Cup of Coffee: Ranaudo, Johnson impress, Stankiewicz fans nine

7/21 Cup of Coffee: The story of the day was pitching, with Anthony Ranaudo, Brian Johnson, Cody Kukuk, and Teddy Stankiewicz (pictured) all notching strong starts. Mookie Betts returned to the PawSox lineup, but it was Travis Shaw who did the most damage. In the lower levels, Wendell Rijo hit two home runs, and a couple prospects appeared in the Dominican Summer League All-Star game.

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Anthony Ranaudo kept on rolling, as the PawSox beat the Buffalo Bisons (TOR), 3-2. Ranaudo improved to 11-4 by allowing one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out four. Ranaudo has allowed only 10 runs in his last 49 1/3 innings, while going 6-0 in that span. Drake Britton and Tommy Layne pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, with Britton surrendering only an unearned run. 

Mookie Betts returned to the PawSox lineup, going 0 for 4 as the center fielder. The big hit for Pawtucket was a three-run home run by Travis Shaw, scoring Andres Torres and Will Middlebrooks, who had both singled. Shaw finished the day going 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base, while Torres and Middlebrooks each went 2 for 4. 

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The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Sea Dogs, 3-2. Brian Johnson took a no-decision after allowing one unearned run in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out three, and lowered his ERA to 2.32 with Portland. Dayan Diaz tossed two scoreless innings of relief, but the Fisher Cats got to Aaron Kurcz for two runs in the ninth, with the winning run scoring on a two-out single. 

The Sea Dogs smacked 13 hits, but left eight men on base. Derrik Gibson, Shannon Wilkerson, Sean Coyle, Peter Hissey, and Ryan Dent all had two hits, with Dent's double being the only extra-base hit of the bunch. 

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Cody Kukuk continued to turn the corner, but a late comeback doomed Salem, as they fell 3-2 to the Potomac Nationals (WAS). Kukuk went the first five innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking only one and striking out five. It was the second time in 14 starts that Kukuk went five or more innings and allowed fewer than two walks with Salem. Madison Younginer kept the Nationals off the board in two innings of relief, but they got to Kyle Martin for a run in the eighth and a run in the ninth to win it.

Jantzen Witte slugged two doubles, and Mario Martinez collected two hits and a walk. Matty Johnson was on base twice via a single and a walk, and also stole his 30th base of the year. 

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In the first game of a doubleheader, the Drive fell to the Asheville Tourists (COL), 3-1. Teddy Stankiewicz was dominant, striking out nine and allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings. Stankiewicz has been up-and-down this season, but starts like these show the potential the Red Sox saw in him when they took him in the second round of the 2013 draft. Taylor Grover took the loss after he gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings. There was not much to speak of offensively for Greenville, but Hector Lorenzana went 2 for 2 with a double and a walk in his first game in Low A. 

The second game was more of the same, with the Drive falling 3-2. Jason Garcia pitched well, allowing two runs in six innings while striking out six, but the Tourists got to German Taveras for a run in the top of the seventh to win it. Wendell Rijo was the lone source of offense, launching two solo home runs, giving him six on the year.

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Aaron Wilkerson shined in his professional debut, leading the Spinners past the Auburn Doubledays (WAS), 6-5. Wilkerson, who was recently signed from Grand Prairie of the American Association and pitching on two days rest, allowed only one earned run in six innings, walking two and striking out seven. Carlos Pinales allowed a run in the ninth, but still earned his 10th save of the year.

Mike Meyers led the way, going 2 for 5 with a triple, two outfield assists, and two runs scored. Nick Longhi and Jordan Procyshen each had two hits, and Raymel Flores added a hit and a walk.

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The Dominican Summer League All-Star game took place yesterday, with the NL All-Stars beating the AL All-Stars, 9-7. Yoan Aybar and Daniel Gonzalez both appeared in the game, with Aybar going 0 for 2 and Gonzalez pitching a perfect inning as the starter.

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Player of the Day: Teddy Stankiewicz struck out nine and allowed only one run in his 6 2/3 innings of work yesterday. The nine strikeouts were a career-high, topping his previous high of seven which he did on May 5. One of the biggest knocks on Stankiewicz this season has been his low strikeout rate, so his performance yesterday is a good sign for his development.

Photo Credit: Teddy Stankiewicz by Kelly O'Connor

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