August 19, 2012 at 8:30 AM
Cup of Coffee: Scary Beginning at Futures at Fenway is ill omen for rest of affiliates
8/19 Cup of Coffee: All was not fun and games at the annual “Futures at Fenway” game on Saturday afternoon when 2012 Red Sox first-round pick Brian Johnson took a line drive to the face on only the second pitch he threw. It was an inauspicious omen to a game that the Spinners eventually lost by a run. The PawSox also suffered defeat in the nightcap. The rest of the affiliates had similarly frustrating nights, with the Sea Dogs splitting a doubleheader for the only victory of the night.
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The Pawtucket offense was unable to offer run support to a solid start from Chris Hernandez and fell to the Buffalo Bisons (NYM), 2-0 in the nightcap of the “Futures at Fenway” event. Hernandez allowed two runs on four hits over 6.0 innings. The Pawtucket offense was hardly able to string any hits together, and Jonathan Hee had the only extra-base hit of the night. Josh Fields and Chris Carpenter combined for 3.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
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The Sea Dogs continued to ride the momentum from Stolmy Pimentel’s 4.0 hitless innings to complete Friday’s suspended game with a 9-2 victory over the New Britain Rock Cats (MIN). The Sea Dogs scored their first three runs in the sixth inning to recover from a one-run deficit and take the lead, which they would maintain for the rest of the game. Marquez Smith and Peter Hissey each had RBI singles, the latter being responsible for two of the runs. The Sea Dogs erupted for six runs in the seventh inning. Jackie Bradley, Jr. hit a two-run single with the bases loaded; Ryan Dent scored on a passed ball, and Jeremy Hazelbaker hit a two-run triple. Rich Hill pitched 1.0 inning of rehab relief allowing a hit and striking out a batter. Ryan Pressly threw 1.0 inning for the victory and allowed a run. Caleb Clay allowed one run on four hits over the final 3.0 innings for the save.
In their regularly scheduled game, the Sea Dogs were unable to respond to a late New Britain rally and fell, 4-2. Mike MacDonald struck out seven batters over his 6.0 innings of work, allowing two runs on six hits. Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run in the second inning to put Portland on the board and give them a lead that did not last long. The Sea Dogs tied the game in the seventh inning when Hissey hit a ground-rule double to score Bogaerts, who had just doubled before him. Michael Olmsted took the loss, allowing two runs in the eighth inning off back-to-back extra-base hits. Bogaerts was 2 for 3 on the night with a double and a home run. He is batting .364 since his promotion.
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The Salem Red Sox were unable to fully recover from an early three-run deficit and fell to the Potomac Nationals (WAS), 7-4. The Red Sox responded to the Nationals’ three-run first inning with a run of their own in the first on a sacrifice fly from Drew Hedman. The Nationals scored another two runs before chasing Miguel Celestino from the game, who gave up five runs on eight hits over 4.0 innings. The Red Sox started to chip away at the Nationals’ lead by scoring two more runs in the fifth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles from Zach Gentile and Michael Almanzar (pictured). The Red Sox scored again in the seventh on a RBI single from Almanzar, but it was not enough—Michael Gleason had yielded two more runs on six hits in his 3.0 innings of work. Andrew Jones pitched the final two scoreless innings, yielding only a hit.
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The Asheville Tourists (COL) erupted for a seven-run inning, and embarrassed the Drive, 12-2. Miguel Pena started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 5.0 innings. Kevin Brahney was victim of the Tourists’ seven-inning crusade over his 1.2 innings, and Kyle Kraus finished the game with mop-up duty: yielding only a hit over his 1.1 innings. Since his promotion from Lowell, the 2012 seventh-round pick has given up only one run over 7.1 innings. The Drive scored their only two runs in the sixth inning when on a RBI single from David Renfroe followed by a RBI force groundout from Henry Ramos.
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After a scary beginning, the Spinners nearly rallied for victory, but ultimately fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades (TB), 6-5. After Brian Johnson exited the game with multiple bone fractures on the left side of his face, Jacob Dahlstrand came in on short notice and allowed five runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. Gerardo Olivares only allowed a solo home run over his 3.0 innings, but it ended up being the definitive run. Jadd Schmeltzer pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to finish the game. The Spinners managed only one run over the first eight innings, and it came on a RBI single from Zach Kapstein. Jake Davies began the Spinners’ threatening rally with a triple to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Mookie Betts followed with a RBI single, and Aneury Tavarez doubled Betts in. Tavarez scored on a fielding error, and all of a sudden, it was a different ball game: the Spinners were within two runs. Roberto Reyes singled in Johnson to put the Spinners within a run, but Matt Gedman was not able to carry the momentum and grounded out to end the game.
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A sloppy defensive fourth inning and a lack of offense led to a 2-1 loss for the GCL Red Sox against the GCL Twins. Francellis Montas started the game and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over 4.0 innings and struck out five batters. Scott Swinson and Ricardo Betancourt combined for four scoreless innings. The Twins scored their only two runs in the fourth inning when a throwing error from Nathan Minnich led to an extra run. The Red Sox scored their only run in the eighth inning on a RBI double from Jose Colorado. Colorado was the only batter in the lineup with a multi-hit day.
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The DSL Red Sox would have had a chance for victory had they not granted a seven-run inning to the DSL Rangers, and they ultimately fell 11-8. The Red Sox jumped out to a two-run lead in the first when Alixon Suarez hit a sacrifice fly and Robert Del Rosario grounded out to produce a run. The Rangers tied the game in the third, but Andres Garcia hit a two-run double in the fourth, and Aneudis Peralta hit a two-run single in the fifth to give the Red Sox a comfortable lead. The Rangers scored seven runs in the seventh to take the lead for good, and the Red Sox did not respond offensively. Edwar Garcia started the game, allowing two runs on five hits over 2.1 innings. Jervis Torrealba allowed two more runs in his 3.1 innings, but the real damage came from Edwin Osorio and Luis Ramos. They yielded a combined seven runs on five hits in only 0.2 inning. Wildyn Florian and William Gonzalez were the only two pitchers who didn’t allow a run, combining for 1.2 innings of relief. Peralta was 2 for 3 with 4 RBI on the day.
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Player of the Night: Michael Almanzar was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI on the night. Almanzar is now second in the Carolina league in doubles with 33. After a disappointing 2011 campaign with Salem in which he hit .182, Almanzar is hitting .304 on the season.
Photo Credit: Michael Almanzar, drivfan08