August 26, 2011 at 7:46 AM
Hazelbaker and Exposito bash Sea Dogs and PawSox to victory
8/26 Cup of Coffee: After a hard down day on Wednesday, the affiliates mostly bounced back in a big way on Thursday. Pawtucket, Portland, Greenville and the GCL Sox all were victorious, while Salem continued to struggle and Lowell saw its contest washed away by rain.
An eight run ninth inning propelled Pawtucket over the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS), 12-4. Kyle Weiland received the start, hurling 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1. Felix Doubront picked up the victory for his 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing 1 hit. Michael Bowden also added an inning of relief, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Down 2-0 in the third, the PawSox tied the game on an RBI ground out by Che-Hsuan Lin and an RBI double by Nate Spears. Hector Luna’s RBI single in the eighth gave Pawtucket a 4-2 advantage. The PawSox offense exploded in the ninth, plating eight runs on RBI singles from Spears and Lars Anderson, an RBI double from Daniel Nava, and a grand slam off the bat of Luis Exposito. The Chiefs plated two in the ninth, but could not overcome the enormous deficit. Exposito was 3 for 5 with a home run, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI to lead the Pawtucket offense.
The Sea Dogs scored in all but two innings to squash the Reading Phillies (PHI), 8-4. Charlie Haeger turned in his second straight impressive start, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Kyle Fernandes added 1.2 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 2. Blake Maxwell hurled the ninth inning, allowing 1 run on 3 hits. Jeremy Hazelbaker’s two run home run in the first gave Portland a very quick 2-0 lead. The Sea Dogs would pad their lead by scoring a singular run in the third through eight innings, including an Alex Hassan RBI double, 2 Hazelbaker RBI singles, Mark Wagner solo home run, Dan Butler RBI ground out, and a Hazelbaker solo home run. Hazelbaker was the star of the game for Portland, going 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI.
In the lone affiliate loss, Salem was obliterated by the Winston-Salem Dash (CHW), 14-0. Chris Hernandez dropped to 10-7 for his 2.1 inning start in which he allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Pete Ruiz followed Hernandez with 2.2 innings of relief, allowing 6 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Tom Ebert provided 3.0 scoreless innings of relief out of the Red Sox bullpen, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Second baseman Zach Gentile came on to pitch the ninth, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit and a walk, striking out 1. Salem mustered just 5 hits and was a dismal 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Despite being just 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position, Greenville was able to topple the Charleston RiverDogs (NYY), 5-2. Tyler Wilson picked up his third victory with the Drive as he twirled 6.0 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Justin Erasmus added 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Dennis Neuman tossed the ninth, allowing 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 1. With the game scoreless in the third, the Drive plated four runs on a Henry Ramos bases loaded walk and a 3 RBI double by Michael Almanzar. Xander Bogaerts RBI double in the seventh padded the Greenville lead to 5-0. Charleston plated runs in the eighth and the ninth, but could not muster enough offense to attempt a comeback.
Lowell’s contest against the Staten Island Yankees (NYY) was cancelled due to rain. The game will not be made up. The Spinners return home this evening for a brief two game homestand against the Tri-City Valley Cats (HOU).
A four run sixth inning was enough to help the GCL Red Sox defeat the pesky GCL Rays (TB), 4-2. Sergio Gomez received the victory for his 5.0 innings of work, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk, striking out 5. Oscar Melendez provided 3.2 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Robby Scott recorded 0.2 flawless innings, striking out 2. Down 1-0 in the sixth, the Red Sox plated four runs on a costly fielding error by the Rays right fielder and an RBI single from Jordan Weems. The Rays attempted to rally in the ninth, but were shut down after plating a run.
Player of the Day: Jeremy Hazelbaker, who went 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI in Portland’s 8-4 victory over Reading.
Co-Player of the Day: Luis Exposito, who was 3 for 5 with a grand slam, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI in Pawtucket’s 12-4 victory over Syracuse.