Cup of Coffee: Stroup sparkles in Salem, Snyder powers Pawtucket

6/3 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket used a big day from the middle of its order to cruise to an easy victory. In other action, Portland fell flat against Altoona, and Salem held on for a close victory. 

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The PawSox pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 10-3 drubbing of the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS). Rubby De La Rosa was solid during his 4 2/3 innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while punching out seven. Terry Doyle received the victory, holding Syracuse to a run on two hits during his 4 1/3 innings of relief. 

Down 2-0 in the fourth, Pawtucket plated four runs on a Justin Henry RBI double, Jonathan Diaz sacrifice fly, and a Brock Holt RBI single. In the seventh, a Brandon Snyder RBI double and a Mitch Maier three-run home run gave the PawSox an 8-2 advantage. Snyder added a two-run home run in the eighth to provide some additional insurance. Every member of the Pawtucket lineup reached base at least once, with Snyder and Henry having three hits each. 

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Matt Barnes had one of the worst outings of his career, allowing the Altoona Curve (PIT) to grab a 13-6 victory. Barnes lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits (three home runs). Reliever Keith Couch did not fare much better, allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief. With Altoona cruising 12-0 in the sixth, Portland showed signs of life, scoring six runs on RBI doubles from Tony Thomas, J.C. Linares and Christian Vazquez, as well as an RBI single from Matt Spring. Spring added a solo home run in the ninth, but the early hole proved to be too tall a task for the Sea Dogs. The 28-year-old Spring is now hitting .338/.377/.692 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 65 at-bats. 

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Despite just one hit, Salem topped the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX), 3-2. Kyle Stroup was dominant across seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk, while striking out five. Matty Ott provided two innings of relief to pick up his second save. The Red Sox opened the scoring in the fourth, bringing home two on a Brandon Jacobs RBI double. A costly throwing error in the sixth allowed Garin Cecchini to scamper home with Salem's third run. The Pelicans hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth, but were held in check the rest of the game. 

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The rubber game of the series between Greenville and Asheville (COL) was cancelled due to rain. The game will not be made up since the two teams do not meet again during the first half of the season. 

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Player of the Day: Kyle Stroup, who moved to 3-3 on the season, thanks to seven shutout innings against Myrtle Beach. The 23-year-old right-hander has missed the entire 2010 and 2012 campaigns after tearing his ACL. Stroup dominated the Pelicans, allowing just three hits and a walk, while striking out five. The start marks the second outing in a row that he lasted seven innings, topping his previous high of 5 1/3 innings. The former 50th round selection discussed his resolve with SoxProspects Senior Columnist Jon Meoli in spring training.

Photo Credit: Kyle Stroup by Kelly O'Connor

John Gray is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.

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