April 17, 2014 at 7:58 AM
Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket holds on to win, Salem drops doubleheader
4/17 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket edged out a one-run victory while Greenville lost by just one score. Salem dropped both halves of a doubleheader and Portland was postponed again due to rain.
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The Pawtucket Red Sox were able to hold on and win by a score of 7-6 after an early offensive explosion in Wednesday's games against the Rochester Red Wings (MIN). The PawSox jumped out to an early lead in the contest, going up 7-0 after the top of the fourth inning. The scoring began in the third inning when outfielder Alex Hassan doubled home Heiker Meneses, who singled to leadoff the inning. Bryce Brentz and Brandon Snyder also picked up RBI in the inning, Brentz's coming on a two-out single. In the fourth, Hassan picked up another RBI-double, and catcher Dan Butler (pictured) picked up a pair of RBI on a two-out bases loaded single.
Starter Brandon Workman lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was charged with three earned runs. Workman yielded only one hit in the first three innings, but ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth. He was lifted with one out in the inning after giving up two hits and a walk, which loaded the bases. Reliever Chris Resop came in and gave up three singles in a row before getting out of the inning. Drake Britton picked up the save after pitching two scoreless innings.
Four PawSox collected three hits in the game; Hassan, Meneses and Brock Holt, who each went 3 for 5 with two runs, and Ryan Lavarnway, who went 3 for 4 with a walk.
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The Portland Sea Dogs contest against the Binghamton Mets (NYM) was rained out for the second day in a row. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 19.
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The Salem Red Sox dropped both sides of a doubleheader Wednesday against the Carolina Mudcats (CLE) by scores of 2-1 and 4-0. It was a tough day at the dish for Salem as the team collected a combined five hits in 14 innings of play. Outfielder Kevin Heller put together the best offensive day, going 2 for 5 with a double and a triple between both games.
The day's best pitching performance was delivered by Simon Mercedes, who gave up only one earned run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Mercedes, who pitched in the 2-1 loss, was charged with the loss, however.
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The Greenville Drive lost a heartbreaker on Wednesday 8-7 to the Charleston RiverDogs (NYY). The Drive got down 5-0 early after shaky first and fourth innings from starter Pat Light. In the bottom of the fourth, the Drive broke the shutout on a Kevin Mager solo home run. Greenville would score two in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the bottom of the sixth inning, which cut the Charleston lead to 7-6. In the bottom of the eighth, Manuel Margot leadoff the inning with a single before stealing second and third base. He would eventually score from third on a two-out Jimmy Rider single.
Unfortunately, Charleston struck back in the top of the ninth and got one run off reliever Taylor Grover. The Drive were unable to muster any more magic in the bottom of the ninth, and were sent down in order.
It was a rocky start for Light, who had began the season on a strong note with two quality outings where he struck out 15 in 12 innings. On Wednesday, Light surrendered five earned runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. It was the walks that hurt Light, who handed out four bases on balls in the game while striking out four.
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Player of the Day: PawSox outfielder Alex Hassan (pictured) had a big hand in Wednesday's win, going 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI. Hassan, 26, picked up his fifth and sixth doubles of the young season, continuing his progress from last year when he hit 14 doubles in 187 at-bats for Pawtucket. So far in 11 games this season, Hassan has posted a line of .295/.392/.432 with nine runs and seven RBI.
Photo Credit: Dan Butler and Alex Hassan by Kelly O'Connor.
Luke Lavoie is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter here.