August 26, 2014 at 8:29 AM
Cup of Coffee: Chavis rips first career home run in GCL Sox win
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Matt Barnes continued his late-season resurgence with yet another strong start. The 2011 first-round pick allowed two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings, as he struck out four and walked two. In five August starts, Barnes has a sterling 1.30 ERA and has struck out 28 in 34 2/3 innings. Chris Hernandez tossed a scoreless final 1 2/3, allowing a hit while striking out one and walking two. The big blow for the PawSox came in the fourth inning, as Garin Cecchini drove a three-run double to deep center field. Justin Henry was 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored, and Alex Hassan drove in a pair as part of his 3-for-4 night.
The win moves the PawSox a game ahead of Buffalo in the wild card race with seven games remaining.
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Justin Haley keeps rolling along, and has delivered a quality start in each of his five outings since a promotion from High A Salem. Monday, Haley scattered four hits across six shutout innings. He struck out five and walked only one, picking up the victory. Wilfredo Boscan allowed three hits and struck out three in two scoreless frames, and Noe Ramirez followed with a perfect ninth to record the save. At the plate, David Chester launched his 10th home run of the season across two levels. Carson Blair was 1 for 3 with a double and walk, and has eight extra-base hits in 12 games with the Sea Dogs. Mike Miller added a double as well, going 1 for 4.
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It was another contest that saw excellent pitching, as Pat Light and Kyle Martin combined to lead the Red Sox. Light was solid in his start, giving up just one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Those strikeouts are the highest total since Light was promoted to Salem in mid-April. Martin got credit for the win, giving up a run in 2 2/3. Martin continues to post impressive strikeout numbers, with five on the night bringing him to 79 in 78 2/3 innings on the year.
Jantzen Witte led the offense, going 3 for 4 with three RBI. Jake Romanski ripped two doubles, walked, and scored twice, going 2 for 3 overall. Jose Vinicio had his third consecutive three-hit game and fifth in his last six, as the shortstop tripled and drove in one. The hot streak has boosted Vinicio's batting average from .130 to .219. Matty Johnson was 2 for 4 with a walk and RBI.
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The Spinners have a new franchise record for triples in a single game, as Mike Meyers (pictured, right) ripped three in the win over the Tigers. Meyers has been a triples machine all season, leading the New York/Penn League with eight. The right fielder also drove in a pair while going 3 for 4. Nick Moore hit his fourth homer of the year with one on and nobody out in the second, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Spinners a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Bryan Hudson added three hits and a double in the win.
Starter Reed Reilly allowed a run on five hits in four innings. He struck out one without issuing a walk. Chandler Shepard got credit for the win, dealing two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three while walking one. Carlos Pinales pitched around a pair of hits in a scoreless ninth.
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The game resumed in the fourth inning after Gabe Speier had allowed two runs on four hits in three innings back on the 14th. When the game resumed, Jalen Beeks took over and was superb. The 5-foot-11 lefty fired three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Beeks also struck out five without issuing a walk, and has fanned eight in five innings over his first two professional appearances. Taylor Nunez took the tough-luck loss in relief, despite not allowing a hit, as an error led to an Oriole run in the eighth.
Michael Chavis, who already had a pair of hits and steal when the game was suspended, added a third when play resumed. Derek Miller drove in both Red Sox runs, going 2 for 4 with a double and steal.
Chavis was again at the center of the action in the nightcap, delivering his first home run as a professional with one on and one out in the third. Chavis also doubled as part of a 3-for-4 performance. The Red Sox top 2014 draft pick is now .356/.420/.556 in his last 26 games. Not content to be outdown, fellow GCL top prospect Rafael Devers added three hits of his own, driving in a run and scoring two.
Starter Dedgar Jimenez uncharacteristically struggled, allowing four runs on nine hits in 4 2/3. It was the first start all season that Jimenez had given up more than three runs or seven hits, as the big lefty was victimized by a pair of home runs. His control was as solid as usual, as he did not issue a walk while striking out five. Jimenez has given up only one walk in four August starts, and only eight in 49 1/3 innings this year. Yankory Pimentel gave up one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory. Pimentel struck out three and walked one.
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Player of the Day: There were many strong individual performances on Monday, with Mike Meyers' record-setting effort for the Spinners and a number of very good outings on the mound. However, Michael Chavis gets the recognition here. After a worrisome 2-for-36 start to his professional career, Chavis has been fantastic. He homered for the first time on Monday and now has 15 extra-base hits, raising his slugging percentage to .425.
Photo Credit: Michael Chavis from perfectgame.org; Mike Meyers by Kelly O'Connor