August 17, 2014 at 7:23 AM
Cup of Coffee: Couch dominates Richmond
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Chris Hernandez took the loss for Pawtucket, giving up four runs on eight hits and four walks in only 4 2/3 innings pitched. Miguel Celestino came on in relief and was the only Pawtucket hurler to escape the game without giving up a run. John Ely and Drake Britton combined for the final three innings and were touched up for five runs in that span. Seven out of nine Pawtucket batters had hits, while Mookie Betts and Mike McCoy were held hitless in this one. Alex Hassan led the charge, going 3 for 5 with two runs scored and a home run. Both Blake Swihart and Derrik Gibson went 2 for 4 with a walk.
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Keith Couch (pictured) dominated Richmond, throwing eight shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters along the way. Dayan Diaz collected the win though, thanks to two scoreless innings to close out the contest. Keury De La Cruz picked up three of Portland's six hits, though it was Heiker Meneses who delivered Portland's walk-off in the 10th. After Carson Blair walked and David Chester singled, Richmond got a ground out from Jonathan Roof for the first out of the inning. The Flying Squirrels then decided to intentionally walk Ryan Dent to load the bases for Meneses who responded by singling to left for the walk off win.
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Salem Red Sox 17, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX) 9
Jacob Dahlstrand got the win for Salem thanks to 5 1/3 innings of five-run (three earned) baseball. Dahlstrand gave up nine hits, a walk and punched out four batters. Kyle Martin surrendered four runs on three hits, two of which were home runs, in 2 2/3 innings. Matty Ott was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, hurling a perfect ninth inning. It was an offensive explosion for Salem, as every member of the starting nine had at least one hit, and seven of them had at least two. Jantzen Witte went 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Manuel Margot also hit a home run as part of a 3-for-4 performance, and Kendrick Perkins' lone hit was also a home run. Two of Matty Johnson's three hits were doubles, as he went 3 for 5 at the plate.
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Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM) 9, Greenville Drive 3
Despite giving up the fewest runs, Jamie Callahan was saddled with the loss. Callahan surrendered two runs on four hits and seven walks in five innings pitched. It was Oscar Perez who would get roughed up, allowing the final seven runs on eight hits in only three innings pitched. Kevin Mager and Tzu-Wei Lin had the only offensive performances of note, combining for five of Greenville's nine hits. Lin went 3 for 5 with two runs scored, while Mager had two hits, but drove in all three of the Drive's runs.
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Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) 6, Lowell Spinners 1
Jake Drehoff pitched well, allowing two runs in five innings pitched, striking out four along the way. He took the loss though, as the offense was unable to offer him any support. Edwar Garcia struggled in only 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on four hits. Brandon Show closed out the game with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. Of Lowell's five hits, none were for extra bases and Mauricio Dubon notched two of them himself. Nick Moore, Cisco Tellez and David Sopilka all had one hit apiece.
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GCL Twins 11, GCL Red Sox 10 in Game 1
Game one was a continuation of the Red Sox' 8/9 contest. The Red Sox had jumped out to a 10-3 lead through three innings. Michael Chavis was the lone Red Sox batter with more than one hit, and the team only managed to collect eight hits between them, capitalizing on five Twins errors. Jeffry Fernandez originally got the start, and in the end, surrendered five runs in three innings pitched. Taylor Nunez then gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. Keivin Heras was the lone pitcher to escape unscathed, with a perfect 1 1/3 innings. Jose Almonte took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in four innings pitched.
GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 1 in Game 2
The Red Sox managed only three hits in this game, one from each of the first three batters, Luis Alexander Basabe, Derek Miller, and Javier Guerra. Jake Cosart was saddled with the loss, despite only allowing two unearned runs on four walks in 2 2/3 hitless innings. Carlos Garcia, Kevin Steen, and Pat Goetze combined for the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and a walk.
