Ruiz, two others, pitch shutout against Winston-Salem

5/22 Cup of Coffee: Salem was the only affiliate to notch a victory on a day in which multiple promoted players made productive debuts with their new clubs.

Pawtucket could not capitalize on a great outing from Matt Fox as the Toledo Mud Hens (DET) rallied late to force extras and win 5-4 in 11 innings. Fox was outstanding on the mound for the PawSox, firing 6.2 innings of shutout ball on 4 hits while walking 1 and fanning 2. Josh Reddick opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with his 12th home run of the season to give Pawtucket a 1-0 lead. The one-run lead was extended to four in the seventh on RBIs from Luis Exposito (single), Matt Sheely (hit by pitch), and Che-Hsuan Lin (sacrifice fly). For Lin, it was his first RBI at the Triple-A level after being promoted before the game yesterday. Though Tommy Hottovy struck out all three batters he faced in relief, Michael Bowden was unable to hold the lead. He gave up a solo home run in the eighth to cut the lead to 4-1, followed by a three-run shot in the ninth to tie it. Blake Maxwell came on after the second homer and pitched into the 11th, eventually allowing the game-winning hit on a one-out single.

Portland was also on the wrong side of a walk-off win as they were edged by the Trenton Thunder (NYY) 4-3. With the Sea Dogs down 1-0 in the third, Jeremy Hazelbaker knocked in a run with a double for his first Double-A hit and RBI. Hazelbaker scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Lavarnway later in the inning to give Portland the 2-1 lead. The Thunder tied it up in the bottom half of the inning off of Brock Huntzinger, who went just 4.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits while striking out 2 and walking 1. Eamonn Portice took over in the fifth inning and allowed 1 run in his 2.2 innings of work. Down a run in the top of the ninth, Portland tied it up on a Chih-Hsien Chiang solo home run. However, Trenton won the game in the bottom half on a single off of Seth Garrison, who walked the bases loaded before allowing the game-winning hit. The Sea Dogs have now dropped three straight.

Three Salem pitchers combined for a shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash (CWS). Pete Ruiz was stellar, allowing just 3 hits over 6.0 innings while striking out 4 and walking 1. Mitch Herold and Kendal Volz combined for 3.0 hitless innings in relief to keep the Dash off the board. Michael Almanzar gave Salem a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the second. In the fifth inning, Kolbrin Vitek extended the lead with a sacrifice fly. Then, Bryce Brentz showed why he was promoted to Salem, launching a solo home run to center to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Peter Hissey tacked on another run for Salem in the ninth on an RBI double.

Greenville led their game 3-0, but the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM) scored five straight runs for a 5-3 comeback victory. Anthony Ranaudo held Savannah scoreless in his 5.0 innings of work, though he did allow 6 hits and a walk while striking out 3. The Drive scored their first run in the third inning on a double steal, as Felix Sanchez swiped home while Heiker Meneses moved up to second. Jose Garcia and David Renfroe both hit RBI doubles in the sixth to give Greenville a 3-0 advantage. However, the Drive bullpen was unable to hold the lead for Ranaudo. Jordan Flasher allowed 3 runs in the sixth to tie it and Garrett Rau gave up a pair of runs in the eighth to give the Sand Gnats the lead and the eventual win. While the loss dropped the Drive to a game under .500, they still hold a half game lead over Savannah at the top of the SAL Northern Division.

Player of the Night: Pete Ruiz, who earned the win after throwing 6.0 shutout innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 walk while fanning 4 batters in Salem's 4-0 victory over Winston-Salem.

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