August 11, 2011 at 6:00 AM
Vazquez clubs Greenville to third win in a row
8/11 Cup of Coffee: Greenville and the DSL Red Sox were the lone bright spots of the evening amongst the affiliates as Pawtucket, Portland and Salem all lost in unique ways. Mother Nature played game with Lowell and the GCL Sox, suspending the Spinners and postponing the Gulf Coast League squad. Pawtucket could not follow up on their doubleheader sweep and hold back the Charlotte Knights (CHW) as they fell, 8-5. Brandon Duckworth tossed 6.2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Royce Ring received the loss for his 1.1 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, collecting one strikeout. A Ryan Lavarnway sacrifice fly and a Lars Anderson RBI single gave Pawtucket a 2-0 advantage after one. With the game tied in the fifth, Anderson knocked in his second run of the day on another RBI single, giving the PawSox a 3-2 lead. Down 5-3 in the sixth, the PawSox pulled within one on a wild pitch. In the seventh, Daniel Nava’s solo home run tied the game, 5-5. Charlotte put together a two out rally in the eighth, scoring three runs to claim the 8-5 victory. Nate Spears was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles to lead the Pawtucket offense.
A day after scoring 9 runs, Portland could not compile any offense in a 3-0 loss to the Akron Aeros (CLE). Brock Huntzinger dropped to 5-10 on the season as he hurled 5.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. Josh Fields added 2.0 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks, striking out 2. Cesar Cabral contributed 1.1 innings out of the Sea Dogs bullpen, allowing an unearned run on 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 3. Portland hitters struck out 15 times and mustered just one extra base hit.
Despite outhitting their opponents 14-4, Salem lost a heartbreaking 6-5 contest to the Potomac Nationals (WAS). Ryan Pressly received the start for Salem, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 1. Michael Gleason added 3.0 innings of work, allowing 1 run on 2 walks, striking out 2. Tom Ebert received the loss, pitching 0.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks. RBI singles by Peter Hissey and Bryce Brentz in the third gave Salem a 2-0 lead. Down 4-2 in the fourth, the Red Sox moved to within one on Josue Peley’s RBI single. After Potomac added another run in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead, Salem plated a singular run in both the seventh and eighth inning on solo home runs from Brentz and Shannon Wilkerson to tie the game, 5-5. The Nationals received the game winning hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, walking off with the win. Brentz and Wilkerson each had 3 hits to lead the Red Sox offense.
Steady pitching and a productive middle of the lineup pushed Greenville past the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM), 7-2. Kyle Stroup hurled 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6 to pick up the victory. Scott Swinson added 1.0 inning of scoreless relief, striking out 1. Jordan Flasher tossed the final 2.0 innings for the Drive, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 3. Christian Vazquez’s RBI double in the first gave Greenville a 1-0 lead. Down 2-1 in the third, Vazquez roped his second double of the contest, plating two and giving the Drive a 3-2 advantage. In the fifth, Vazquez recorded his third RBI double of the game and Henry Ramos added an RBI triple to put Greenville out in front, 6-2. The Drive’s final run of the game was gifted to them by a two out error by the Savannah third baseman. Greenville’s 2-5 hitters were a combined 8 for 16 with 6 extra base hits and 6 RBI while the rest of the lineup was 0 for 20.
Lowell’s contest against the Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) was suspended in the top of the third inning due to rain with the game tied 2-2. The Spinners received a two run home run from Tim Roberson in the second inning. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader this evening.
The GCL Red Sox game against the GCL Rays (TB) was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.
An early display of offense was enough for the DSL Red Sox to strike down the DSL Mets2 (NYM), 6-2. Jeffry Fernandez received the start for the Red Sox and tossed 1.0 inning, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1. William Abreu picked up his first professional victory for his 4.0 innings of work, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Leonel Vazquez notched his second save for his 4.0 innings of relief, allowing just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 3. With the game scoreless in the second, the Red Sox brought home four runs on a Roberto Duncan RBI single and a three run home run from Jeremias Pineda. In the third, Jair Bogaerts laced a 2 RBI double to put the Red Sox in front 6-0. The Mets scratched out two runs in the fifth, but both offenses remained quiet the rest of the contest.
Player of the Night: Christian Vazquez, who was 3 for 5 with 3 doubles, a run scored and 5 RBI in Greenville’s 7-2 victory over Savannah.