July 18, 2011 at 5:09 AM
Coyle drives Greenville to walk off victory
7/18 Cup of Coffee: Greenville was the only affiliate to find the winner’s circle on Sunday, as Salem’s struggles continued, Pawtucket was battered and Portland and Lowell lost relatively close games.A close game through six innings, the Durham Bulls (TB) opened it up late as they hammered Pawtucket, 13-3. Matt Fox tossed 6.2 innings, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. Dennis Neuman added 0.1 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks. Jeremy Kehrt contributed 2.0 innings from the bullpen, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 1. Down 3-0 in the fourth, Ronald Bermudez laced an RBI single to bring the PawSox to within two. RBI doubles by Bermudez and Tony Thomas in the sixth, brought Pawtucket to within one at 4-3. Durham scored nine times over the final three innings to run away with the victory.
Portland’s bullpen was once again their undoing as they fell to the New Britain Rock Cats (MIN), 9-7. Stephen Fife received the start for the Sea Dogs, going 3.2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1. Caleb Clay added 2.1 innings from the bullpen, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out a pair. Eammon Portice received the loss for his 3.0 innings of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Down 5-0 in the fourth, Portland got on the board on a Tim Federowicz sacrifice fly. Chih-Hsien Chiang’s RBI double in the fifth drew the Sea Dogs closer, 7-2. An RBI double from Mitch Dening, an Alex Hassan RBI ground out, and RBI singles by Will Middlebrooks and Federowicz tied the game 7-7 in the sixth. The Rock Cats brought home two runs in the top of the ninth to claim victory.
Despite a late push, Salem fell to the Frederick Keys (BAL), 5-3. Ryan Pressly dropped to 5-9 on the season for his 5.0 inning of work, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits and 4 walks, striking out 6. Chris Martin was once again stellar in relief, contributing 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1. Kendal Volz hurled 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1. Down 5-0 in the seventh, Alex Valdez’s RBI double brought home two to bring the Red Sox to within three. In the ninth, a Miles Head RBI ground out brought home another run, but the Salem rally ended up falling short. Valdez and Bryce Brentz each had 2 hits to lead the Red Sox offense.
In a back-and-forth contest, Greenville walked off with a 5-4 victory over the Rome Braves (ATL). Kyle Stroup received the start for the Drive, going 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 4. Garrett Rau relieved Stroup, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 1. Justin Erasmus added 2.1 innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on 3 hits while striking out 3. Michael Olmsted picked up the win for his 1.0 inning of relief, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Carson Blair’s two run home run in the second gave the Drive a 2-0 lead. In the third, a Henry Ramos RBI double extended the Greenville lead to 3-0. Sean Coyle’s solo home run in the fifth put the Drive on top, 4-1. After Rome battled back to tie the game in the top of the ninth, Felix Sanchez scampered home on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning to give Greenville the walk off victory. Coyle was 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, an RBI, a run scored and 2 stolen bases to lead the Drive offense.
Unable to capitalize with runners on base, Lowell dropped a 4-1 decision to the Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM). Madison Younginer was stellar once again for the Spinners, going 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Luis Bastardo picked up the loss, going 2.1 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 2. Andrew Jones added 0.2 innings of relief, allowing 1 hit. The Spinners lone run of the contest came in the third on a Nick Natoli RBI double. Lowell was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
Player of the Night: Sean Coyle, who was 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, an RBI, a run scored and 2 stolen bases in Greenville’s 5-4 victory over Rome.