Cup of Coffee: Spring's two home runs power Portland

6/30 Cup of Coffee: It was a powerful day on the farm, as eight home runs were hit over the five games, with Matt Spring (pictured) hitting two for the Sea Dogs. Chris Hernandez and Pat Light each had strong starts, and Sean Coyle continued to pummel the Eastern League.

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The PawSox used the long ball to down the Durham Bulls (TB), winning 7-4. Chris Hernandez was fantastic, allowing two runs in seven innings, walking one and striking out eight. Drake Britton allowed two runs in the ninth, but it was not enough to get the Bulls back in the game. 

Dan Butler launched a two-run home run, and Corey Brown and Travis Shaw added solo shots to power the PawSox. Butler went 3 for 4, and Alex Hassan went 2 for 4 with a double. 

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It was a shootout in Reading, as the Sea Dogs beat the Fightin Phils (PHI), 13-9. Mike McCarthy was roughed up for seven runs in five innings, but still picked up the win thanks to Portland's offensive explosion. Miguel Celestino was the only pitcher to not allow a run, tossing a scoreless ninth inning. 

Sean Coyle had another terrific day, going 3 for 4 with a double, triple, and a walk, raising his average to .363. Both Coyle and Matt Spring drove in five runs, with Spring launching two home runs, while also contributing a single and a walk. Derrik Gibson and Keury De La Cruz each added two hits, with Gibson adding a triple and two walks. 

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A solid pitching performance from Pat Light led Salem to a 4-2 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (KC). Light went the first five innings, allowing only an unearned run, walking two and striking out three. Dayan Diaz picked up his fifth save of the year with 1 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

Mike Miller went 2 for 3 with two doubles, and Aneury Tavarez went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored, as Salem improved to 38-41 on the season. 

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Greenville was the only affiliate to lose on Sunday, falling 4-3 to the Hickory Crawdads (TEX) in 10 innings. Jamie Callahan notched a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings, walking one and striking out three. The three runs he allowed all came on solo home runs. Raynel Velette pitched a scoreless ninth, but allowed all four baserunners to reach base in the tenth, as the Crawdads walked off with the win. 

Kendrick Perkins and Carlos Coste each had two hits, with Perkins also drawing Greenville's only walk of the game. 

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A 14-hit attack led Lowell to a 7-5 win over the Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK). Heri Quevedo allowed three runs in six innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Enfember Martinez kept the Lake Monsters off the board with two shutout innings, but Vermont got to Ellis Jimenez for two runs in the ninth. 

Like Pawtucket, the Spinners also launched three home runs, with Sam Travis, Deiner Lopez, and Franklin Guzman each going deep. Travis went 3 for 5, while Guzman and Lopez each had two hits. Mauricio Dubon was on base twice via a double and a single, and every Lowell batter collected at least one hit in the game. 

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Player of the Day: Matt Spring launched two home runs and drove in five runs, slugging Portland to its 54th victory. Spring now has three home runs in his last two starts, and six on the year. The big day drove his OPS up over .800, as his line improved to .242/.309/.495.

Photo Credit: Matt Spring by Kelly O'Connor

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