Hissey leads Salem to victory over Dash

5/21 Cup of Coffee: A suspended game led to some strange roster shuffling in Pawtucket and a split of a doubleheader Meanwhile, with Salem, a pitcher rehabbing from Tommy John surgery made his first appearance since 2009.

In a continuation of Friday's suspended game, Pawtucket over came a 2-1 deficit at the restart to earn the win over the Columbus Clippers (CLE) 5-2. Clevelan Santeliz took over for Brandon Duckworth when the game was picked up in the bottom of the fourth. Santeliz earned the win and Jason Rice was credited with the save after the two combined for 6.0 innings of shutout ball. From the "Something You Don't See Everyday" department, the game's suspension and continuation combined with the organization's recent roster moves created some unorthodox lineup shuffling from PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler. Daniel Nava had started the game as the designated hitter, but because he was designated for assignment on Friday, needed to be replaced in the lineup. The player who took his place was Jose Iglesias, who was in Boston when the game began, but was optioned back to Pawtucket before it resumed. Iglesias ended up with the game-tying RBI in the fifth on a groundout, while the PawSox would tack on two more in the sixth thanks to RBI hits from Ronald Bermudez (who replaced a promoted Drew Sutton) and Luis Exposito. Matt Sheely also knocked in a run on a groundout in the ninth.

Pawtucket and Columbus then played their regularly-scheduled game, but the PawSox only managed three hits in the seven-inning contest, falling to the Clippers 3-0. Miguel Gonzalez was a hard-luck loser, firing 5.0 innings and allowing just 1 run on 2 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Tommy Hottovy pitched the sixth for Pawtucket and gave up 2 unearned runs. Tony Thomas, Hector Luna, and Michael McKenry collected singles for Pawtucket.

Portland's offensive wasn't much better; they managed only one run and dropped the first game of their series with the Trenton Thunder (NYY) 3-1. The Thunder scored all three of their runs in the first two innings off of starter Alex Wilson, who finished with 6.0 innings pitched and 3 runs (1 earned) allowed on 4 hits. The right hander also fanned 7 batters while walking just 1. The only Portland run came in the third on an RBI single from Ryan Lavarnway. Kyle Fernandes pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Sea Dogs and held the Thunder scoreless. It was a rare hitless day for Alex Hassan, but a walk in the third made it nine straight games reaching base for the outfielder.

Salem parlayed the offensive output from an unlikely source into a 7-4 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash (CWS). Peter Hissey had gone without an RBI since May 7, but he knocked in four to help Salem to the win. Junichi Tazawa started for the Red Sox on a rehab assingnment, making his first appearance since 2009 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Tazawa went 4.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Hissey got Salem on the board in the second with a 2-RBI double. Kolbrin Vitek knocked in Hissey with a single in the next at bat, and Salem led 3-0 early. But the Dash fired back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second off of Tazawa. William Latimer took the ball from Tazawa in the fifth and delivered 3.0 shutout innings to earn the win after Salem plated two runs in the seventh on RBIs from Reynaldo Rodriguez and Daniel Butler. In the eighth, it was Hissey again with another double to score two runs. Anatanaer Batista pitched the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season.

Greenville pounded 13 hits and after scoring four runs in the first, coasted to 9-3 victory over the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM). The Drive used a well-balanced attack to dispatch of Savannah, with eight of the nine starters collecting hits. Bryce Brentz hit his 11th home run of the year in the seventh. Miguel Celestino was unable to go the required 5.0 innings to get credit for the win, but went 4.1, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. Making his first appearance in the Red Sox organization, Chris Martin pitched a hitless 2.2 innings to earn the win. Tyler Lockwood held the Sand Gnats scoreless over the final 2.0 innings to seal the win for the Drive.

Player of the Night: Peter Hissey, who went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 4 RBI to help the Salem Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over Winston-Salem.

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