August 25, 2011 at 7:01 AM
Affiliates struggle on winless Wednesday
8/25 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates struggled mightily on Wednesday, losing all six contests.
Pawtucket’s offense could not get into gear as they dropped a 3-1 contest to the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS). Greg Smith received the start for the PawSox, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Junichi Tazawa was tagged with the loss for his lone inning of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 1. Tommy Hottovy also added an inning of relief, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 1. Pawtucket’s lone run of the contest came in the second inning on a Lars Anderson solo home run. The loss drops Pawtucket a game behind Lehigh Valley (PHI) for first place in the North division.
Portland’s bullpen continued to sputter in a 9-3 loss to the Harrisburg Senators (WAS). Jeremy Kehrt received the loss for his 5.2 innings of work, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while
striking out 2. Chris Martin continued to have a rough beginning to his Double-A career, hurling 1.2 innings, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Eammon Portice contributed 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing 3 hits and striking out 2. Down 3-0 in the fourth, Jeff Howell’s solo home run got the Sea Dogs on the board, 3-1. Finding themselves in a steep 9-1 hole in the eighth, Portland rallied for two runs on a Mitch Dening sacrifice fly and a Ryan Dent solo home run. With the loss, Portland is now officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Salem had no answers for the rival Winston-Salem Dash (CHW), being shutout 3-0. Manuel Rivera received the loss for the Red Sox, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. Anatanaer Batista hurled an inning of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Jordan Flasher contributed 2.0 scoreless innings out of the Salem bullpen, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 2. The Red Sox had just one runner in scoring position the entire game; despite leadoff man Derrik Gibson going 3 for 4 with 3 singles.
An extra inning tussle ended in heartbreak for Greenville as they fell 5-4 in 11 innings to the Charleston RiverDogs (NYY). Miguel Celestino took the mound for the Drive, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while striking out 5. Michael Olmsted added 2.0 innings of flawless relief, striking out 2. Next out of the bullpen was Michael Gleason, who hurled 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing a walk and striking out 6. Tyler Lockwood received the loss for his 0.2 innings of relief, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Greenville jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on a Xander Bogaerts RBI single in the first, as well as a Matty Johnson RBI double and Brandon Jacobs RBI single in the second. The RiverDogs came back to tie the game by scoring individual runs in the bottom of the second, third and fifth innings. The game remained deadlocked until the eleventh when Sean Coyle’s sacrifice fly gave the Drive a 4-3 lead. In the bottom half of the eleventh, Charleston was aided by a walk and a wild pitch, helping them to tie and eventually win the game. Coyle and Bogaerts each had 2 hits to lead the Greenville offense.
Despite outhitting their opponents 5-2, Lowell’s offense was held at bay by the Staten Island Yankees (NYY) in a 3-1 loss. Madison Younginer dropped to 1-5 on the season for his 5.0 innings of work, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. Luis Bastardo added 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, walking 2 and striking out 6. In the fifth, Jose Garcia’s RBI single gave the Spinners a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch, error and a passed ball helped Staten Island plate 3 in the sixth to give them the 3-1 victory. Jackie Bradley Jr. was removed in the sixth inning after attempting to break up a double play.
The GCL Red Sox had a very forgettable day at the ballpark as they were hammered by the GCL Rays (TB) 21-2. Mario Alcantara received the start, lasting 2.1 innings, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 2. Alexander Mateo was torched in his 2.1 innings of relief, allowing 10 runs (9 earned) on 9 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Jennell Hudson contributed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. John Killen finished off the game with 2.0 innings out of the Red Sox bullpen, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 4. The Red Sox lone runs came in the third on a Aneury Tavarez solo home run and in the seventh on a David Chester solo home run. The Red Sox committed 5 errors and uncorked 5 wild pitches.
Player of the Day: Jeff Howell, who went 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and an RBI in Portland’s 9-3 loss to Harrisburg.