Spears powers Portland to second straight

8/24 Cup of Coffee: Portland and Greenville brought home the lone victories of the evening on the backs of their bats while Pawtucket's pitching let them down and Lowell couldn't muster enough offense on a cold and rainy evening.

Despite a very productive night from their outfield, Pawtucket was run over by the Buffalo Bisons (NYM) 12-4. Kris Johnson picked up the loss as he was victimized by poor defense, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks in his 4.0 innings. T.J. Large followed Johnson and was also smacked around, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits and a walk in 2.0 innings of relief. Hideki Okajima made his second appearance with the PawSox, collecting only the first out of the seventh inning and allowing 4 runs on 4 hits. Santo Luis finished off the game for Pawtucket, hurling 1.2 innings while allowing just 1 hit. Josh Reddick led off the game with a solo home run that gave Pawtucket a very quick 1-0 lead. Down 4-1 in the sixth, Reddick struck again for his second home run of the game, pulling the PawSox to within two. Gustavo Molina's solo home run and Jeremy Hermida's bases loaded walk plated two more for Pawtucket in the seventh. Reddick and Hermida each had 3 hits to lead the PawSox offense.

Portland's infield brought out their bats in a 10-5 downing of the Harrisburg Senators (WAS). Blake Maxwell moved to 5-0 on the season for his 5.0 innings on the mound in which he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. Mitch Herold turned in 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5. Jason Rice also added 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks while punching out 4. The Sea Dogs had no trouble getting started in this contest, receiving a two run home run from Nate Spears in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Spears struck again in the second, this time lacing a three run home run to give Portland a 5-0 advantage. Up 5-1 in the fourth, Anthony Rizzo drilled a bases clearing RBI double to give the Sea Dogs a comfortable 8-1 lead. Portland scored singular runs in the fifth and the eighth on a Spears RBI single and a Ryan Lavarnway solo home run. Spears ended the evening 3 for 6 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored and 6 RBI.

A shaky bullpen held on as Greenville brushed away the Charleston Riverdogs (NYY) 6-5. Pete Ruiz was solid in his 5.0 inning start, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits while striking out 5. Jordan Flasher followed Ruiz and tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out 3. Dennis Neuman ran into trouble in the eighth, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in his lone inning of work. Armando Zerpa picked up his second save for a scoreless ninth inning. After Charleston took the lead in the top half of the second, Shannon Wilkerson laced an RBI single to tie things in the bottom half of the inning. The Drive took the lead for good the very next inning as Reynaldo Rodriguez drilled his 10th home run of the season to give Greenville a 3-2 advantage. Kenneth Roque's RBI single in the sixth and RBI singles by Wilkerson and Derrik Gibson in the seventh added important insurance runs. The Riverdogs had a runner in scoring position in the ninth but were unable to capitalize.

The Spinners bats emulated the chilly ballpark weather as they fell to the Vermont Lake Monsters (WAS) 2-1. Hunter Cervenka received the start and went 5.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. Garrett Rau moved to 0-4 for his 3.0 innings of relief in which he allowed the winning run on 1 hit and 4 walks. Cesare Angeloni pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Lowell's lone run of the contest came in the fifth as Bryce Brentz drilled a ball off the left field scoreboard for his fifth home run of the season. The loss brings the Spinners record against Vermont to 4-9 this season.

The GCL Red Sox were postponed and will look to continue their charge to first place today at noon against the GCL Orioles.

Player of the Night: Nate Spears, who was 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored, 2 home runs and 6 RBI in a 10-5 Portland victory over Harrisburg.

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