August 30, 2014 at 4:56 AM
Cup of Coffee: Wilkerson keeps rolling, GCL wins semifinal
8/30 Cup of Coffee: All of the affiliates were in action and all but two teams picked up wins. Both the PawSox and Sea Dogs won by a single run, while Greenville and Lowell won blowouts. The GCL Red Sox notched a victory in their one-game semifinal. The Salem Red Sox lost late, while the DSL Red Sox gave up a walk off.
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Brandon Workman was on the hill in this one, and largely held the Chiefs at bay. Workman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while punching out six. Workman was relieved by John Ely who notched a perfect inning before being taken out. Dalier Hinojosa came on in relief of Ely to pick up his third save of the season thanks to 1 1/3 innings in which he allowed only one walk, while striking out one as well.
Ryan Lavarnway (pictured, left) provided all of Pawtucket's offense in this one, collecting two of the PawSox' seven hits, a double and two-run home run in the fourth inning to put the PawSox on top. Jackie Bradley, Jr. went 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
With the win, the PawSox move 2.5 games up on the Buffalo Bisons (TOR) in the International League Wild Card standings, and are only two games back of the division lead with three games remaining.
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Mike Augliera picked up his eighth win of the season thanks to a six-inning, one-run effort. Augliera allowed just the one run on seven hits while striking out four and walking none. Wilfredo Boscan bridged the gap from Augliera with two innings in which he gave up one hit and struck out one. Noe Ramirez stepped in for the ninth and, despite allowing one run on one hit, Ramirez picked up his 17th save of the year.
The Sea Dogs were powered by two hits from both Shannon Wilkerson and Keury De La Cruz, though De La Cruz's tally included a double and an RBI. Sean Coyle drove in two runs as part of a 2-for-4 performance.
With the victory, Portland clinched the Eastern Division title for the first time since 2005, and for the fifth time in franchise history. Portland also tied a franchise record with 86 wins on the season with three games left to play. The Sea Dogs will face the Binghamton Mets (NYM) in the first round of the playoffs, which begin on Wednesday.
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Jacob Dahlstrand got the start and pitched well, hurling five scoreless innings. Dahlstrand would then struggle through the sixth and seventh innings, allowing two runs in each, but failing to record an out in the seventh. In all, Dahlstrand ended the day with six innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six. Kyle Martin came on in relief and was saddled with the loss, thanks to two runs on two hits in two innings pitched.
Jose Vinicio and Jantzen Witte led the charge in this one, each going 3 for 5 with a double, while Witte also added a run scored. Dreily Guerrero added a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI including his third home run of the season.
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Teddy Stankiewicz(pictured, right) was on the mound and dominated the Legends to earn his 11th win of the season. Stankiewicz allowed just one runs on five hits while striking out three across seven innings of work. Mike Adams allowed two hits in two innings of relief to close the door on Lexington.
The offense was powered by Kevin Mager, who went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI on the night. Meanwhile, every other starter, with the exception of Wendell Rijo, collected one hit in the contest. Sam Travis hit a triple, while Tim Roberson's hit was a double.
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Aaron Wilkerson was masterful for Lowell, hurling seven shutout innings in which he allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out nine. Mario Alcantara closed the door with two, scoreless innings, striking out three along the way.
Mauricio Dubon led the charge in this one, pounding out a 5-for-5 performance, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Aneudis Peralta and Raymel Flores each added two hits of their own, Peralta with two doubles and Flores added a triple.
The Spinners kept their playoff hopes alive with the win, as their elimantion number remained at one following the Brooklyn Cyclones' (NYM) loss.
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Michael Kopech was roughed up on the hill, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks in only 1 2/3 innings pitched. Keivin Heras came on in relief and threw a perfect 1 1/3 innings before being pulled in favor of Javier Rodriguez. Rodriguez picked up the win, thanks to five innings of one-run ball in which he allowed three hits while striking out six. Yankory Pimentel picked up the save with a perfect ninth to close the door.
Both Javier Guerra and Trenton Kemp took home three-hit performances while Guerra's included a solo home run. Rafael Devers went 1 for 3 with a triple and two walks and Luis Alexander Basabe went 1 for 4 with a double.
The win in this one game semifinal means that the Red Sox advance to a best-of-three final series against the GCL Yankees1 squad. That series begins today at 12.
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The Red Sox lost in heart breaking fashion, as the Royals walked off in the 11th inning. Jhonathan Diaz allowed one run on three hits and walk while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Jervis Torrealba added 2 2/3 shutout innings before giving way to Carlos Caceres. Caceres took the loss allowing one run on just two hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched. Though it was Ritzi Mendoza who allowed the runner to score after relieving Caceres in the bottom of the 11th.
Carlos Tovar, Raiwinson Lameda, and Isaias Lucena all had two hits in the contest and it was Lucena who drove in Tovar to score the Red Sox' only run of the game.
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Player of the Night: Aaron Wilkerson takes home these honors for his dominating performance for Lowell which kept the Spinners' slim playoff hopes alive. Wilkerson had been masterful since joining Lowell in July after his contract was purchased from Grand Prairie of the American Association. Wilkerson has made eight starts for Lowell, totalling 50 innings pitched and currently sports and ERA of 1.62.Wilkerson has struck out 54 batters compared to 11 walks in his time with the Spinners.