August 3, 2014 at 8:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Barnes mows down Clippers in loss
8/3 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night offensively for Pawtucket and Portland as they managed only 13 hits and three runs between them. The system managed a split, with Salem, Greenville and the DSL all picking up wins. The GCL lost a close one and the Spinners were postponed.
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Matt Barnes(pictured, right) plowed through the Clippers lineup, no-hitting them through seven innings. Barnes ended the night with two walks and 10 strikeouts on 106 pitches. Miguel Celestino then blew the save, allowing a run in the eighth. After Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 2/3 of an inning, Jose Valdez came in and took the loss after allowing a run in the top half of the 11th, his second inning of work. The PawSox managed only seven hits, with Bryce Brentz collecting two of them, and Travis Shaw notching the only run and extra-base hit for Pawtucket.
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Mike Augliera took the loss for Portland, surrendering five runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Augliera struck out only three in his 10th loss of the season. Robby Scott and Aaron Kurcz combined for 2 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball out of the bullpen. Of the Sea Dogs' six hits, both Shannon Wilkerson and Jonathan Roof had two of them. David Chester and Keury De La Cruz collected the other two Portland base knocks.
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Pat Light pitched decently for the Red Sox, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three. It was Matty Ott who would pick up the win though, throwing the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four. Matty Johnson led the offensive charge, going 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI out of the top spot in the order. Matt Gedman was the only other player to have multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Carson Blair launched his ninth home run of the season in the second inning, part of a 1-for-4 performance.
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Teddy Stankiewicz picked up his eighth win of the season, thanks to six innings of three-hit, one-run baseball, striking out six and walking just one along the way. German Taveras notched his second save of the year for his three-inning, two-hit effort. Sam Travis(pictured, left) and Manuel Margot led Greenville's charge, both notching 3-for-4 nights. Margot launched a home run in the seventh inning, while Travis, making his South Atlantic League debut, added a double and run scored.
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The Lowell Spinners had their game against the Jamestown Jammers (PIT) postponed due to rain. The teams have scheduled a double header on Sunday.
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Jake Cosart took the hill to start, pitching two innings of one-hit baseball, striking out three. Luis Ramos followed with three one-hit innings of his own. The Twins feasted on K.J. Trader who allowed all four of their runs in just 2/3 of a frame. Yankory Pimentel finished the game with 2 1/3 innings of two-hit baseball. Devon Fisher was the only Red Sox to collect more than one hit, going 2 for 5 with an RBI. Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis each had one hit on the night, though Chavis was pulled after two plate appearances.
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Shair Lacrus earned his first win of the season thanks to five brilliant innings in which he allowed only two hits and struck out three. A trio of relievers allowed only one run and one hit across the next three innings to form the bridge to Algenis Martinez. Martinez notched his fifth save of the year with a perfect ninth while striking out two. Luis Alejandro Basabe collected two of the Red Sox' seven hits and scored two of their runs as well. Yoan Aybar added the only other extra-base hit, his ninth triple of the year.
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Player of the Night: Matt Barnes' no-hit bid earns him tonight's recognition. Barnes fired seven no-hit innings, with only two walks separating him from perfection. Despite being in-line for the win when he left the game, Barnes comes away with a no decision instead. Barnes is 5-8 on the season with a 4.45 ERA, but may have turned a corner recently, as he has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts.
Photo credit: Matt Barnes and Sam Travis by Kelly O'Connor