Cup of Coffee: A no-no for Big O

7/18 Cup of Coffee: On what was supposed to be a slow night in sports, Henry Owens (pictured) led Salem to the team's first no-hitter since 2002. Owens combined with Matty Ott and Mathew Price to keep the Frederick Keys (BAL) out of the hit column. Be sure to read Jon Meoli's report from the game.

Aside from the excitement in Frederick, the GCL and DSL Red Sox each won close games, while Portland and Lowell struggled mightily to get anything going offensively. 

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Portland struggled to produce any offense, falling to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR), 4-0. Peter Hissey and Michael Almanzar each went 2 for 4, with both of Hissey's hits going for doubles. Almanzar was struggling entering the game, batting .100/.122/.100 in his last 40-at bats.

Garin Cecchini was the only other Sea Dogs player to collect a hit, going 1 for 4. Keith Couch allowed three runs in five innings, walking three and striking out three. Miguel Celestino allowed one run in relief, and Rafael Perez tossed a scoreless eighth. 

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Greenville was postponed again due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today. 

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Carlos Asuaje's first professional home run was not enough, as Lowell fell to the State College Spikes (STL), 8-2. Mario Alcantara was not sharp, allowing four runs, two earned, in 3 2/3 innings. Taylor Grover was the only Spinner pitcher to have success, striking out three in two innings of work. Asuaje went 3 for 5, and David Sopilka went 2 for 4. Manuel Margot was held hitless, but did draw two walks. 

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After losing the lead in the top of the ninth, the GCL Red Sox got a walk-off single from Aneudis Peralta to beat the GCL Orioles (BAL), 4-3. Randy Perez started, allowing three hits and no runs in three innings. German Taveras allowed a run on a passed ball in the top of the ninth, but he got the win after the Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the inning. 

Bryan Hudson led off the inning with a walk, moved up a base on a Deiner Lopez single, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Peralta drove him in with a single, as the Red Sox improved to 11-11. Wendell Rijo had another strong game, going 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He is now batting .310/.438./.414 on the season and will not be turning 18 until September. 

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Luis Alexander Basabe hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, leading the DSL Red Sox past the DSL Royals (KC), 4-3. Carlos Garcia pitched well, allowing one hit in five innings, but he was stuck with a no decision. Victor Ramirez notched his seventh save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth, which lowered his ERA to 0.63. Basabe went 2 for 3 with the home run, and Raiwinson Lameda went 1 for 3 with a walk. 

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Player of the Day: Henry Owens, Matty Ott, and Mathew Price all deserve this award, as they combined to throw the first no-hitter for Salem since 2002. Owens was dominant, striking out 10 in six innings. Coming off a start in which he did not allow an earned run in seven innings, Owens managed to raise the bar on Wednesday. He last faced the Keys on May 26, allowing four runs in five innings. Price and Ott have both been great out of the Salem bullpen this season, and they earned some well-deserved recognition for their role in the no-no. 

Photo Credit: Henry Owens by Kelly O'Connor

Jim Crowell is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.

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