May 14, 2012 at 6:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Brentz's five hits not enough for Portland
5/14 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket came from behind for another late victory, while Portland's 14 hits were not enough to top the Thunder. Salem and Greenville were postponed.
It was not a Mother's Day Miracle, but Pawtucket scored three unanswered runs to defeat the Columbus Clippers (CLE), 5-4. Ross Ohlendorf got the start for the PawSox, and pitched 5.0 innings allowing 4 runs on 4 hits. The big hit for the Clippers was a three-run home run in the top of the fourth. Down 4-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, the PawSox started to fight back. A sacrifice fly from Alex Hassan scored Lars Anderson, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Still down two in the sixth, Pawtucket loaded the bases with only one out. Scott Podsednik, in his first game with the PawSox, singled home Anderson, and then Hassan came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Mike Rivera to tie the game. After Alex Wilson pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, Hassan belted a home run to left-center in the bottom of the inning to give the PawSox their first lead of the game. Hassan went 3 for 3 with a double and the home run on the day. Mark Melancon closed out the game with a perfect ninth to secure the win. Melancon has now thrown 11.0 scoreless innings with the PawSox, walking none and striking out 19.
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| Bryce Brentz (Dave Letizi) |
Despite out-hitting the Thunder 14-13, Portland fell to Trenton (NYY), 7-4. Following in Jackie Bradley, Jr.'s footsteps, Bryce Brentz went 5 for 5 with a double. He became the first Sea Dog to record five hits in a game since Will Middlebrooks accomplished the feat last July. Unfortunately for the Sea Dogs, they left 13 men on base, and their starters walked 9 batters. Chris Balcom-Miller started, and pitched 4.0 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, walking 5, striking out 2, and hitting a batter. Reliever Charle Rosario did not fare any better, allowing two two-run home runs and walking four in 1.1 innings. Down 7-1 in the eighth, Portland tried to get back in the game, scoring two runs on a Derrik Gibson single to cut the lead to four. Gibson went 2 for 3 with a walk on the day. In the ninth, Brentz singled home Reynaldo Rodriguez, but that was as close as Portland would get.
Player of the Day: Bryce Brentz has really turned it on in May. After having an OPS of only .584 in April, his OPS for May is currently 1.178. His total line for the season is now .279/.323/.426. Brentz has multiple hits in five of his last eight games, and it seems as though he is beginning to adjust to Double-A pitching.