August 4, 2012 at 8:30 AM
Cup of Coffees: Victory unanimous for affiliates on a positive Friday night
Cup of Coffee 8/4: Victory was unanimous for the affiliates on Friday night, and many performances were notable including Roberto Duncan's 3 for 3 effort, Sean Coyle's clutch two-run shot, and Noe Ramirez's strong 6.0 innings of work.
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Pawtucket would have shut out the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (PHI) were it not for a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth inning. It was innocuous, though, as the PawSox had spread out seven runs over the game to defeat the Iron Pigs 7-1. Billy Buckner started the game and collected the victory, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings, yielding only four hits and striking out three. Buckner’s effots extended his scoreless innings streak to nineteen. Pawtucket didn’t wait long to start their attack, scoring two runs in the first inning on a two RBI single from Juan Carlos Linares. The PawSox converted two throwing errors to two runs in the bottom of the fourth and added a third on an RBI single from Reynaldo Rodriguez. Mauro Gomez added an insurance run in the following inning with a solo home run, and Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly the next inning to pad the lead even further. Gomez’s home run was his 21st on the season, and he is fifth in the International League in home runs.
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The Sea Dogs also nearly had a shutout of their own had the Erie SeaWolves (DET) not scored on a wild pitch from Chris Balcom-Miller in the top of the eighth inning. The Sea Dogs defeated the SeaWolves 5-1, taking advantage of an early lead. Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Bryce Brentz each hit solo shots in the first inning to begin the Sea Dogs charge. The Sea Dogs took advantage of a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning, scoring on a force groundout from Ronald Bermudez and a single from Bradley, Jr. Jeremy Hazelbaker responded to the SeaWolves sole run in the eighth by taking advantage of two wild pitches and scoring on a force groundout. Jeremy Kehrt started the game and collected the victory, tossing 6.0 shutout innings, yielding four hits and striking out three.
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Only a solo shot in his last inning of work besmirched an otherwise fantastic effort from Noe Ramirez, who led the Drive to a 4-1 victory over the Hickory Crawdads (TEX). Ramirez tossed 6.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits, striking out seven and walking two. Nefi Ogando and Tyler Lockwood combined for three scoreless innings for the hold and the save, respectively. Greenville jumped out to an early two run lead in the first. Keury De La Cruz essentially stole home when he stole third and took advantage of a throwing error to score. Garin Cecchini also stole a base and scored on an RBI groundout. Jordan Weems hit an RBI single in the third inning and Cody Koback took advantage of a fielding error and a wild pitch to score a run in the eighth inning. De La Cruz extended his hitting streak to six games and is batting .357 over his last ten games.
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The Lowell Spinners edged out the Jamestown Jammers (MIA) 3-2 in extra innings. Lowell carried a two run lead going into the eighth, but the Jammers tied it up. The Spinners played some small ball when Jack Davies singled on a bunt ground ball to advance the runners to second and third, and Mookie Betts scored on Tim Roberson’s sacrifice fly. Mike Augilera started the game, yielding two hits and striking out an impressive seven in 3.0 scoreless innings. Francisco Taveras piggybacked him, allowing two runs on 4 hits and striking out five in 4.1 innings of work. Gregory Larson actually managed to collect both the blown save and the win as he pitched the last 2.2 innings.
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The GCL Red Sox scored three clutch runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to narrowly defeat the GCL Twins 5-4. The Red Sox could not maintain their early lead when Cleulius Rondon hit an RBI triple to score Tzu-Wei Lin in the bottom of the first inning. Andrew Bailey continued his rehab, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing a hit and a walk and striking out two. Matt Spalding followed and struggled with his control, hitting four batters in his 2.0 innings of work. Remarkably, his three runs (two earned) came on no hits. The Red Sox were down by two runs going into the bottom of the ninth, but Rondon scored on a fielding error, Kevin Mager was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Jeremias Pineda hit an RBI single. Pineda was 3 for 6 and is now batting .525 over his last ten games.
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Victor Ramirez pitched 5.0 scoreless innings and the DSL Red Sox defeated the DSL Marlins 10-5. Ramirez notched the victory and piggybacked starter Randy Perez (3.0 innings, four hits, three runs (two earned), five strikeouts) allowing only one hit in his 5.0 innings of work. The DSL Red Sox tied the game in the second inning when Roberto Duncan scored on a passed ball. The Red Sox took the lead in the fourth on an RBI single from Duncan. Their four-run seventh inning was what really put them over the edge. Aneudis Peralta hit an RBI double, Roberto Duncan hit an RBI single, and Anthony Amaya hit a two-run homer. The Red Sox added two more insurance runs in the eighth on an RBI double from Alixon Suarez and when Duncan drew a walk with the bases loaded. Duncan was 3 for 3 on the day with three RBI and three runs scored himself.
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Player of the Night: Sean Coyle went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, and three RBI. Coyle is batting .395 over his last ten games with 14 RBI and an on-base percentage of .452.
Photo Credit: Sean Coyle, David Letizi.