July 22, 2014 at 6:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Acosta scores four in GCL Sox sweep
7/22 Cup of Coffee: It was a busy day down on the farm, with eight games on the docket. The GCL Red Sox swept a doubleheader to highlight the day. Lowell notched double-digit runs in its win, and the DSL Red Sox opened up their second-half schedule with a victory. Pawtucket and Portland had 12 hits apiece in their victories. Greenville fell following a long rain delay, and Salem dropped its contest.
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Pawtucket knocked off the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 4-3 when Corey Brown launched a ninth-inning home run. Brown's 14th homer of the season broke the three run tie and send the PawSox to their sixth straight victory. Mookie Betts was 2 for 5 with a double in his second game since rejoining Pawtucket. Jonathan Herrera was also 2 for 5, and has hit saftely in all nine games since he was optioned from the major league club. Carlos Rivero joined Brown going deep with a solo shot in the fifth inning.
Allen Webster retired 10 consecutive batters following a first-inning single, but ran into trouble allowing three runs in the fifth. Overall, Webster allowed the three runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking a batter. Alex Wilson fired two scoreless innings of relief., getting credit for the win.
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Portland returned to Hadlock Field with a 6-4 win over the Binghamton Mets (NYM). Derrik Gibson was 4 for 5, delivering his third multi-hit game in his last four. Sean Coyle added a pair of RBI in his two-hit night, while Blake Swihart was on base three times with a base hit and two walks. After two games in the Gulf Coast League, Ryan Lavarnway had his rehab transferred to Portland where he waent 0 for 4.
Wilfredo Boscan, who has done most of his work out of the Portland bullpen, got the start for the Sea Dogs. He allowed a run on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking one. Mike McCarthy allowed three runs on a pair of home runs in his three innings of work. However he struck out five and received credit for the win. Robby Scott tossed a scoreless ninth to get his second save.
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Salem fell 5-2 to the Potomac Nationals (WAS) as former Red Sox top-five prospect Oscar Tejada abused his old club with three doubles. Starter Corey Littrell allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. It was the third consecutive start that Littrell had allowed one or fewer earned runs. Matty Ott took the loss in relief, giving up three runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings. At the plate, Jantzen Witte had a double and triple, giving him eight extra-base hits in his last four games. Matty Johnson and Dreily Guerrero added two hits apiece.
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An 11:00am start was scheduled in Greenville, but the game was pushed back an hour and 42 minutes because of rain. After the game got underway, the Drive offense sputtered to a 2-0 loss to the Asheville Tourists (COL). Jamie Callahan has a strong start, throwing five shutout innings, giving up only three hits and striking out seven while walking three. Sergio Gomez struggled with his control relief, walking four batters and allowing two runs in 2 1/3, taking the loss. Mike Adams struck out two in 1 2/3 perfect frames. Hector Lorenzana was a bright spot at the plate, delivering a pair of hits and stealing two bases. A first-inning double by Wendell Rijo was the only extra-base hit for the Drive.
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Lowell closed out its road trip with a 10-2 win over the Auburn Doubledays (WAS). Leading the 10-run barrage was Mauricio Dubon, who drove in four runs as part his 2-for-4 night. Dubon smashed a three-run homer in the eighth inning that blew the game open, and added a stolen base. Nick Longhi reached base four times with a single and four walks. Danny Mars, who pinch-ran for Longhi in the eighth, popped a solo homer in the ninth inning. Cisco Tellez scored three times while going 2 for 4.
On the mound, Heri Quevedo had his second straight solid start, with two runs on five hits in five innings. Quevedo struck out six and walked three. Edwar Garcia fired two perfect innings in relief, striking out two, Kuehl McEachern added two scoreless frame, allowing just one hit and striking out three without issuing a walk.
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The GCL Red Sox swept its doubleheader against the GCL Rays. The Sox pounded out 13 hits in a 7-6 win in game one. Victor Acosta (pictured) was three for four, and scored three runs. In the top of ninth Acosta raced home on a passed ball, scoring what would prove to be the decisive run. Rafael Oliveras was 4 for 4 with a run and two RBI. Fifteenth-round pick Trenton Kemp notched his first career double while going 2 for 3. Starter Dedgar Jimenez allowed three runs on four hits over four innings. Carlos Perez struck out two in his two shutout innings of relief. Keivin Heras allowed three unearned runs on four hits in two innings. Heras has yet to allow an earned run in 18 1/3 innings.
In the nightcap, the Sox never trailed on their way to a 4-1 victory. Acosta was again at the center of the offense, going 1 for 3 with a walk and run scored. Jordon Austin was on base three times, going 2 for 2 with a walk. Rafael Devers, coming off a 1-for-3 showing in the first game, added another hit in game two. Gabe Speier got the start and tossed two shutout innings, and has yet to allow a run in three starts. Converted outfielder Williams Jerez followed and got credit for the win, giving up a run on three hits in three innings. Taylor Nunez recorded his first professional save with two hitless innings out of the bullpen.
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The DSL Red Sox opened up the second half of their season in the same way they played in much of the first - with a 2-1 win over the DSL Orioles2. The win is the Sox ninth in 11 games, and gives them a 30-13 record overall on the season. Enmanuel DeJesus had his strongest start of the season, scattering three hits in five innings, walking three and striking out three. Algenis Martinez allowed an unearned run on one hit in four innings of relief, striking out three. At the plate, Cesar Tovar was was 2 for 4 with a walk, run scored and stolen base. Roldani Baldwin and Raiwinson Lamenda added two hits each, while Jose Lozada was 1 for 2 with two walks.
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Player of the Day: Victor Acosta was on base five times and scored four runs to carry the GCL Red Sox to a sweep. The third baseman raised his batting average from .183 to .224, and he has scored thirteen times in his 19 games on the yearh.
Photo Credit: Victor Acosta by Kelly O'Connor