Cup of Coffee: Ramos wins it for Portland in extras

4/27 Cup of Coffee: Salem took the only loss in the system, while Greenville delivered on both sides of the ball. Pawtucket used a four-run frame to pick up the win and some clutch hitting from Henry Ramos (pictured) won it in the 15th for Portland.

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The PawSox used a four-run seventh to topple the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI), 7-5. PawSox starter Brandon Workman picked up the win, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three. Rich Hill pitched two perfect innings in relief of Workman and Alex Wilson notched the save despite allowing an earned run in the ninth.

The Pawtucket offense struck early, plating three runs in the second to overcome an early deficit. Corey Brown hit a two-run single to tie the ballgame and a key throwing error from the Lehigh Valley catcher allowed the go-ahead run to cross. After the IronPigs jumped out to a 4-3 lead, the PawSox recorded four straight singles to open the seventh. Brock Holt's single tied the score and Daniel Nava lofted a sacrifice fly to give the PawSox the lead. Bryce Brentz delivered the final blow with a two-run single to put Pawtucket up 7-4.

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It took 15 innings, but eventually the Portland Sea Dogs downed the Trenton Thunder (NYY), 9-8. After starting the game in left field, Peter Hissey came in and pitched the 15th to pick up the win for Portland, despite giving up what could have been the winning run to the Thunder. Starter Mike Augliera allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, in his five innings of work before turning things over to the bullpen. The only Sea Dogs pitcher not to be scored upon was Robby Scott, who pitched three innings in relief of Augliera.

Travis Shaw kicked things off in the first, lifting a pitch over the wall in left-center to put the Sea Dogs up 1-0. The Sea Dogs would not lead again until the end, and came back three times in extras to pick up the win. Blake Swihart homered in the 10th and Mookie Betts did the same in the 14th to tie the ball game. Swihart had a monster game, going 4 for 7 with two doubles and a home run, notching two RBI and scoring three runs as well. Henry Ramos was the hero for the Sea Dogs, hitting a two-out single to plate both Swihart and Shaw to give Portland the walk-off victory.

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The Salem Red Sox were blown out by the Winston-Salem Dash (CHW), 7-1. Starter William Cuevas took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks in his five innings of work. Simon Mercedes did not fare any better, as he surrendered three earned runs in his four innings of relief.

Salem scored their only run in the fourth when Aneury Tavarez grounded out to score Carson Blair from third. Ryan Dent collected two of Salem's five hits, including their only extra-base hit, and walked once.

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The Greenville Drive rode a strong showing from Cody Kukuk to a 5-1 victory over the Lexington Legends (KC). Kukuk pitched six innings of two-hit baseball, striking out five along the way, though he also walked four batters. Jonathan Aro closed out the game for the Drive, pitching the final three innings and his only blemish was a home run in the seventh to give the Legends their only run.

Manuel Margot paced the Greenville offense, going 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Most of Greenville's scoring was done in the fourth as they tacked on four additional runs for a 5-0 lead. After the first two batters of the inning reached base, Carlos Asuaje lined an RBI double to plate Jantzen Witte. Margot reached on an infield single and a subsequent throwing error that cost the Legends another two runs. Wendell Rijo closed the Drive scoring with an RBI single two batters later.

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Player of the Day: Henry Ramos definitely earned the honors after hitting a walk-off single in the 15th inning for the Sea Dogs. Ramos went 3 for 7 on the night, with a double and three RBI. A fifth round selection in 2010, Ramos is hitting .288 thus far in 2014. The 22-year-old switch hitter spent all of last year with Salem and owns a .259/.322/.392 in five seasons with the Red Sox organization.

Photo Credit: Henry Ramos by Kelly O'Connor

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