Home... Transactions... Depth Chart... 40-Man Roster... 2024 Projected Rosters... Podcast
News.... Lineups.... Stats.... Draft History.... International Signings.... Scouting Log.... Forum

SoxProspects News

July 9, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Buchholz throws in Pawtucket, Marrero hits in Lowell


7/9 Cup of Coffee: In a throwback to 2007, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury helped lead the PawSox to victory, and Lowell's losing streak reached 10 games despite Deven Marrero (pictured) reaching base four times. 

The two top prospects in the system took part in the Futures Game yesterday, with Matt Barnes and the US Futures defeating Xander Bogaerts and the World Futures, 17-5. Bogaerts started as the designated hitter, and went 1 for 4 with a single and two strikeouts. Barnes came in to close out the game, and got two outs on two pitches to secure the victory. 
-----
With the help of some major leaguers, the PawSox beat the Chiefs (WAS), 4-1. Buchholz started, and threw 2.1 shutout innings, allowing one hit while walking two and striking out three. Of the 43 pitches he threw, 20 were strikes. Brandon Duckworth came on in relief, and allowed one run in 4.2 innings. Juan Carlos Linares gave the PawSox the lead in the second with an RBI triple, and Ryan Lavarnway added to the lead in the third with an RBI single that scored Ellsbury. Ellsbury went 1 for 4 and is now 5 for 27 in his rehab stint. Nate Spears launched a two-run home run in the fourth to complete the scoring.

Daniel Bard came on in the eighth and had a very encouraging performance. He tossed a perfect inning getting two strikeouts and one popup, throwing nine of his 12 pitches for strikes. Junichi Tazawa recorded the save in dominant fashion, striking out the side in order in the ninth.
-----
Jeremy Hazelbaker hit a ninth inning single to give the Sea Dogs a 3-2 victory over Trenton (NYY). It was a big day for the Sea Dogs, because for the first time in the team's 19-year history, a Maine native suited up for Portland. Recently-signed Mike MacDonald, who was born in Camden, Maine, did not have a very memorable performance, leaving the game after allowing two runs, one earned, in 0.2 innings due to a leg injury. Chris Balcom-Miller came in for the pseudo spot-start, throwing 5.0 shutout innings. Aaron Kurcz, who was recently added to the Eastern League All-Star roster, earned the win, throwing 2.1 innings allowing only one hit while walking two and striking out five. 

The score remained tied into the ninth, when the Sea Dogs started an unorthodox rally. Ryan Dent was hit by a pitch, and he moved to second on a Jackie Bradley Jr. walk. Hazelbaker drove in Dent with a single that proved to be the winning run. Brock Huntzinger threw a perfect ninth to earn his third save. Bradley went 1 for 3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch to extend his hitting streak to nine games, and Matt Spring went 1 for 4 with a solo home run. 
-----
Brandon Jacobs stayed hot, but the Salem bullpen imploded as they fell to the Frederick Keys (BAL), 8-5. Making his High-A debut, Yeiper Castillo had a great start, allowing one run in 6.0 innings, walking four and striking out four. He left the game with a 3-1 lead thanks to run-scoring singles from Jacobs and Sean Coyle. Charle Rosario came in and after pitching a scoreless seventh, allowed three straight hits to start to eighth as the Keys tied the game. Adalberto Ibarra got the runs back for Salem in the bottom of the inning, connecting on a two-run single to regain the lead. 

All-Star closer Michael Olmsted came in to shut the door, but gave up five runs, three earned, while only recording two outs. Pete Ruiz came in and got the last out. Jacobs went 2 for 4 with a walk to continue his hot hitting, while Ibarra went 3 for 5. 
-----
Every Drive batter collected at least one hit, as they pummeled the Rome Braves (ATL), 12-3. The Drive batters got right to work in the first, putting four runs on the board. Garin Cecchini and Henry Ramos hit RBI singles, and David Renfroe added a two-run double. The Drive had another big inning in the fifth, as run-scoring singles from Cody Koback, Dreily Guerrero, and Cecchini helped put five more runs on the board. Chris Carpenter made his first rehab appearance for the Drive, and struck out two in his one inning of work. Jason Garcia got the win in relief, throwing 5.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits.

Cecchini and Renfroe led the attack with three hits each, with Cecchini adding a walk and Renfroe connecting on two doubles. Koback and Jose Garcia each had two hits, though Koback struck out three times. 
-----
Marrero had a terrific game, but Lowell's losing streak reached double digits with a 4-2 loss to Batavia (STL). Lowell starter Mike Augliera cruised through his 2.0 innings of work, allowing only one base runner. Francisco Taveras did not fare as well, allowing four runs in 4.0 innings. Lowell has struggled with runners in scoring position all season, and Sunday was no different, as they went 1 for 8 as a team and left eight men on base. Marrero led the offense going 3 for 3 with a walk and stolen base to raise his average to .274 on the season, Mike Miller went 3 for 4 with a steal, and Williams Jerez went 2 for 4. 


Player of the Night: After having some initial success in Lowell, 2012 first-round pick Deven Marrero was struggling to produce. In the nine games before Sunday, he hit .132 with two extra-base hits. His 3 for 3 performance yesterday will hopefully get him back on track, but as Bryce Brentz showed in 2010, short-season stats do not mean much. 


Photo Credit: Deven Marrero by Dave Letizi