May 31, 2011 at 8:31 AM
Butler's heroic effort leads Salem to great victory
5/31 Cup of Coffee: It was a rough Memorial Day Monday for the affiliates, as they won only one of five games on the schedule.
Pawtucket lost a 13-inning marathon to Norfolk (BAL), 5-4. The PawSox tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, but Clevelan Santeliz gave up the winning home run in the top of the 13th. Lars Anderson went 3-6 with a triple, 2 RBI and a walk. Matt Sheely went 2-5 with an RBI and a walk, while Hector Luna went 2-6 with an RBI and a walk. Felix Doubront started for Pawtucket and went 3.1 scoreless innings. He allowed 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 5. After Tony Pena was roughed up for 8 hits and 4 runs in 3.1 innings of work, Tommy Hottovy and Blake Maxwell kept the game in reach, by combining for 5.1 perfect innings in relief. Hottovy went 2 innings and struck out 2, while Maxwell recorded 2 strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Portland jumped out to an early lead before losing to Trenton (NYY), 6-4. Ryan Lavarnway went 1-3 with a home run, 2 RBI and a walk. Lavarnway is hitting .387 over his last 9 games with 4 home runs and 8 RBI. His 11 home runs ranks 2nd in the Eastern League (to Cody Overbeck of the Reading Phillies, who has 13). Tim Federowicz delivered a 3-4 performance with an RBI. Alex Wilson got the nod for the Sea Dogs and battled through 5 tough innings. He gave up 8 hits, but only allowed 2 runs. Wilson walked 1 and struck out 2.
Salem got the affiliates on the board yesterday with a 7-6 victory over Lynchburg (ATL). This was a wild one that featured 7 total runs in the 9th inning. Lynchburg scored 3 runs in the top of the inning to take a commanding 6-3 lead. Salem responded by scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Dan Butler's walk-off grand slam. Butler went 3-4 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. For those of you scoring at home, Butler drove in every single one of Salem's 7 runs. He even recorded a stolen base for good measure. Other strong performances at the plate for the Salem Sox included Reynaldo Rodriguez (1-2, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases and 3 walks) and Kolbrin Vitek (1-3, 2 runs and 2 walks). Drake Britton started for Salem and continued to struggle this season. Britton went 4.2 innings and gave up 4 hits and 3 runs. He walked 5 and recorded only 1 strikeout. For as good as he was last year, this season is not the best that Drake has ever had. Tom Ebert threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Britton. He allowed 2 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3.
Greenville gave up a sizable late lead, as they lost to Asheville (COL), 9-7. The team was up 5-1 entering the 8th, but promptly gave up an 8 spot in the top of the inning. Christian Vazquez went 2-5 with 3 RBI. Drew Hedman went 2-4 with 2 RBI and a walk. Felix Sanchez went 3-4 with 3 runs, a stolen base and a walk. Kyle Stroup drew the start for the Drive. He went 4 innings and allowed 3 hits and 1 run. He walked 3 and struck out 5. Chris Martin began his relief appearance with 3 scoreless innings, but allowed 2 earned runs in the top of the 8th. Juan Rodriguez came on in relief and gave up 5 hits and 6 runs, while only recording 1 out. It's safe to say Rodriguez wishes he had a do over on this outing.
The DSL Red Sox suffered their first loss of the young season, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the DSL Dodgers. The Sox managed only 3 hits in this one, all singles. The lone hits were collected by Alixon Suarez (1-3), Deiner Lopez (1-2) and Roberto Duncan (1-1, walk). Pedro Reyes started and threw 4 scoreless innings. He allowed just 1 hit, did not walk a batter and struck out 2.
Player of the Day: Dan Butler. Butler went 3-4 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, including a walk-off grand slam, in Salem's victory over Lynchburg.
Pawtucket lost a 13-inning marathon to Norfolk (BAL), 5-4. The PawSox tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, but Clevelan Santeliz gave up the winning home run in the top of the 13th. Lars Anderson went 3-6 with a triple, 2 RBI and a walk. Matt Sheely went 2-5 with an RBI and a walk, while Hector Luna went 2-6 with an RBI and a walk. Felix Doubront started for Pawtucket and went 3.1 scoreless innings. He allowed 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 5. After Tony Pena was roughed up for 8 hits and 4 runs in 3.1 innings of work, Tommy Hottovy and Blake Maxwell kept the game in reach, by combining for 5.1 perfect innings in relief. Hottovy went 2 innings and struck out 2, while Maxwell recorded 2 strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Portland jumped out to an early lead before losing to Trenton (NYY), 6-4. Ryan Lavarnway went 1-3 with a home run, 2 RBI and a walk. Lavarnway is hitting .387 over his last 9 games with 4 home runs and 8 RBI. His 11 home runs ranks 2nd in the Eastern League (to Cody Overbeck of the Reading Phillies, who has 13). Tim Federowicz delivered a 3-4 performance with an RBI. Alex Wilson got the nod for the Sea Dogs and battled through 5 tough innings. He gave up 8 hits, but only allowed 2 runs. Wilson walked 1 and struck out 2.
Salem got the affiliates on the board yesterday with a 7-6 victory over Lynchburg (ATL). This was a wild one that featured 7 total runs in the 9th inning. Lynchburg scored 3 runs in the top of the inning to take a commanding 6-3 lead. Salem responded by scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Dan Butler's walk-off grand slam. Butler went 3-4 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. For those of you scoring at home, Butler drove in every single one of Salem's 7 runs. He even recorded a stolen base for good measure. Other strong performances at the plate for the Salem Sox included Reynaldo Rodriguez (1-2, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases and 3 walks) and Kolbrin Vitek (1-3, 2 runs and 2 walks). Drake Britton started for Salem and continued to struggle this season. Britton went 4.2 innings and gave up 4 hits and 3 runs. He walked 5 and recorded only 1 strikeout. For as good as he was last year, this season is not the best that Drake has ever had. Tom Ebert threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Britton. He allowed 2 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3.
Greenville gave up a sizable late lead, as they lost to Asheville (COL), 9-7. The team was up 5-1 entering the 8th, but promptly gave up an 8 spot in the top of the inning. Christian Vazquez went 2-5 with 3 RBI. Drew Hedman went 2-4 with 2 RBI and a walk. Felix Sanchez went 3-4 with 3 runs, a stolen base and a walk. Kyle Stroup drew the start for the Drive. He went 4 innings and allowed 3 hits and 1 run. He walked 3 and struck out 5. Chris Martin began his relief appearance with 3 scoreless innings, but allowed 2 earned runs in the top of the 8th. Juan Rodriguez came on in relief and gave up 5 hits and 6 runs, while only recording 1 out. It's safe to say Rodriguez wishes he had a do over on this outing.
The DSL Red Sox suffered their first loss of the young season, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the DSL Dodgers. The Sox managed only 3 hits in this one, all singles. The lone hits were collected by Alixon Suarez (1-3), Deiner Lopez (1-2) and Roberto Duncan (1-1, walk). Pedro Reyes started and threw 4 scoreless innings. He allowed just 1 hit, did not walk a batter and struck out 2.
Player of the Day: Dan Butler. Butler went 3-4 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, including a walk-off grand slam, in Salem's victory over Lynchburg.