July 13, 2014 at 8:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Johnson keeps rolling, Blair hits game-winner
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The Pawtucket Red Sox were thumped by the Toledo Mud Hens (DET), 10-5. Matt Barnes took the loss, surrendering seven runs (six earned) over 4 2/3 innings. Barnes allowed nine of Toledo's total 14 hits. Pawtucket's six hits came off the bats of four different batters, with both Travis Shaw and Alex Hassan collecting two apiece. Hassan launched his third home run of the year in the second inning.
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Portland split a twin bill with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR), winning game one, 5-2. Brian Johnson went the distance, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over seven innings. One of the runs came courtesy of a seventh inning home run and the other came in the first inning, meaning Johnson fired five innings of shutout baseball. The Sea Dogs pounded out eight hits in game one, though three came off the bat of Shannon Wilkerson. Wilkerson was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBI. Blake Swihart also picked up a double.
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Portland fell in game two, losing by a score of 2-0 to the very same Fisher Cats. Wilfredo Boscan took the loss as he allowed both (unearned) runs on five hits across 4 2/3 innings. Aaron Kurcz was strong out of the bullpen, striking out six in 2 1/3 innings. Peter Hissey collected Portland's only hit and Michael Brenly drew the only walk. The Sea Dogs struck out 11 times in the contest.
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The Salem Red Sox scored the winning run in the top half of the ninth to down the Wilmington Blue Rocks (KC), 2-1. Joe Gunkel pitched well, allowing only one unearned run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched. It wasnt enough to earn the win, as Kyle Kraus took home the victory for his 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Kyle Martin picked up his sixth save of the year thanks to a hitless ninth. Carson Blair led the charge, going 3 for 3 with a walk, a double and the the game-winning home run in the ninth. Mike Miller also had a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 on the night.
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The Drive blanked the Augusta GreenJackets (SF), 4-0. Jacob Dahlstrand took home the win thanks to his 5 1/3 innings of shut out baseball. Dahlstrand allowed six hits and was relieved by Jonathan Aro, who notched his sixth save of the year with 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball. Manuel Margot and Franklin Guzman both went 2 for 3, while Guzman had two doubles and Margot had a double and a home run. Wendell Rijo and Jimmy Rider were the only other players to collect hits.
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The Spinners lost big as they fell to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE), 9-3. The Spinners went through five pitchers and only Kuehl McEachern was able to escape unscathed. McEachern fired two innings of one-hit baseball and also allowed one walk. Brandon Show took the loss thanks to four earned runs in the span of only 1 2/3 innings. Six of nine Spinners collected hits, with Danny Mars going 2 for 3. Jordan Procyshen did manage to notch Lowell's only extra-base hit of the night.
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The GCL Red Sox exploded for eight runs in the later innings to down the GCL Twins, 9-3. Michael Kopech pitched one inning, allowing one hit but also striking out two along the way. Javier Rodriguez got the win thanks to four innings of two run baseball. Offensively, Rafael Devers went 2 for 4, with a double and a home run. Josh Ockimey, Javier Guerra and Joseph Monge all had multiple hits and at least one double, though Guerra added a triple as well.
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Despite allowing two runs in the ninth, the DSL Red Sox were able to overcome the DSL Mets1, 5-4. Jhonathan Diaz took home the win, allowing only two hits across five scoreless innings, striking out five. Samir El Halaby notched his first save of the year, despite allowing three runs in two innings pitched. Carlos Tovar went 1 for 2 with a double, while Juan Barriento went 1 for 4, but launched his first home run, a two-run blast in the eighth. Four other Red Sox collected hits as well.
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Player of the Night: Surprise, surprise. Brian Johnson seems to have all but taken up residence in this spot every fifth day. The lefty conquered the Fisher Cats over seven innings for his eighth win of the season. Johnson is tied for fourth-most wins in the Eastern League, despite appearing in only 13 games for the Sea Dogs.
Photo Credit: Brian Johnson by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Brian Johnson by Kelly O'Connor