July 18, 2014 at 6:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hassan stays hot; Victorino looks strong in rehab
7/18 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough day in the Red Sox system, as Pawtucket was the only team to come away with a win. Five affiliates fell on the day, all by three or fewer runs. Lowell took a heartbreaking walk-off loss, and Portland also fell by a single run as it opened up its second half.
-----
With the major league squad off on the final day of its All Star break, Pawtucket was broadcast on NESN and responded to the attention with a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Bisons (TOR). The PawSox got some help to open up the second half in rehabbing right fielder Shane Victorino. Victorino was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored, but most importantly he appeared to run the bases without any impediment. In the sixth inning, he advanced from first to third on a Travis Shaw single to left field, and raced home when the throw skipped away from the third basemen, showing no signs of the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the lineup since May.
Alex Hassan (pictured) continues to rake for Pawtucket, ripping a second-inning solo home run as part of a 2-for-3 night. Hassan is now riding an 11-game hitting streak, and he has multiple hits in five straight games. Shaw also had a two-hit night, adding a walk and two runs batted in.
Chris Hernandez was solid, allowing a run on five hits in his five innings of work, striking out and walking two apiece. Dalier Hinojosa was credited with his first professional win, spinning two perfect innings and striking out two. Alex Wilson allowed a run on three hits in his lone inning of work, while Drake Britton struck out two in a hitless ninth to record the save.
-----
A depleted Portland roster couldn't manage any offense after a two-run first inning, and fell to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR), 3-2. The team opened its second half with a depleted lineup, as Eastern League All-Stars Blake Swihart, Sean Coyle, and Derrik Gibson all had the day off after returning from the festivities in Altoona. Michael Almanzar hit a two-run homer to plate Shannon Wilkerson and give the Sea Dogs a 2-0 lead. The bats fell silent thereafter, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Wilkerson had two hits including a double, and Michael Brenly added a pair of singles. Starter Luis Diaz gave up two runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked two, and has allowed three or fewer runs in all six starts since his promotion from High A Salem. Wilfredo Boscan took a tough-luck loss in relief, giving up only one unearned run in three innings.
-----
Salem lost 5-3 to the Frederick Keys (BAL). Starter Pat Light struggled, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings, walking three and striking out two. The outing snaps a string of impressive starts from Light, who had allowed only two earned runs over his last 17 innings. Nate Reed threw three scoreless frames, and Dayan Diaz struck out two in a perfect ninth. Three of Salem's seven hits came off the bat of Mario Martinez. A second-inning triple for Carson Blair continues his stretch of hot hitting. Over his last 30 games he is slugging .647.
-----
Greenville dropped the rubber game of its series with the Rome Braves (ATL), falling 6-4. Starter Myles Smith took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out one and walked a pair. Jacob Dahlstrand was solid in relief, giving up a run in three innings, striking out four and issuing one walk. The Drive offense managed only six hits on the night. Cole Sturgeon was 2 for 4, while Kevin Mager and Tim Roberson both were 1 for 3 with a walk.
-----
In morning baseball, Lowell dropped a 4-3 walk-off to the Batavia Muckdogs (MIA). Jake Drehoff got the start, scattering five hits over five scoreless innings. He walked three and did not record a strikeout. Ryan Harris, a 26th-round pick out of the University of Florida, made his professional debut in relief of Drehoff. allowing a pair of runs in 2/3 of an inning. Kuehl McEachern took the loss after giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Overall, McEachern threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and striking out a pair.
At the plate, Nick Longhi continues to rack out the doubles. The 18-year-old right fielder recorded his 10th two bagger in 99 at-bats. Raymel Flores and Jordan Betts also doubled as part of the Spinners' effort.
-----
Rain continues to be the biggest enemy of the GCL Red Sox. After rainouts on Monday and Tuesday, the Sox and the GCL Orioles attempted to play a second consecutive doubleheader, when the rain came again in the third inning of game one. When play was suspended the Red Sox had a 1-0 lead. Jeffry Fernandez was dominating the Orioles lineup, striking out five in three perfect innings. Rafael Devers was 2 for 2, and is now 16 for 34 since his promotion, good for a robust .471 average. The teams will finish the suspended game on July 28 and make up the nightcap as part of a doubleheader on July 29.
-----
The DSL Red Sox managed only five hits in a 4-1 loss to the DSL Cardinals. Darwinzon Hernandez took the loss for the Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in four innings. Samir El Halaby followed by giving up two runs in his three innings of work, and Juan Perez closed out the game with a pair of hitless frames. The Red Sox lone run came in the fifth inning when Samuel Miranda and Rafael Toribio delivered back-to-back doubles.
-----
Player of the Day: Alex Hassan opened the second half the way he finished off the first half. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games in style, ripping a solo home run in his first at-bat. Over his last 25 games, Hassan has a fantastic .398/.468/.684 slash line that includes 20 extra-base hits and four of his five home runs on the season.
Photo Credit: Alex Hassan by Kelly O'Connor