April 16, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Jackie Bradley Jr. continues hot start, Pawtucket falls in doubleheader
4/16 Cup of Coffee: After consecutive 9-6 victories over the Buffalo Bisons, the PawSox dropped consecutive 2-0 games, both seven-inning affairs, in a doubleheader Wednesday. Jackie Bradley Jr. (pictured) and Brian Johnson highlighted action in Buffalo. The Sea Dogs and Drive made a bit more noise with the bats and both came away with victories. The Salem Red Sox were rained out for the second time in four days.
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In game one of the doubleheader, the PawSox managed just two hits and two walks on the offensive side. A sloppy bottom of the second led to two runs for the Bisons, which proved to be enough for the win. Garin Cecchini and Sean Coyle committed miscues in the inning, and the Rock Cats took advantage by scoring two runs.
Brian Johnson started for Pawtucket and took the loss, but pitched well. He surrendered four hits and two walks in four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and punching out seven. He now has an ERA of 1.00 in two starts this year. Dalier Hinojosa rebounded from a rough outing in Lehigh Valley by throwing two perfect innings in relief, inducing five groundouts and striking out one. Blake Swihart and Garin Cecchini both went 1 for 3 at the plate.
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The offensive woes continued for the PawSox in game two, getting shutout for the second game in a row. Keith Couch pitched a solid game and took the loss. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out one. Zeke Spruill, a right-handed pitcher the Red Sox acquired from the Diamondbacks over the winter, got the final two outs of the bottom of the sixth.
Jackie Bradley Jr. continued his hot start to the 2015 campaign with a 2-for-3 day. He collected his fourth double of the season and is now batting .371/.389/.486 in 36 plate appearances this season. Deven Marrero and Jemile Weeks both added 1-for-3 days at the plate.
The PawSox are now 4-3 as they prepare for their home opener at McCoy Stadium tomorrow night.
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The Sea Dogs pounded out 10 hits, all of which were singles, and scored seven times on their way to a 7-5 victory over the Rock Cats. Third baseman Reed Gragnani reached in all four of his plate appearances, collecting two singles, two walks, two runs and an RBI. Henry Ramos and Jonathan Roof each added two hits, and Kevin Heller went 1 for 1 with a walk, a sacrifice fly and three RBI.
On the mound, Justin Haley, Jonathan Aro, Robby Scott, and Dayan Diaz combined to strike out 14 Rock Cats. Haley went the first four innings and struck out six while allowing just one run. Aro earned the win and went the next three innings, also punching out six and allowing one run. Scott had a rocky outing, yielding five hits and three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched. A 7-2 lead for Portland shrunk to a 7-5 lead, as Diaz came on for the final batter of the ninth inning and struck him out to earn his first save of the season.
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The game will be rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on May 6 when the Red Sox travel back to Myrtle Beach, the team announced.
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Six of the nine starters for Greenville collected at least two hits as the Drive snapped a three game losing streak. The Drive never trailed, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and didn't look back. The Red Sox 2014 first round pick Michael Chavis went 2 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Designated hitter Ben Moore had a big night at the plate, reaching base four of five times with a single, double, two walks, and two RBI. First baseman Cisco Tellez laced two doubles and drove in three runs.
Drive starter Jamie Callahan struggled, allowing six hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He was relieved by Chandler Shepherd, who went 2 1/3 innings and earned the win. Kuehl McEachern closed it out, going the final two innings.
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Player of the Day: Ben Moore entered Wednesday with just six at bats, but he broke out for Greenville hitting out of the number eight slot in the lineup. An eighth round draft pick by Boston in 2014, Moore reached base four times, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Photo Credit: Jackie Bradley Jr. by Kelly O'Connor