Navarro's three-hit performance leads PawSox to victory

4/16 Cup of Coffee: A pair of top prospects each picked up three hits for Pawtucket, while a strong outing from the Sea Dogs starting pitching wasn't enough.

Yamaico Navarro and Josh Reddick both had three-hit games for Pawtucket, as the PawSox downed the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS), 8-2. Pawtucket took advantage of some erratic pitching from the Chiefs, scoring four runs on a trio of bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch. The first walk that brought in a run came in the top of the third, as Lars Anderson reached to give the PawSox their first run of the game. Pawtucket followed it up with two more in the fourth. With the bases full again, Reddick lined a single to right, scoring Tony Thomas. Daniel Nava followed that with another walk, forcing in another run and giving Pawtucket a 3-0 lead. In the sixth, the PawSox broke it open thanks to a four-run inning, punctuated by a Navarro RBI triple. He knocked in another run in the seventh after a line-drive single to left. Andrew Miller made his second start of the season, and pitched well again, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings and allowing just 1 hit, though he did walk 4. Tony Pena, Jr. came on in relief to earn the win, allowing 2 runs over 3.0 innings, while Michael Bowden pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings to seal the deal.

Stolmy Pimentel struggled in his first start with the Sea Dogs on April 9, but bounced back nicely in his second trip to the hill for Portland. It wasn't enough however, as the New Britain Rock Cats (MIN) walked off with a 2-1 victory. Pimentel fired no-hit ball through the first four innings, and finished his day with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. The Sea Dogs took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after Jorge Padron doubled and Ryan Lavarnway singled back up the middle to knock him in. Tommy Hottovy took over on the mound for Pimentel and picked up right where he left off, throwing 2.0 shutout innings while allowing just 1 hit. The Sea Dogs called on Blake Maxwell to try and close the door, but he was unable to deliver in the late innings. After allowing the tying run in the eighth, Maxwell came back on in the ninth and gave up the game-winning base hit to Steve Singleton.

While Pimentel was able to rebound from his first start of the year, Drake Britton struggled for the second straight outing, as Salem was knocked off by the Frederick Keys (BAL) 5-1. Britton was touched up for 5 runs on 5 hits over just 2.0 innings pitched, putting Salem in a hole that they were unable to overcome. Salem's lone run came in the fourth inning, when Daniel Butler grounded out to score Kolbrin Vitek from third. The bullpen did perform well for Salem, as Tom Ebert and William Latimer combined for 6.0 innings of one-hit ball in relief of Britton.

Greenville allowed three runs in the first inning, and though the Drive clawed back to within one, they were edged by the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM), 4-3. Brandon Workman made his second professional start for the Drive and struggled early on, but settled down to post a final line of 4.0 innings pitched, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 3 and walked just 1, but did allow a pair of long balls. Trailing 4-0 in the top of the sixth, Greenville got on the board on a Lucas LeBlanc RBI single. The Drive picked up two more in the seventh after a Brandon Jacobs stolen base forced a throwing error, allowing Miles Head to score from third. Jacobs would go on to score on a Sean Coyle groundout. Hunter Cervenka pitched well out of the bullpen to keep the Drive in the game, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings and allowing just 2 hits.

Player of the Night: Yamaico Navarro, who went 3 for 4 with a triple to go along with pairs of walks and RBIs in Pawtucket's 8-2 victory over Syracuse.

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