April 30, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Castillo returns, Drive explode for 11 in win
4/3 Cup of Coffee: Rusney Castillo (pictured) made his first appearance since his shoulder injury kept him out for 18 days. Henry Owens added a new pitch in a loss against Syracuse. The PawSox, Sea Dogs, and Red Sox did not do much offensively, but the Drive picked up the slack and broke out offensively, led by Cisco Tellez, Rafael Devers, Jordan Procyshen, Javier Guerra, and Derek Miller.
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The PawSox got off to a rocky start in the first inning, giving up three runs on two hits, a walk, and an error. Henry Owens started and went five innings, surrendering four hits, three earned runs, three walks, and registered six strikeouts. SoxProspects.com's own Matt Huegel had Owens around 91 MPH on his fastball. He also added a slider to his repertoire, which was around 77 MPH.
Rusney Castillo made his return to the lineup for the first time since April 11, and went 0 for 4 as the designated hitter, driving a ball to center in his last at bat. It was a quiet night offensively for Pawtucket, scattering seven hits, all of which were singles. Jackie Bradley Jr. had a pair of hits to raise his average to .325. Miguel Celestino went three innings in relief and gave up just two hits and one run. Heath Hembree finished the game on the mound for the PawSox, recording a perfect inning.
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It was a rough night for Sea Dogs starter Mike McCarthy, who went just four innings and was knocked around for eight hits and six earned runs. The deficit was too large for Portland, as they failed to score a run after the fourth inning. Mike Miller, Carlos Ausaje, Keury De La Cruz, and Luis Martinez each tallied multiple hit efforts, but the rest of the Portland lineup went 0 for 20. Miller had a pair of doubles, and Martinez had three hits including a two-bagger of his own. Kyle Kraus went four innings in relief and gave up two earned runs. Kyle Martin pitched the ninth and did not allow a run.
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Yes, it finally happened. In his 70th plate appearance of the season, Manuel Margot struck out. His first punch out of the season was part of a quiet night for the Salem offense. They managed just five hits, and their only run came on a ninth inning solo home run by first baseman Mario Martinez. Trey Ball started for the Red Sox and went five innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs. German Taveras pitched three innings of relief and surrendered two earned runs. Mike Adams allowed a run of his own in the ninth. Designated hitter Sam Travis went 2 for 4 and catcher Jordan Weems added a double for Salem.
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The Drive offense exploded for 11 runs in the only win of the day for the Red Sox farm system. The Drive fell behind 3-1 after an inning, but quickly answered back with five in the second, highlighted by a two-run homer by Javier Guerra and a two-run double by Jordan Procyshen. First baseman Cisco Tellez had a big night, going 3 for 3 with a walk and a triple. Rafael Devers and Derek Miller each had multiple hits and multiple RBI.
On the mound, Jalen Beeks earned his first win on the season, going five innings and allowing four earned runs. Williams Jerez and Mario Alcantra finished combined to go the final four innings. Alcantra did not allow a run and has an ERA of 0.75 this season.
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Player of the Night: Cisco Tellez was perfect at the plate in an 11-6 Greenville win. He went 3 for 3 with a triple, a walk, and three runs scored. The left-handed hitter was a 2014 draft pick and played for the Lowell Spinners in 2014.
Photo Credit: Rusney Castillo by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Rusney Castillo by Kelly O'Connor