August 17, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Cup of Coffee: Greenville and Lowell walk-off, pitching dominates
8/17 Cup of Coffee: On the strength of strong pitching performances, Pawtucket, Portland, Salem and Greenville took home victories. Both the Spinners and the Drive took home walk-off wins while the DSL Red Sox won in a blowout and the GCL Red Sox lost their third game in four contests.-----
Right-hander Allen Webster set the table for the Pawtucket Red Sox Friday in their 7-6 victory over the Louisville Bats (CIN). Webster, who pitched the Red Sox first five innings, gave up only four hits and a walk while striking out seven. He surrendered only one run and lowered his season ERA to 3.84 on the way to picking up his seventh win.
It was a collective effort at the dish, as the PawSox collected only six hits with no one player notching a multi-hit game. Most of the damage levied by the PawSox was done early in the game, as the team was able to scratch across five runs in the first two innings of the contest. Dan Butler's sixth inning home run, his 13th of the season, brought the PawSox total to seven, which was enough to hold of a late rally from Louisville.
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Recently promoted Sea Dogs starter Henry Owens continues to prove his promotion was warranted in Friday's 4-1 win over the Harrisburg Senators (WAS). The lanky left-hander picked up his second win on the level after hurling five hit-less innings. Owens, who surrendered an unearned run, walked three and struck out 10 in his third Double-A start. The bullpen, specifically Jeremy Kehrt and Rafael Perez nailed down the win this a combined four scoreless inning of relief.
On the offensive side of the ball, all but one Sea Dogs starter collected a hit, with first baseman Michael Almanzar and catcher Christian Vazquez each collecting two hits. Both Almanzar and Vazquez picked up doubles, along designated hitter Travis Shaw.
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The Salem Red Sox pulled out a 2-1 victory against the Winston-Salem Dash (CHW). Like Pawtucket and Portland, Salem was buoyed by a strong starting pitching performance as William Cuevas delivered six strong innings. Cuevas, who left with the game tied, surrendered only one unearned run while collecting three strikeouts. The game's deciding blow was delivered by first baseman David Chester in the eight inning. With two outs and runners on first and second base, Chester hit a line drive single to center field, scoring Stefan Welch from second base.
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The Greenville Drive also pulled out a 2-1 win thanks to late game heroics in their contest against the Lexington Legends (KC). Drive left fielder Kevin Heller hit a walk-off solo home run, his second of the contest, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to break the tie. Heller, who collected three hits, was one of only three Drive players to get a hit in the game. Drive starter Luis Diaz added his name to list of strong pitching performances Friday, surrendering only two hits over seven innings. Diaz, who did not give up the lone run, collected nine strikeouts while walking three.
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The Lowell Spinners won a high scoring affair in dramatic fashion in Friday's walk-off 7-6 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades (TB). With the game tied at five going into extra-innings, the Renegades struck what they thought would be the winning blow scratching across one run in the top of the 10th. However, the Spinners answered. After two quick outs, Nick Moore singled to keep the Spinners hope alive. Pinch hitter Jose Colorado doubled, scoring Moore and putting the victory back within reach. After Forrest Allday was walked, Manuel Margot singled home Colorado for the winning run.
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The DSL Red Sox victory over the DSL Indians 15-1 Friday was marked by a nine-run eighth inning, which turned a relatively close contest into a blowout. Three Red Sox hitters posted multi-hit games including Raiwinson Lameda, who was 3 for 6 with a double, run scored and two RBI. Third baseman Victor Acosta picked up two hits, including a triple. Starting pitcher Carlos Garcia only gave up on hit but lasted just 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked four.
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The GCL Red Sox lost their third game in their last four contest Friday, falling to the GCL Twins 7-3. The mini-skid comes on the heels of six-game winning streak, where the team managed to pull out wins in tightly contested games. In Friday's action, the Red Sox jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after an RBI-single from first baseman Aneudis Peralta in the first inning. They would add to the lead in the fourth when right fielder Joseph Monge stole home with a runner on first base.
The Red Sox and Twins traded runs in the fifth, and the wheels came off for the Red Sox in the sixth as a combination of defense and pitching left to a three-run inning for the Twins. With one out, Peralta made an error, which opened the door for the Twins. Reliever Luis Ortega would strike out the next batter, but then gave up a double, walk and a single, which led to the three unearned runs. The Twins would tack on the remaining three runs in the ninth. Red Sox center fielder and lead off man Jordon Austin stood out, going 2 for 5 with two double and two runs scored.
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Player of the Day: On a day where dazzling pitching performances were at a premium, Henry Owens performance stood out. The fourth ranked prospect on SoxProspects.com went only five innings for Portland, but he did not surrender one hit while striking out 10. So far in his three starts since being recalled, Owens has struck out an astounding 29 batters in 15 innings. In 23 starts combined between Salem and Portland, he has a 2.71 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 119 2/3 innings pitched.
Photo Credit: Henry Owens by Kelly O'Connor.
Luke Lavoie is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter here.