Offense overpowers foes as affiliates complete sweep

4/29 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates continued to have solid offensive performances as every team in the Red Sox system was victorious on Thursday.

Pawtucket used a seven run fourth inning to muzzle the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 11-8. Felix Doubront received the start and went 3.0 innings, allowing 1 walk and striking out 2. Kris Johnson followed and also added 3.0 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk. Clevelan Santeliz tossed 1.0 inning of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Michael Bowden picked up the win as he went 2.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk. The PawSox wasted no time getting on the board, plating three in the first on a lead off Yamaico Navarro solo shot and a Hector Luna two run home run. In the fourth, Juan Carlos Linares smacked a three run home run, Daniel Nava added a sacrifice fly, Drew Sutton laced an RBI double and Josh Reddick blasted a two run home run to put Pawtucket up 10-0. Reddick would add a solo home run in the sixth, that gave the PawSox an important insurance run, as Lehigh Valley’s late inning comeback fell short.

A day after fog shortened their contest, the Sea Dogs smacked around the Binghamton Mets (NYM) 12-5. Alex Wilson moved to 3-1 for his 5.0 inning performance, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Caleb Clay followed Wilson with 0.2 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 3 walks. Eammon Portice, fresh off his SoxProspects Pitcher of the Week honors, allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in his 2.1 innings of relief. Blake Maxwell pitched a flawless ninth inning, picking up two strike outs. The Sea Dogs got off to a quick start, plating three runs in the first on a Tim Federowicz sacrifice fly and an RBI double by William Vazquez. Up 4-1 in the fourth, Portland extended their lead to 9-1 on a pair of two run home runs by Alex Hassan and Ryan Lavarnway as well as an RBI double by Oscar Tejeda. Federowicz blasted a solo home run in the fifth and Will Middlebrooks added solo home runs in the sixth and the eighth to complete the Sea Dog barrage. Every member of the Portland lineup reached base at least once, with Middlebrooks and Hassan each collecting 3 hits.

In a game that was shortened due to rain, Salem edged the Kinston Indians (CLE) 4-3. Chris Balcom-Miller took the hill for the Red Sox, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while punching out 7 in his 4.0 innings of work. Anatanaer Batista picked up the win for his 3.0 innings of relief, during which he allowed just 2 hits and a walk as he struck out 3. Cesar Cabral picked up his fifth save for tossing a scoreless eighth inning. Salem jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first as Kolbrin Vitek lofted a sacrifice fly to bring home Peter Hissey. Down 3-1 in the third, Hissey laced an RBI double that brought Salem within one. Dan Butler’s two run home run in the fourth proved to be the game winner, improving the Red Sox to a league best 14-5.

Solid pitching and relentless offense allowed Greenville to snuff out the Greensboro Grasshoppers (FLA) 12-1. Manuel Rivera tossed a dazzling 6.0 innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 8. Charle Rosario added 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. Garrett Rau allowed 1 run on 2 hits in the ninth. Greenville scored in every inning except the fourth, as they pounded out 16 hits. Drew Hedman was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and 4 RBI, Brandon Jacobs was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored, Jose Garcia was a perfect 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and Miles Head smacked his sixth home run of the season to help lead the Greenville offense.

Players of the Night: Will Middlebrooks and Manuel Rivera. Middlebrooks went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, a double and 3 RBI in Portland’s 12-5 victory over Binghamton. Rivera tossed 6.0 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits, no walks and striking out 8 in Greenville’s 12-1 victory over Greensboro.

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