Cup of Coffee: Five-run eighth lifts PawSox to victory

4/6 Cup of Coffee: The PawSox, Sea Dogs and Drive all took home victories against New York Yankee affiliates on Friday, while the lone outlier, the Salem Red Sox, fell to the Frederick Keys (BAL) in their season-opener.

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Although the 9-4 final score appears lopsided, Friday evening's contest between the PawSox and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (NYY) was close until a five-run top of the eighth inning busted the game wide open. The inning was started with hits by Justin Henry and Drew Sutton, and was capped off by a three-run home run by designated hitter Mark Hamilton.

Overshadowed by the big eighth inning was the Triple-A debut of Allen Webster (pictured), who scattered two hits, three walks and five strikeouts over five innings of work. Despite surrendering three runs in the seventh, Oscar Villarreal picked up the win. Chris Carpenter pitched the final two innings of the game, giving up one run on a two-out single to catcher Austin Romine. Carpenter recorded all six outs via strikeout.

Recently acquired first baseman Brandon Snyder also had three RBI, two of which came on a line drive single in the 1st inning. Bryce Brentz followed his strong three-hit Opening Day performance with two more hits, including an RBI double in the ninth. Jeremy Hazelbaker, Henry, Sutton and Ryan Lavarnaway, who batted 1-2-3-4 in the order, added two hits each.

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Sea Dogs pitchers recorded 17 strikeouts in the team's 7-4 win over the Trenton Thunder (NYY).

Right-handed starter Brandon Workman contributed nine strikeouts in the first five innings of the game, picking up the win. Although Workman's overall stat line was unimpressive, he was dogged by a four-run 2nd inning punctuated by a two-run triple and a two-run home run.

However, the Thunder's early 4-2 lead was short lived, as the Sea Dogs answered with one run in the third and four in the fourth. The Sea Dogs were aided by six Thunder errors, including two errors in the fourth inning.

Batting second in the lineup and playing designated hitter, top prospect Xander Bogaerts recorded one hit and scored three runs. On a rehab assignment from Boston, shortstop Stephen Drew recorded one double and one RBI hitting third.

In three innings of relief for Workman, tall right-hander Chris Martin recorded seven strikeouts while surrendering only three baserunners.

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The Salem Red Sox were routed by the Frederick Keys (BAL) on the road last night, losing by a score of 11-1.

Drive starting pitcher Miguel Pena gave up four runs (two earned) and eight base runners in four innings of work. Pena was relieved by Heri Quevedo, who was tagged for six earned runs, including a three-run jack by Trent Mummy and a two-run blast by Brenden Webb.

The Salem Red Sox also recorded three errors in the contest, including a throwing error by third baseman Garin Cecchini, a fielding error by second baseman Sean Coyle and a fielding error by center fielder Keury De La Cruz.

Coyle, shortstop Deven Marrero, De La Cruz and left fielder Brandon Jacobs had the lone hits for Salem, hitting in the top four spots in the lineup, respectively.

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A four-run sixth inning lifted the Greenville Drive over the Charleston River Dogs (NYY), 4-2, in Greenville on Friday.

Going into the inning trailing 2-0, the Drive broke the shut out with a one-run double from Aneury Tavarez. The Drive took the lead after designated hitter David Chester's two-run single. A fourth run was added on a Charleston error.

Drive center fielder Cody Koback was 1 for 3 in the three-hole and swiped two bases in the game. On the bump for the Drive, Justin Haley and Jason Garcia combined for 13 strikeouts while surrendering six hits and six walks. Garcia, who pitched five innings in relief, picked up the win.

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Player of the Night: Mark Hamilton's three-run home run in the eighth inning capped off a five-run frame for Pawtucket, helping power them to a 9-4 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. Hamilton, 28, spent most of his career in the St. Louis Cardinals system, where he demonstrated a consistent balance between power and patience. In 303 at-bats playing for the Memphis Redbirds in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in 2012, Hamilton hit 15 home runs and produced a slash line of .230/.340/.419.

Photo credit: Allen Webster by Kelly O'Connor

Luke Lavoie is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on twitter @LukeALavoie. 

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