July 12, 2012 at 6:11 AM
Cup of Coffee: Celestino twirls beauty for Salem, Lowell halts eleven-game losing streak
7/12 Cup of Coffee: The International League and Eastern League All-Star contests highlighted a full slate of action that saw Miguel Celestino toss 8.0 shutout innings in a victory for Salem and Lowell walk off with an extra-innings victory that snapped their massive losing streak.
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The International League All-Stars fell to the Pacific Coast League All-Stars, 3-0. Ryan Lavarnway started at catcher for the International League, going 1 for 2 with a strikeout. Pedro Ciriaco, Justin Germano and Mauro Gomez were also named to the All-Star team, but of course are in the majors right now and thus did not play.
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In the Eastern League All-Star game, the Eastern Division squad topped the Western Division, 5-4. Aaron Kurcz represented the Sea Dogs well, facing five batters and retiring all of them, two by strikeout. Playing the entire game in right field for the Eastern Division, Bryce Brentz was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Chris Hernandez and Reynaldo Rodriguez were also selected for the game, but did not play.
In the Eastern League All-Star game, the Eastern Division squad topped the Western Division, 5-4. Aaron Kurcz represented the Sea Dogs well, facing five batters and retiring all of them, two by strikeout. Playing the entire game in right field for the Eastern Division, Bryce Brentz was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Chris Hernandez and Reynaldo Rodriguez were also selected for the game, but did not play.
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Despite out-hitting their opponents 10-8, Greenville was doubled up by the Augusta Greenjackets (SF), 4-2. Henry Owens, who was in search of his tenth win of the season, tossed 5.0 innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits and a walk, striking out five. Garin Cecchini, David Renfroe, Henry Ramos and Jose Vinicio each had two hits to lead Greenville's offense.
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Lowell was finally able to end their nightmare eleven game losing streak but it did not come easily. The Spinners plated two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning to taste a 5-4 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrapers (TB). David Chester was Mr. Clutch for the Spinners, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single and tying the game again in the bottom of the thirteenth with another RBI single. Matthew Gedman followed Chester in the thirteenth with an RBI single of his own that allowed Lowell to celebrate a hard fought victory. Gedman was 3 for 6 with a double and an RBI, while Chester was 2 for 5 with two RBI. Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero each added two hits. Left fielder Seth Schwindenhammer had another tough evening at the plate, going 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. Schwindenhammer has struck out 19 times in 34 at-bats and has just three hits this season, a triple and two home runs.
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In the first game of a doubleheader, the GCL Red Sox squashed the GCL Rays (TB), 2-0. Ricardo Betancourt picked up the victory for his 5.1 innings of work, allowing just three hits and a walk while punching out six. Jake Davies was the star for the Red Sox, going 3 for 3 with two RBI. Shaq Green-Thompson was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and has now struck out in 23 of his 24 at-bats.
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Lowell was finally able to end their nightmare eleven game losing streak but it did not come easily. The Spinners plated two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning to taste a 5-4 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrapers (TB). David Chester was Mr. Clutch for the Spinners, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single and tying the game again in the bottom of the thirteenth with another RBI single. Matthew Gedman followed Chester in the thirteenth with an RBI single of his own that allowed Lowell to celebrate a hard fought victory. Gedman was 3 for 6 with a double and an RBI, while Chester was 2 for 5 with two RBI. Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero each added two hits. Left fielder Seth Schwindenhammer had another tough evening at the plate, going 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. Schwindenhammer has struck out 19 times in 34 at-bats and has just three hits this season, a triple and two home runs.
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In the first game of a doubleheader, the GCL Red Sox squashed the GCL Rays (TB), 2-0. Ricardo Betancourt picked up the victory for his 5.1 innings of work, allowing just three hits and a walk while punching out six. Jake Davies was the star for the Red Sox, going 3 for 3 with two RBI. Shaq Green-Thompson was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and has now struck out in 23 of his 24 at-bats.
Game two was a much different story, as the Rays jumped all over the Red Sox, 7-3. Jonathan Aro and Sully Bonnelly struggled on the mound as the Rays managed 11 hits in just seven innings. Jeremias Pineda was 2 for 4 with two RBI from the top of the order while Miguel Rodriguez and Mike Meyers had two hits each at the bottom of the Red Sox order.
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Superb pitching and just enough offense allowed the DSL Red Sox to claim a 4-0 victory over the DSL Marlins (MIA). William Abreu picked up his second win of the season for his 3.0 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out five. The Red Sox had just five hits, with yesterday's hero Roberto Duncan going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Manuel Margot was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. The Red Sox were able to utilize their speed and take advantage of some sloppy play by the Marlins who committed three errors.
Player of the Day: Miguel Celestino, who moved to 6-5 on the year with his 8.0 innings of shutout ball against Lynchburg.
Photo credit: Miguel Celestino, SoxProspects, LLC.