July 5, 2014 at 8:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Devers' bat makes major impact in GCL debut
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In a contest that was tight the entire way, the PawSox slipped by the league leading Syracuse Chiefs (WAS), 3-2. Steven Wright pitched well for Pawtucket, hurling eight innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out three. Alex Wilson picked up the victory tossing two innings of scoreless relief.
Down 2-0 in the fifth, a sacrifice fly from Travis Shaw and an RBI single off the bat of Carlos Rivero helped Pawtucket tie the game, 2-2. The game remained knotted until the tenth, when Deven Marrero laced a two-out RBI double to bring home the game's winning run.
The PawSox had 15 hits on the evening, having multiple scoring chances throughout the game, but going just 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Andres Torres was 4 for 5 with a double and a run scored. The outfielder has performed admirably since joining Pawtucket, going 8 for 22 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Down 2-0 in the fifth, a sacrifice fly from Travis Shaw and an RBI single off the bat of Carlos Rivero helped Pawtucket tie the game, 2-2. The game remained knotted until the tenth, when Deven Marrero laced a two-out RBI double to bring home the game's winning run.
The PawSox had 15 hits on the evening, having multiple scoring chances throughout the game, but going just 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Andres Torres was 4 for 5 with a double and a run scored. The outfielder has performed admirably since joining Pawtucket, going 8 for 22 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
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Portland's game against the New Britain Rock Cats (MIN) was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today, July 5th.
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Salem let a late lead slip away as they were stuck down by the Carolina Mudcats (CLE), 7-6. Justin Haley got the start, tossing just three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. Kyle Martin took the loss, as he allowed two runs on four hits and to walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Down 4-0 in the fifth, the Red Sox climbed to within one thanks to RBI singles from Matty Johnson, Jantzen Witte, and Carson Blair. In the sixth, Salem grabbed a 6-4 lead after a solo home run by Aneury Tavarez and RBI singles by Johnson and Mike Miller. The Red Sox held a 6-5 lead in the ninth and were within one out of victory when Carolina got back-to-back clutch hits to tie the game. The Mudcats quickly got two runners on in the tenth and knocked in the game winning run off of Matty Ott.
Down 4-0 in the fifth, the Red Sox climbed to within one thanks to RBI singles from Matty Johnson, Jantzen Witte, and Carson Blair. In the sixth, Salem grabbed a 6-4 lead after a solo home run by Aneury Tavarez and RBI singles by Johnson and Mike Miller. The Red Sox held a 6-5 lead in the ninth and were within one out of victory when Carolina got back-to-back clutch hits to tie the game. The Mudcats quickly got two runners on in the tenth and knocked in the game winning run off of Matty Ott.
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Greenville's bats were alive on Friday, but their pitching stuttered in a 13-9 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets (SF). Jamie Callahan received the loss, hurling 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and three walks, striking out five. Sergio Gomez did not fare much better in relief, allowing five runs on five hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings of relief.
Down 3-0 in the fourth, the Drive plated five runs on a Tim Roberson solo home run, Kendrick Perkins RBI double, and a Kevin Mager RBI single. Carlos Asuaje's two-run home run in the fifth extended the Greenville lead to 7-3. Augusta broke through in the bottom of the fifth for six runs, reclaiming the lead 9-7. Down 13-7 in the ninth, the Drive rallied for two runs on an Asuaje sacrifice fly and a Jake Romanski (pictured, above) RBI single.
Every member of the Greenville lineup reached base at least once, with Romanski leading the way with a 3 for 4 showing at the plate. The 2013 14th round selection is now hitting .306/.344/.397 with a home run 39 RBI in 60 games this season.
Down 3-0 in the fourth, the Drive plated five runs on a Tim Roberson solo home run, Kendrick Perkins RBI double, and a Kevin Mager RBI single. Carlos Asuaje's two-run home run in the fifth extended the Greenville lead to 7-3. Augusta broke through in the bottom of the fifth for six runs, reclaiming the lead 9-7. Down 13-7 in the ninth, the Drive rallied for two runs on an Asuaje sacrifice fly and a Jake Romanski (pictured, above) RBI single.
Every member of the Greenville lineup reached base at least once, with Romanski leading the way with a 3 for 4 showing at the plate. The 2013 14th round selection is now hitting .306/.344/.397 with a home run 39 RBI in 60 games this season.
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Lowell couldn't keep pace with the Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU), falling 7-4. Karsten Whitson tossed two innings to start the contest for the Spinners, allowing a run on one hit and a walk, striking out one. Willie Ethington took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Down 1-0 in the third, Lowell tied the game on a Danny Mars RBI single. After Tri-City plated two runs in the bottom of the third, the Spinners responded with a Sam Travis RBI single in the fourth. Nick Longhi's RBI double in the sixth tied the game briefly, 3-3. The ValleyCats plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh to open up a comfortable 7-3 advantage. Travis added an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to round out the scoring for the Spinners.
Mars was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI atop the order while Travis was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.
Down 1-0 in the third, Lowell tied the game on a Danny Mars RBI single. After Tri-City plated two runs in the bottom of the third, the Spinners responded with a Sam Travis RBI single in the fourth. Nick Longhi's RBI double in the sixth tied the game briefly, 3-3. The ValleyCats plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh to open up a comfortable 7-3 advantage. Travis added an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to round out the scoring for the Spinners.
Mars was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI atop the order while Travis was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.
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The Red Sox smacked 17 hits on the day, with every Red Sox started reaching base at least once. Devon Fisher made his professional debut as a pinch hitter, collecting a single in his lone at-bat. Joseph Monge was 3 for 5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Ben Moore went 2 for 4, driving in two. In his first game with the GCL Sox, Rafael Devers (pictured,right) had a monster day, going 4 for 4 with a double, triple and three RBI, reaching base all five times he stepped to the plate.
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The DSL Red Sox remained hot as they doubled up the DSL Mariners (SEA), 4-2. Daniel Gonzalez moved to 6-0 as he hurled five innings, allowing a run on four hits and a walk, striking out four. Carlos Caceres picked up his third save, allowing a run on three hits in his lone inning of relief.
The Red Sox opened up scoring in the third on an RBI ground out from Juan Hernandez. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Isaias Lucena and Gerardo Carrizalez gave the the Red Sox a 3-1 advantage. In the ninth, the Red Sox plated an insurance run as Rafael Toribio walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then came home on another wild pitch.
The Red Sox have now won six out of their last seven contests and sit just a game back in the division.
The Red Sox opened up scoring in the third on an RBI ground out from Juan Hernandez. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Isaias Lucena and Gerardo Carrizalez gave the the Red Sox a 3-1 advantage. In the ninth, the Red Sox plated an insurance run as Rafael Toribio walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then came home on another wild pitch.
The Red Sox have now won six out of their last seven contests and sit just a game back in the division.
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Player of the Day: Rafael Devers, who made his GCL debut in a big way on Friday, going 4 for 4 with a double, triple and three RBI. The 17-year-old phenom reached base in all five plate appearances and paced the GCL Sox in their 13-3 victory. Devers is now hitting .361/.466/.583 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 29 games this season.
Photo Credit: Rafael Devers by Kelly O'Connor.