Cup of Coffee: Longhi pushes Lowell past Tri-City

6/18 Cup of Coffee: The South Atlantic League and Carolina League All-Star games saw multiple Red Sox prospects in action, while mother nature threw a wrench in both Pawtucket and Portland's games. Lowell and the DSL Red Sox both found the winners circle thanks to superb pitching. 

-----

Pawtucket's contest against the Rochester Red Wings (MIN) was suspended due to rain in the fourth inning with the PawSox leading 2-1. The game will be completed tomorrow and immediately followed by game two, which will be shortened to seven innings.

Steven Wright received the start for Pawtucket, tossing three innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk. Carlos Rivero's two-run home run in the third inning gave the PawSox a 2-1 lead. The rehabbing Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks were each 0 for 2 before the rain. 

-----

Portland's game against the Erie SeaWolves (DET) was suspended due to rain in the second inning with the Sea Dogs leading 2-0. Matt Spring's two-run home run in the second inning accounted for the lone runs of the short contest. Mike Augliera tossed one inning, allowing three hits. The game will continue tomorrow morning, and be immediately followed by a shortened seven inning contest for game two.  

-----

In the California-Carolina League All-Star Game, the California League came out on top, 3-2. Salem right-hander Justin Haley picked up the loss for the Carolina League, allowing one run on two hits in his lone inning of work. Salem's Kevin Heller and Reed Gragnani both were 0 for 2 after entering the game as defensive replacements.

-----

The South Atlantic League All-Star contest ended in a dramatic 4-4, ten inning tie between the North and South division squads.  Greenville third baseman Carlos Asuaje (pictured, below) went 1 for 2, while Jantzen Witte was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and Jake Romanski was 0 for 1 with a walk. With the game tied 2-2 after nine, the teams moved into extra innings, with the Southern Division squad scoring two in the top of the inning on a Dominique Taylor (KC) RBI single. In the bottom half of the inning, the Northern Division squad scored runs on a Reese McGuire (PIT) sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI single off the bat of Trey Mancini (BAL). 

-----

Despite just four hits, Lowell clipped the Tri-City Valley Cats (HOU), 2-1. Dioscar Romero pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and four walks, punching out three. Willie Ethington picked up his second victory of the young season, hurling 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing a run on six hits and a walk. Carlos Pinales pitched a clean ninth inning to collect his second save.

With the game scoreless in the second, a Deiner Lopez grounder was misplayed by the Valley Cats third baseman, allowing a run to score. In the fourth, a Nick Longhi (pictured, above) RBI single brought home the Spinners second run of the game. Longhi is now 7 for 20 with three doubles, a triple and three RBI in Lowell's first five contests. 

-----

A late scoring push helped the DSL Red Sox climb all over the DSL Rockies (COL), 6-2. Daniel Gonzalez moved to 4-0 on the season thanks to a stellar day on the mound. Gonzalez allowed one run on six hits, striking out four and walking none. Algenis Martinez collected his second save, allowing a run on two hits and a walk in three innings of relief.

The Red Sox wasted no time getting on the board, bringing home a run in the first on a Isaias Lucena RBI double. With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth, RBI singles from Juan Barriento and Rafael Toribio put the Red Sox up 3-1. A wild pitch in the seventh allowed the Red Sox to extend their lead, 4-1. In the eighth, Pablo Urena's RBI double brought home two more runs, giving the Red Sox a comfortable 6-1 advantage.
The white-hot Rafael Devers went 0 for 4, failing to reach base for the first time this season.  

-----

Player of the Day: Daniel Gonzalez, who pitched six solid innings in the DSL Red Sox 6-2 with over the DSL Rockies. Gonzalez allowed just one run on six hits, striking out four and walking none. The right-hander is now 4-0 on the season with a 2.14 ERA. 

Photo Credit: Nick Longhi & Carlos Asuaje by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet