August 24, 2014 at 7:03 AM
Cup of Coffee: Johnson dominates NH, Coyle hits 14th
8/24 Cup of Coffee: The PawSox lost a blow out, while Portland won their own one-sided contest. Salem had their game suspended, while both Greenville and Lowell picked up victories. The GCL Red Sox were swept in a double header and the DSL had their game cancelled due to fog
-----
Edwin Escobar struggled mightily for Pawtucket, giving up nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits in only 2 1/3 innings pitched. This marks Escobar's second straight loss in a Pawtucket uniform and his 10th between Pawtucket and Fresno. The bullpen did not fare much better as Ryan Verdugo would be touched up for three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings and Brayan Villarreal would give up Buffalo's final three scores in only 1 1/3 innings.
Despite collecting 11 hits, Pawtucket's offense was unable to do anything meaningful. Every starter with the exception of Deven Marrero had at least one hit and both Corey Brown and Blake Swihart had multi-hit games. Brown went 3 for 4 while Swihart was 2 for 3 with a walk. The only extra-base hits were doubles off the bats of Garin Cecchini and Ryan Roberts.
-----
Brian Johnson(pictured) once again dazzled for Portland, hurling seven innings of one run baseball. Johnson allowed only one hit, a sixth inning home run, and walked two, while striking out 10. Aaron Kurcz and Dayan Diaz combined for two final hitless innings, walking one and striking out five between them.
The Sea Dogs pounded out 14 hits en route to this convincing win. Mike Miller, Sean Coyle, Keury De La Cruz, and Stefan Welch all launched home runs which were Portland's only extra-base hits of the night. Both Miller and Michael Almanzar went 3 for 5 while both Carson Blair and Heiker Meneses picked up two hits. Ryan Dent was the only member of the starting nine to go hitless in the contest.
-----
The Blue Rocks had just pulled ahead with a three-run sixth when the game was called due to rain. The contest will be completed today, 8/24.
-----
Teddy Stankiewicz earned his 10th win of the season for his six-inning effort. Stankiewicz gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out four. Ellis Jimenez notched the save for his three shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out three along the way.
Every starter except for Hector Lorenzana had at least one hit in the contest. Tzu-Wei Lin, Tim Roberson, and Jimmy Rider all went 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Roberson's tally included a home run and two RBI. Wendell Rijo added a triple and both Kevin Mager and Franklin Guzman had doubles.
-----
Jake Drehoff earned the win with seven sparkling innings, surrendering only three hits and two walks while striking out four. Kuehl McEachern and Carlos Pinales combined for the final two innings, despite giving up six hits and two runs between them. Pinales notched his 15th save of the season, despite allowing both of Aberdeen's runs in the ninth.
Of Lowell's five hits, four came off the bats of Aneudis Peralta and Deiner Lopez. Lopez added his second home run of the season as part of his 2-for-4 performance. Mike Meyers had Lowell's only other hit.
-----
In this makeup of the 8/15 contest, Kevin Steen took the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits in two innings pitched. Michael Gunn and Jalen Williams combined for five innings our of the bullpen, allowing one run on four hits between them.
Rafael Devers took home the Red Sox' only extra base hit, a double en route to a 2-for-3 night. Jeremy Rivera, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Rafael Oliveras all had one hit apiece.
Michael Kopech was saddled with the loss in this one, thanks to two runs on three hits in two innings pitched. Javier Rodriguez allowed another three runs on four hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Keivin Heras came on in relief of Rodriguez and struck out the only batter he faced.
Derek Miller and Ben Moore both went 2 for 4 while Moore picked up a double and Miller had two RBI as well. Josh Ockimey and Javier Guerra had the only other hits for the Sox.
-----
DSL Yankees1 at DSL Red Sox, Cancelled
The DSL Red Sox game was cancelled due to heavy fog.
-----
Player of the Night: Brian Johnson once again takes home these honors. Johnson dominated the Fisher Cats to pick up his 10th win of the season and lower his ERA to 1.83. After striking out 10 and walking two last night, Johnson now has 98 strikeouts to 32 walks over the course of 113 innings pitched with Portland.
Photo Credit: Brian Johnson by Kelly O'Connor