Greenville has 3 stars in convincing victory

5/4 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates went 2 for 3 in yesterday's action with some stellar individual efforts.

Pawtucket matched their opponent with 11 hits, but could not capitalize on them as they lost to Toledo (DET), 7-2. Hector Luna went 3-5 with 2 doubles, a home run and 2 RBI, accounting for the only PawSox runs. The homer was Luna’s 3rd in the past 2 games. Josh Reddick and Daniel Nava each went 2-4 in the loss. Yamaico Navarro went 1-1 before exiting the game following that lone plate appearance. Early reports indicate that Navarro has a minor back strain. Felix Doubront started for Pawtucket and struggled for the first time since being sent down from the major league team. Doubront went 3.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs. He walked 3 and struck out 6. Rich Hill, the pride of Milton, Mass., continues to dazzle. The lefty struck out both batters that he faced. Over his last 5 appearances, Hill has given up only a hit and a walk.

Portland got great pitching en route to a 5-2 victory over Trenton (NYY). Alex “Ted Williams” Hassan paced the Sea Dogs, as he went 3-4 with a double, 2 RBI and a walk. Hassan has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games and has a .455 average over that time. His .427 average for the season leads the Eastern League by a wide margin (the 2nd place hitter, Yangervis Solarte of New Britain, is currently sporting a .374 average). Vladimir Frias went 2-4 in his Sea Dogs debut. Alex Wilson started for Portland and contributed yet another strong outing, as he improved to 4-1 on the young season. Wilson went 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs. He walked 1 and struck out 3. Seth Garrison and Blake Maxwell each pitched 2 scoreless innings to finish off the win for Portland.

Salem’s game with Kinston (CLE) was suspended in the first inning, and will be completed today. Jeremy Hazelbaker had a hit and a steal in the lone inning that was played last night. At this pace, he’ll have 9 hits and 9 steals by game’s end.

Greenville made Asheville (COL) look like a bunch of tourists in a 13-5 victory. Sean Coyle went 3-5 with a home run and 6 RBI. Coyle is hitting .333 over his last 10 games with 3 home runs and 11 RBI. Miles Head continued his torrid stretch, as he went 3-4 with a home run and 2 RBI. Head is hitting .706 (12-17) over his last 4 games with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. He leads the SAL with 9 home runs, is 3rd in RBI and 4th in slugging percentage. Not bad for a kid who just turned 20. Manny Rivera baffled Asheville hitters to improve to 4-1. Rivera went 5 innings and allowed just 2 hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out 7. Over his last 2 starts, Rivera has gone 11 innings and allowed just 4 hits. He has not walked a batter in either start and has 15 combined strikeouts, as he tries to prove that every batter he faces in Low A Ball is a batter wasted. Rivera ranks 2nd in the SAL in wins and ERA and 3rd in strikeouts.

Player of the Day: Sean Coyle. I could lie and say this was an easy decision, but 'twas not. Between Coyle, Miles Head and Manny Rivera, we had some deserving candidates. But my general rule of thumb is when a guy has 6 RBI, give him the honor. Coyle went 3-5 with a home run and 6 RBI in Greenville's win over Asheville.

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