Tazawa dominant in relief for Sea Dogs, Salem completes sweep of Potomac

8/5 Cup of Coffee: Salem completed their sweep of Potomac as Portland and the GCL Red Sox also found themselves victorious on Thursday. Pawtucket dropped an extra inning affair while Lowell dug an early hole they never recovered from. Greenville and the DSL Red Sox were washed away by rain.

In a very evenly match game, Pawtucket’s offense went stagnant in a 5-4 extra inning loss to the Buffalo Bisons (NYM). Brandon Duckworth tossed 5.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Clevlan Santeliz added 0.2 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, punching out 1. Tommy Hottovy relieved Santeliz and hurled 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, walking one. Scott Atchison was next out of the PawSox bullpen, twirling 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2. Michael Bowden picked up the loss for his 1.0 inning of work, allowing 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 1. A run scoring double play in the second gave the PawSox an early 1-0 lead. After Buffalo tied the game in the top of the fourth, Hector Luna’s RBI single in the bottom half of the inning allowed Pawtucket to reclaim the lead, 2-1. In the fifth, Jed Lowrie laced an RBI double that brought home two to extend the PawSox lead to 4-1. The Bisons tied the game with three in the sixth and eventually scratched out a run in the top of the tenth to claim victory. The Pawtucket offense had their opportunities, but was just 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

A three run ninth inning and solid relief pitching allowed Portland to come back for a 3-2 victory over the Bowie Baysox (BAL). Brock Huntzinger tossed 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 9. Junichi Tazawa was stellar in his 3.0 innings of relief, allowing just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5 to pick up the victory. Bowie quickly took a 2-0 lead by scoring a run in the first and the second. The Baysox pitching staff held the Sea Dogs offense at bay until the ninth, when a Matt Spring RBI single, Mitch Dening RBI double and a bases loaded walk to Jeremy Hazelbaker vaulted Portland in front 3-2. The shocked Baysox went 1-2-3 in the ninth as they dropped their second in a row.

An extra inning thriller broke Salem’s way as they completed their three game sweep of the Potomac Nationals (WAS), 4-3. Ryan Pressly hurled 5.0 innings in the start, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Chris Martin added 3.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 4. Tom Ebert picked up the victory for his 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, allowing 1 hit and striking out 4. Down 1-0 in the third, David Mailman scampered home on a wild pitch to tie the game, 1-1. Finding themselves down 3-1 in the sixth, Salem tied the game once again on RBI doubles by Kolbrin Vitek and Miles Head. The game went into extra innings where, in the bottom of the tenth, Alex Valdez worked a bases loaded walk to give the Red Sox a true walk off victory.

Greenville’s contest against the Rome Braves (ATL) was washed away due to rain. Due to the fact the Drive do not visit Rome again this year, the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader later this season in Greenville.

In a game that was ugly from the start, the Spinners were whacked by the Aberdeen Ironbirds (BAL), 9-1. Jason Garcia had a tough night on the mound, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks. Hunter Cervenka added 4.1 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and 4 walks, striking out 3. Kevin Brahney tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing a walk and striking out 2. Matty Ott added an inning out of the Spinners bullpen, allowing 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 1. Lowell’s lone run of the evening came in the third on a Jose Garcia solo home run. Ryan Kalish began his rehab by going 0 for 2 with a walk. Kalish had not seen game action since he was injured April 21 in Pawtucket.

A scoreless battle turned into an exciting extra inning finish as the GCL Red Sox walked away with a 2-1 victory over the GCL Rays (TB). Zachary Good pitched 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Alexander Mateo added 5.0 scoreless innings of relief, scattering 6 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Yunior Ortega picked up the victory thanks to his 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 2. The game was scoreless until the top of the tenth when the Rays received a solo home run to break the scoreless tie. In the bottom of the tenth, a two out rally that included an RBI double by Jesus Loya and a walk off hit by pitch by Kendrick Perkins, propelled the Red Sox to a 2-1 victory.

The DSL Red Sox contest with the DSL Pirates was washed out due to rain.

Players of the Night: Junichi Tazawa, who tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5 to pick up the victory in Portland’s 3-2 win over Bowie.

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