June 26, 2012 at 7:23 AM
Cup of Coffee: Suarez, Margot lead offensive attack for DSL Sox
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| Alixon Suarez (fanaticodigital.net) |
6/26 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night on the farm, as only the DSL Red Sox were victorious. The GCL Sox were rained out, and the other five teams combined to score only seven runs in a very light hitting night.
Pawtucket's troubles continued, as the Louisville Bats (CIN) completed the four-game sweep with a 6-3 victory. The loss was the eighth consecutive for the PawSox. Things started off well, as Pedro Ciriaco led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on a Ryan Lavarnway single. Louisville broke even in the top of the third, but Pawtucket scored a pair in the bottom half of the frame. Jonathan Hee led off the inning with a double followed by a Ciriaco triple. A Jason Repko sacrifice fly scored Ciriaco and gave the PawSox a 3-1 lead, but it would be all Louisville from there. Justin Germano took his first loss since May 19, which was also the last time he'd allowed more than two runs. He finished giving up four on eight hits in 7.0 innings pitched, striking out six and walking only one. A pair of solo homers allowed, one in the fourth and another in the sixth, proved to be his undoing. Alex Wilson followed, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits in his 2.0 innings. Ciriaco went 2 for 4 with a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Lavarnway also finished 2 for 4, continuing his resurgent June and extending his hitting streak to seven games. After a solid but unspectacular start of the year, Lavarnway is hitting .412 with 13 extra base hits and 18 RBI on the month.
Portland managed only four hits in a 7-1 loss to the Trenton Thunder (NYY). Hot Yankees prospect Vidal Nuno dominated the Sea Dogs lineup, shutting them out over 7.0 innings while allowing only two hits. Drake Britton matched zeros with Nuno through the first four, but the Thunder finally struck with a run in the fifth to take the lead and four in the sixth to knock Britton out of the game. In 5.2 innings, Britton gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out six and walking four in taking the loss. Jason Urquidez, signed last week from Lancaster of the independent Atlantic League, made his Sea Dogs debut in relief. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits in 1.1 innings, striking out one. Aaron Kurcz struck out two and hit a batter in a hitless ninth. Nick Natoli was the only Portland player on base more than once, going 1 for 2 with a walk and a double. Bryce Brentz hit his 10th home run of the year in the ninth inning to avoid the shutout. Jackie Bradley went hitless for the first time since his promotion to Double-A.
Like Portland, Salem mustered only four hits, while the Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) scored early and often in an 8-0 victory. It was a difficult start for Miguel Celestino, as he finished only 2.0 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits including a pair of home runs. He struck out two and walked one as his ERA ballooned from 3.06 to 3.88. Manny Rivera put out the fire in long relief, tossing 4.0 shutout frames, allowing just two hits, walking three and striking out one. Ryan Pressly, in his second appearance since moving to the bullpen, gave up a run on four hits in 2.0 innings. He struck out one and did not walk a batter. Meanwhile, Dash starter Matthew Heidenreich was fantastic, going the distance to complete the four-hit shutout.
A Greenville comeback fell short as the Drive fell to the Rome Braves (ATL) 4-2. Mickey Pena was not at his sharpest, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings, walking one without registering a strikeout. In a four run deficit, Greenville looked to mount a rally in the fifth inning as Rome pitcher Navery Moore struggled with wildness. After Bryan Johns was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning followed by walks to Jose Garcia and Keury De La Cruz, giving the Drive the bases loaded with nobody out. Unfortunately for Greenville, Garin Cecchini grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Johns scored, but that was still an exchange Rome was happy to make. Boss Moanaroa followed double scored Garcia to bring the Drive within two, but that is as close as they would come. Greenville relievers Nefi Ogando and Tyler Lockwood combined four 3.0 shutout innings to keep the Drive in the game. Greenville's offense would have more opporuntities, but was unable to capitalize. In the sixth, Jordan Weems was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a Garcia single, and in the eighth the Drive left the bases loaded. Moanaroa finished 2 for 4 with a walk, and Drew Turocy also had a two-hit evening.
Lowell never led, dropping the first game in their series with the Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU) by a score of 7-1. After three scoreless innings, the ValleyCats got to Spinners starter Jacob Dahlstrand for three runs in the fourth. Dahlstrand completed 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out one. Leandro Marin allowed a run on one hit in his 1.0 inning of work out of the bullpen, adding a walk and a strikeout. Braden Kapteyn struggled with his control on his 2.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned), on only one hit, as he walked four and hit a batter. He also notched three strikeouts. The Spinners only run came in the sixth, as Seth Schwindenhammer tripled and scored on an Oscar Perez single. First-round draft pick Deven Marrero had another good night at the plate in his second game, going 3 for 4. At the other end of the spectrum, Kendrick Perkins continued to struggle mightily, going 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts, the sixth time in seven games he has struck out multiple times.
The GCL Red Sox game yesterday afternoon against the GCL Rays was postponed by rain. No word on whether the game will be made up.
The lone win of the day came from the DSL Red Sox, who put 25 men on base in an 11-5 win over the DSL Yankees2. The Red Sox got the scoring started in the second when Anthony Amaya singled to score Aneudis Peralta. A five-run explosion in the third as the Red Sox sent 10 men to the plate broke the game open. The big hits a two-run home run by Robert Del Rosario and a two-run double by Amaya. After the Yankees got a run back, the Red Sox scored four more in the sixth, including a two-run homer by Alixon Suarez. The Red Sox added another in the seventh to go up 11-1, and the four run rally by the Yankees in the eighth barely made a dent. Suarez had a huge night, going 4 for 5 with two doubles and the home run, scoring a pair and driving in three. Manuel Margot also got on base four times to continue his impressive professional debut. Margot went 1 for 2 with three walks, two stolen bases, and three runs scored. Luis Ortega was impressive on the mound. Drawing the start, Ortega got his first professional win, tossing 5.0 shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out three without walking a batter. Carlos Garcia struggled out of the pen, giving up five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings. Edwin Osorio, William Gonzalez, and German Tavarez combined for 2.0 shutout innings to seal the victory.
Player of the Day: Catcher Alixon Suarez went 4 for 5 to lead the DSL Red Sox offensive barrage. Suarez struggled in his DSL debut in 2011 as a 16-year-old batting only .224, but really has shined in his repeat engagement. He is now hitting .324/.460/.485 and has already equaled his 2011 total with nine extra-base hits.