Cup of Coffee: Webster hurls a gem, Salem stays hot

4/9 Cup of Coffee: Salem captured its fifth straight victory after coming out on top in an offensive battle. Pawtucket cruised to its second straight with stellar pitching and clutch hitting. Portland and Greenville both had lackluster efforts, falling 10-1 to their opponents. 

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Moving to 4-2 on the season, the PawSox rode an impressive outing from Allen Webster (pictured) to a 7-1 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS).

Webster, who picked up his first victory of the season, tossed six innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while punching out three. Tommy Layne added two innings of scoreless relief, allowing a walk and two hits on his way to striking out four. Drake Britton came on for the ninth, allowing a run on two hits and two walks. 

Pawtucket wasted no time getting on the board, plating three runs in the first on RBI doubles from Justin Henry and Bryce Brentz. A Peter Hissey sacrifice fly in the fourth expanded the PawSox lead to 4-0. In the fifth, Henry smacked a two-run home run and Ryan Lavarnway followed with a solo home run, giving Pawtucket a comfortable 7-0 advantage. The PawSox will look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon. 

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Portland pitching had a difficult night handling the Trenton Thunder (NYY), leading to a 10-1 loss Tuesday evening. Mike McCarthy made his Double-A debut, hurling four innings, allowing seven runs on eleven hits while striking out four. Reliever Nathan Reed, who was making just his second appearance in an affiliated league contest since 2011, added two innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out two.

The Sea Dogs lone run of the game came in the top of the sixth, as Blake Swihart laced an RBI single. Portland's offense was only able to muster five hits, all singles, as they went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. 

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Salem's home opener was no disappointment, as the Red Sox held on for a 12-11 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash (CHW). The victory moves Salem to 5-0 on the season and ties them with the 1950 Winston-Salem Cardinals for the longest consecutive winning streak in Carolina League history at 16 games. Salem won its last 11 games last season and has yet to lose this campaign.

Brian Johnson took the hill for the Red Sox, hurling 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk, striking out eight. Kyle Martin relieved Johnson, picking up the victory for his 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on five hits while punching out five.

Salem had 15 hits, with Jonathan Roof and Aneury Tavarez each collecting three on the evening. Roof was 3 for 6 with a double and an RBI while Tavarez was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, a double, home run, and four RBI. Matty Johnson was 2 for 6 with a home run and two RBI while David Chester was 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI. 

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Greenville could not get anything going in their 10-1 loss to the Charleston RiverDogs (NYY). Mario Alcantara picked up the loss for his four innings of work, allowing seven runs (five earned) on three hits and four walks. Myles Smith followed Alcantara, tossing three innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks.

The Drive only had three hits on the evening, scoring their lone run on a Tim Roberson sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.   

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Player of the Day: Trying to start off 2014 strong, Allen Webster pitched a gem in his second start of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander picked up his first victory of 2014, hurling six shutout innings in the PawSox 7-1 victory over Syracuse. Webster threw 54 of his 83 pitches for strikes, starting off ahead of 16 out of the 22 batters he faced. 

Photo Credit: Allen Webster by Kelly O'Connor.

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