Jacobs Home Run Drives Greenville to Victory

Cup of Coffee 4/11: Brandon Jacobs led the way for Greenville in their 10-7 victory, while the other affiliates struggled mightily at the plate.

Pawtucket could not get much going against the Buffalo Bisons (NYM) in Sunday’s matinee affair, losing by a score of 2-1. In a game that saw just 7 combined hits, the lone PawSox run came courtesy of a Juan Carlos Linares RBI single in the 4th inning. Andrew Miller started the game for Pawtucket, his debut in a Red Sox uniform. Miller went 3.2 innings giving up 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned) and 4 walks. He also struck out 4. Rich Hill took over for Miller and pitched quite well. Hill pitched 2.1 innings of no-hit ball, walking 1 and striking out 4. Clevelan Santeliz pitched the final 2 innings for the PawSox, giving up no hits and walking 1.

Portland put runs up in the first and second innings, which was all they needed to take care of the Reading Phillies (PHI) in a 2-0 victory. Milton’s own Alex Hassan continued his torrid start to the 2011 season for the Sea Dogs, going 2-3 with a walk and steal. Hassan is 8 for his first 14 on the season, translating to a .571 clip. Will Middlebrooks went 1-3 with a triple. Portland’s runs came on a Tim Federowicz sacrifice fly in the first inning and a Will Vazquez RBI groundout in the second. Stephen Fife got the win, going the first 5.0 innings, surrendering just 3 hits and 1 walk, striking out 1. Seth Garrison gave up no runs in the next 2 innings while Blake Maxwell pitched the final 2 innings, giving up just 1 hit. Maxwell picked up his second save of the season.

Salem did not have the keys to beating Frederick (BAL) in the first game of a doubleheader, losing 7-2. The Red Sox managed just 5 hits, 3 of which were off the bat of Dan Butler. Butler went 3-3, including an RBI single in the first and a solo shot in the sixth. Prized lefty Drake Britton got roughed up, lasting just 2.1 innings. He gave up 7 hits and 7 runs (6 earned), while walking 2 and striking out 2.

Salem found the aforementioned keys in the second game of the doubleheader, beating Frederick 5-4. Matt Spring went 2-3 with 3 RBI. Derrik Gibson and Vladimir Frias, the 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup, each contributed a hit and an RBI. Frias’ walk-off RBI single in the seventh capped a 3-run inning. Pete Ruiz had a rough time on the mound for Salem, going 4.2 innings, giving up 4 hits and 4 runs. Ruiz also walked 3 and struck out 4. Cesar Cabral pitched a scoreless seventh and picked up the win, walking 1 and striking out 1.

Greenville benefited from 5 GreenJacket errors and the continued murderous start to the season of Jacobs to outslug Augusta (SF) by a score of 10-7. Jacobs went 2-5 and hit his 3rd home run in 4 games this season. The Drive also got solid contributions from Felix Sanchez (3-5, 2 RBI) and Bryce Brentz (2-5, 1 RBI). Brentz is hitting at a .500 mark (9-18) thus far on the year. Brandon Workman, in his organizational debut, started and went the first 2 innings. The former Texas Longhorn gave up 2 hits and 2 runs (0 earned) while walking 2 and striking out 4. Jordan Flasher picked up the win for Greenville, pitching a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts.

Player of the Day: Brandon Jacobs, who belted his 3rd home run this season while improving his stance on being the most well-known Brandon Jacobs in professional sports.

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