August 16, 2011 at 8:47 AM
Mailman delivers a walk-off home run for Salem
8/16 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates took 4 out of 7 games on Monday. Strangely enough, all 3 losing games were by a score of 6-3.
Pawtucket used some late offense to surge past Gwinnett (ATL), 7-3. The game was tied at 3-3 entering the 8th inning. The Paw Sox scored 3 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to secure the win. Offensively, the team was led by Daniel Nava (2-4, solo home run), Ryan Lavarnway (1-5, solo home run), Hector Luna (2-4, walk, 2 RBI) and Jose Iglesias (2-5, double, 2 RBI). Brandon Duckworth started for Pawtucket, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs over 6 innings of work. He did not walk a batter and struck out 6. All 3 of the runs scored against Duckworth came in the 3rd inning. Tommy Hottovy picked up the win, as he pitched 1.1 perfect innings of relief with 1 strikeout in relief of the starter, Duckworth.
Salem clubbed 17 hits en route to an 8-6 victory over Myrtle Beach (TEX). The Red Sox scored 5 in the 3rd to break open what had been a scoreless game. The Pelicans gradually climbed back, and after 7 inning, led Salem by a score of 6-5. Heiker Meneses tied the game at 6-6 with a 2 out RBI double in the 8th. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the 10th when David Mailman delivered a walk-off 2-run home run. Offensively, the team was led by Mailman (2-4, home run, 2 RBI), Bryce Brentz (3-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI) and Miles Head (3-5, double, RBI). Brentz is in the midst of one of his patented hot streaks. The outfielder is hitting .429 (15-35) over his last 8 games, with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 RBI. Ryan Pressly started the game for Salem, and labored through 4.2 innings before leaving the game with tingling and a loss of feeling in his fingers. He allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, walked 2 and struck out 1. Jordan Flasher picked up the win by pitching a perfect 10th.
Greenville won a tight game against Rome (ATL), 3-2, to take the first game of a doubleheader. The Drive staked itself to a 3-0 lead in the 1st following Christian Vazquez’ 3-run homer, and held on for the victory. Offensively, the team was led by Vazquez (1-3, 3-run home run), as well as Sean Coyle and Brandon Jacobs, who each went 2-3 with a double. Kyle Stroup drew the start for Greenville and pitched a complete game (7 innings). He allowed 6 hits, 2 runs, walked 1 and struck out 5. Over his last 10 starts (49.2 innings), Stroup has a 1.45 ERA and a 41:11 K:BB ratio. Not bad for a former 50th round draft pick.
Greenville was not as fortunate in game 2, getting doubled up by Rome, 6-3. There was not much offensive firepower for the Drive in this one. David Renfroe went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Felix Sanchez and Matty Johnson each went 2-4. Tyler Wilson started for Greenville and took the loss. He allowed 4 hits and 3 runs over 4 innings of work. The right hander walked 1 and struck out 2.
The GCL Red Sox outpaced the GCL Rays, 6-3. The Red Sox held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the 5th, when the Rays plated 2 runs and took the lead. The Red Sox responded with 2 in the 6th, 1 in the 7th and 2 in the 9th to lock up the win. Not only did the Red Sox get a good effort from their team, but the Rays also helped, with a staggering 5 errors. Offensively, Cody Koback led the way, as he went 2-5 with 2 RBI. Zach Good started and he was, well...good. The lefty pitched 4 scoreless innings, scattering 4 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 4.
The DSL Red Sox kept the 6-3 score streak going, but were unfortunately on the wrong side of this one, losing to the DSL Pirates. The Pirates scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st and the Red Sox could not answer the call. The Red Sox were led by Jair Bogaerts, who went 1-3 with a double and an RBI, and Ynoel Aguero, who went 1-3 with an RBI. Leonel Vasquez started and took the loss, having allowed 6 hits and 4 runs over 4 innings pitched. He walked 2 and struck out 1.
The DSL Red Sox lost the 2nd game of the doubleheader by a score of, you guessed it, 6-3. Two RBI doubles in the 1st inning staked the Red Sox to a 2-0 lead they held until the Pirates scored 3 runs in the 4th to take the lead that they did not relinquish. Alixon Suarez and David Sopilka led the team, each going 3-4 with an RBI. William Abreu started this game for the DSL Red Sox and struggled through 3.2 innings. He allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, walked 5 and did not record a strikeout. Carlos Pinales relieved Abreu and took the loss. He allowed 3 hits and 3 runs over 3.1 innings, walked 1 and struck out 3.
Player of the Day: David Mailman, who hit a walk-off 2-run home run to help Salem defeat Myrtle Beach.