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DSL Red Sox 8, DSL Mariners 3
Gerson Bautista's strong start was not enough to notch the win, despite five innings innings in which he allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out four. Samir El Halaby allowed the Mariners' final two runs in an inning of work. Carlos Caceres took home his fourth win of the year thanks to two hitless innings, and Hildemaro Requena pitched a scoreless ninth. Juan Hernandez and Gerardo Carrizalez both had two hits while Yoan Aybar had three hits in five at-bats.
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Player of the Night: Keith Couch takes the night's honors thanks to his dominance of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Couch missed out on the win last night, but is 7-1 for Portland this season and has lowered his ERA for the year to 2.70. Couch is taking a repeat trip through Portland after seeing time in 29 contests at that level in 2013.
Photo Credit: Keith Couch by Kelly O'Connor
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Salem Red Sox 17, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX) 9
Jacob Dahlstrand got the win for Salem thanks to 5 1/3 innings of five-run (three earned) baseball. Dahlstrand gave up nine hits, a walk and punched out four batters. Kyle Martin surrendered four runs on three hits, two of which were home runs, in 2 2/3 innings. Matty Ott was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, hurling a perfect ninth inning. It was an offensive explosion for Salem, as every member of the starting nine had at least one hit, and seven of them had at least two. Jantzen Witte went 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Manuel Margot also hit a home run as part of a 3-for-4 performance, and Kendrick Perkins' lone hit was also a home run. Two of Matty Johnson's three hits were doubles, as he went 3 for 5 at the plate.
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Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM) 9, Greenville Drive 3
Despite giving up the fewest runs, Jamie Callahan was saddled with the loss. Callahan surrendered two runs on four hits and seven walks in five innings pitched. It was Oscar Perez who would get roughed up, allowing the final seven runs on eight hits in only three innings pitched. Kevin Mager and Tzu-Wei Lin had the only offensive performances of note, combining for five of Greenville's nine hits. Lin went 3 for 5 with two runs scored, while Mager had two hits, but drove in all three of the Drive's runs.
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Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) 6, Lowell Spinners 1
Jake Drehoff pitched well, allowing two runs in five innings pitched, striking out four along the way. He took the loss though, as the offense was unable to offer him any support. Edwar Garcia struggled in only 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on four hits. Brandon Show closed out the game with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. Of Lowell's five hits, none were for extra bases and Mauricio Dubon notched two of them himself. Nick Moore, Cisco Tellez and David Sopilka all had one hit apiece.
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GCL Twins 11, GCL Red Sox 10 in Game 1
Game one was a continuation of the Red Sox' 8/9 contest. The Red Sox had jumped out to a 10-3 lead through three innings. Michael Chavis was the lone Red Sox batter with more than one hit, and the team only managed to collect eight hits between them, capitalizing on five Twins errors. Jeffry Fernandez originally got the start, and in the end, surrendered five runs in three innings pitched. Taylor Nunez then gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. Keivin Heras was the lone pitcher to escape unscathed, with a perfect 1 1/3 innings. Jose Almonte took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in four innings pitched.
GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 1 in Game 2
The Red Sox managed only three hits in this game, one from each of the first three batters, Luis Alexander Basabe, Derek Miller, and Javier Guerra. Jake Cosart was saddled with the loss, despite only allowing two unearned runs on four walks in 2 2/3 hitless innings. Carlos Garcia, Kevin Steen, and Pat Goetze combined for the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and a walk.
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DSL Red Sox 8, DSL Mariners 3
Gerson Bautista's strong start was not enough to notch the win, despite five innings innings in which he allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out four. Samir El Halaby allowed the Mariners' final two runs in an inning of work. Carlos Caceres took home his fourth win of the year thanks to two hitless innings, and Hildemaro Requena pitched a scoreless ninth. Juan Hernandez and Gerardo Carrizalez both had two hits while Yoan Aybar had three hits in five at-bats.
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Player of the Night: Keith Couch takes the night's honors thanks to his dominance of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Couch missed out on the win last night, but is 7-1 for Portland this season and has lowered his ERA for the year to 2.70. Couch is taking a repeat trip through Portland after seeing time in 29 contests at that level in 2013.
Photo Credit: Keith Couch by Kelly O'Connor