August 12, 2012 at 7:31 AM
Cup of Coffee: Marrero homers in thirteenth to power Lowell
8/12 Cup of Coffee: Both Lowell and the DSL Red Sox won in their last at-bat, while the GCL Red Sox held off a late comeback. Portland and Salem both dropped tough one-run losses, and Pawtucket was doomed by an eighth-inning rally.
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At Rochester's Frontier Field, Pawtucket missed their chance to sweep its two-game series, losing 5-3 to the Red Wings (MIN). Steven Wright made his PawSox debut, and the knuckleballer was solid, allowing two runs on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Josh Fields followed with a pair of perfect innings, striking out three. Daniel Bard struggled in the eighth inning, taking his first loss with the PawSox. Bard gave up three runs in his 1.0 inning of work, allowing three hits, walking one and hitting a batter, while striking out two. Che-Hsuan Lin led the offense, going 3 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
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Portland fell 5-4 in a tough walk-off loss to the Erie SeaWolves (DET). Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Brock Huntzinger surrendered a lead-off home run to Daniel Fields to give the Sea Wolves the win and ending Huntzinger's scoreless streak at five outings. Not to be missed in the loss were some excellent offensive performances. Xander Bogaerts had his third two-hit effort in as many games with Portland, going 2 for 4 with a double. Christian Vazquez and Bryce Brentz also had a pair of hits apiece, while Jackie Bradley went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks.
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Salem struggled to generate offense, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (KC). Keith Couch tossed 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two in a tough-luck loss. Will Latimer kept the game close, striking out four in 3.0 shutout innings, but the offense could not break through against Wilmington pitching. Salem's lone run came on a third inning solo home run by Carson Blair. Felix Sanchez had a pair of hits for the Red Sox.
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Greenville's match-up with the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM) was cancelled due to rain. Per a Savannah press release, the game will not be made up.
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Top pick Deven Marrero (pictured) broke a 5-5 tie with a 13th inning solo home run, making the Spinners 6-5 winners over the Hudson Valley Renegades (TB). Marrero's shot gave Lowell its fourth consecutive win and 13th in its last 15 games. Overall, Marrero finished the night 2 for 7 with an RBI and two runs scored. Dreily Guerrero, recently named to the New York-Penn League All-Star game, led the Spinners with three hits, including a double. Jadd Schmeltzer earned the win, going 3.0 shutout innings, striking out two and walking one, and Greg Larson earned his first professional save by pitching a scoreless 13th.
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Three of the top pitching prospects in the lower levels of Red Sox system saw action in the GCL Red Sox 6-3 win over the GCL Twins. Fourth round pick Ty Buttrey got the start, giving up one unearned run on one hit in his 1.0 inning of work, striking out two and walking one. Second rounder Jamie Callahan followed with 2.0 shutout innings, allowing only one hit while walking and striking out one apiece, earning the win in his first professional decision. Frank Montas was next with 4.0 dominant shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out five. Nick Moore had a fourth inning two-run homer, his third blast of the year. Mike Meyers also had a big night with the bat, going 2 for 3 with a walk, a pair of doubles, a run scored and two RBI.
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The DSL Red Sox knocked off the DSL Yankees2, 4-3. Entering the top of the ninth with the score knotted a three, Aneudis Peralta singled to center to lead off the inning. After Peralta moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt, Roberto Duncan tripled, scoring Peralta with the go-ahead run. Keivin Heras got the start, allowing three runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings, striking out three without walking a batter. The 17-year-old Heras maintains a 1.68 ERA on the season. Emfember Martinez got the win for his 3.0 perfect innings of relief, striking out three and moving to 2-0 on the season. Leonel Vazquez allowed a pair of hits in the bottom of the ninth but escaped with his seventh save.
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Player of the Day: Deven Marrero hit a dramatic 13th inning home run to help Lowell continue its winning ways. The shortstop had been slumping to a 4 for 41 line in August prior to his extra-inning blast.
Photo credit: Deven Marrero by Kelly O'Connor