April 14, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Abbreviated 2015 debuts for Kopech, Barnes
4/14 Cup of Coffee: A pair of Top-10 prospects were on tap to make their 2015 debuts on Tuesday, but neither went quite according to plan. Michael Kopech was cruising for Greenville until Lexington exploded for a big fourth inning, handing the Drive the defeat, while Matt Barnes appeared to be settling in when Pawtucket's contest was suspended by rain. Little went right for Portland in its loss, and Salem was postponed.
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The weather did more than the Buffalo pitching staff could to slow down the PawSox offensive attack. The team piled on eight runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Travis Shaw and two hits in the frame from Sean Coyle. Matt Barnes got off to a shaky start in his first 2015 outing, walking two batters in the first inning as the Bisons scored three. He was settling in when the rain came, retiring six of the last seven batters he faced. Jackie Bradley assisted Barnes by turning a line drive into an 8-3 double play. The game will be completed on Tuesday before the teams' regularly-scheduled meeting.
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Little went right in the Sea Dogs' loss at Hadlock Field. Starting pitcher Mike McCarthy allowed a trio of home runs, including a third-inning grand slam. Overall, McCarthy gave up nine runs (eight earned) on six hits in four innings. Kyle Kraus was unable to stop the bleeding, giving up five more runs on six hits in his three innings of work. Dayan Diaz struck out one in a pair of hitless innings of relief. Jantzen Witte (pictured) had a big evening at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and his first home run of the season. Marco Hernandez added three hits in the losing effort.
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The teams will make up the rain out as part of a double-header on Tuesday at 5:00
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Michael Kopech's 2015 season got off to a promising beginning, as the hard-throwing right-hander retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced. The Legends were able to reach Kopech in the fourth, touching him for three runs on two hits, including a home run. He struck out four and walked a pair. The Legends continued their assault against Aaron Wilkerson, who allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in 3 1/3, before Mario Alcantara slowed them down with a pair of scoreless frames. At the plate, Nick Longhi launched his first home run of the season. Derek Miller was 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored, and Mauricio Dubon stayed hot with his third straight multi-hit game. Rafael Devers also chipped in two hits for the Drive.
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Player of the Day: Though it came as part of a losing effort, Jantzen Witte had a monster day at the plate. The 25-year-old first baseman is picking up in 2015 where he left off in 2014. After finishing second in the organization last year in extra base hits, Witte added two on Monday and now has three extra-base hits in only 13 at-bats
Photo Credit: Jantzen Witte by Kelly O'Connor