth Garrison took the hill when play resumed, allowing a pair of earned runs in 2.0 innings, and Lance McClain allowed 3 hits in 3.0 shutout innings to end the game.
In the regularly-scheduled game, Salem fell 6-3 to Kinston in 8 innings. Miguel Gonzalez left after 5.0 innings with a 5-2 lead, but Kyle Fernandes was charged with 3 runs in the sixth and Pat Ryan picked up a blown save before Will Latimer gave up the winner in the eighth. Oscar Tejeda hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Will Middlebrooks made them back-to-back numbers with a solo shot of his own. Leonel Escobar and Drew Dominguez had 2 hits and an RBI each in the loss.
Kendal Volz was burned for 6 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings as Greenville was dropped by Asheville (COL) 7-2. Volz lasted just 3.1 innings, and Anatanaer Batista struck out 4 but allowed a run in 2.2 frames of relief. Shannon Wilkerson hammered a two-run double in the third to supply the Drive's only run, and Chris Court didn't allow a hit in 2.0 relief innings.
Hunter Cervenka came out on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel in Lowell, allowing just an unearned run in 5.0 innings as Lowell fell to State College (PIT) 1-0. Charlie Rosario struck out 6 in 4.0 innings of shutout relief, and Bryce Brentz had 2 of the Spinners' 4 hits. Miles Head doubled in the loss.
Juan Rodriguez and Luis Bastardo held the GCL Rays to just 3 hits in the GCL Red Sox 4-3 victory Thursday. Rodriguez allowed just a second inning single and 3 runs - 2 of which were unearned - in 5.0 innings, striking out 5 and walking 2. Luke Yoder hit a leadoff home run, and Keury De La Cruz added a two-run double in third en route to a 2 for 4 day. Jose Vinicio chipped in an RBI, and Bastardo struck out 4 in 4.0 innings of relief.
The DSL Sox enjoyed a similarly stingy performance on the rubber, topping the DSL Tigers 3-2. Mario Alcantara allowed 3 hits in 5.0 shutout frames, and Kiler Gil allowed 2 runs on 2 hits in 4.0 innings of work and picked up the win. Curtney Doran drove in a pair of runs, while Xander Bogaerts and Juan Ugas added 2 hits in the win.
Player of the Night: Anthony Rizzo continued his torrid August, going 2 for 5 with a two-run home run, his fifth in his last eight games.