May 7, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Position changes in Pawtucket, Devers stays hot for Greenville
5/7 Cup of Coffee: Deven Marrero, Travis Shaw, and Garin Cecchini all played new positions for the first time for the PawSox. Matt Barnes had started in 75 of his 76 appearances in the minor leagues up until last night, tossing an inning in relief. Jackie Bradley Jr. got a couple more hits, quietly continuing his impressive start. Pawtucket also got a great outing from Stephen Wright (pictured) and Rafael Devers had another solid night at the plate.
-----
Things were shuffled around last night for the PawSox. Garin Cecchini started at first base, Deven Marrero started at third base, and Travis Shaw started in left field. Stephen Wright was on the hill for Pawtucket and delivered a gem, going seven innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. He struck out seven. Shaw provided the big blow early, blasting a three-run home run in the first inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. also went 2 for 5 with two runs and a stolen base. He is now batting .344 this year. Matt Barnes came in the game as a reliever, suggesting that may become his role in Boston in the near future. Barnes and Heath Hembree each threw an inning of scoreless baseball to close out the game.
-----
-----
The Sea Dogs' bats broke out, as the one through five hitters (Mike Miller, Carlos Asuaje, Jantzen Witte, Oscar Tejada, and Keury De La Cruz) went a combined 11 for 22 with five RBI and five runs scored. De La Cruz went 3 for 3 with a fifth inning two-run homer. William Cuevas had a nice night on the mound for Portland, striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings of work. He gave up three runs (two earned) and grabbed his fourth win of the season. Jonathan Aro finished off the final 2 2/3 innings and did not allow a run.
-----
In game one of a doubleheader, the Red Sox staged an impressive comeback in the seventh inning, the final inning. After being down 4-1 through three innings, Salem scored single runs in the fourth and fifth. In the seventh, Jose Vinicio and Manuel Margot hit back-to-back one out singles. That was followed by a clutch RBI double from Tzu-Wei Lin to knot up the game at four. Sam Travis' sacrifice fly gave the Red Sox the lead. Kevin McAvoy struggled, giving up four runs in five innings. Mike Adams came on for the two-inning save and did not give up a run.
Salem settled for the split in game two. Joe Gunkel made his second start of the season and took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings while surrendering seven hits and three runs. His ERA still sits at 2.37 for the year. Salem was unable to get much going offensively, scattering five hits. Sam Travis had a nice night, going 2 for 3 with his second home run of the season. Taylor Grover went 1 2/3 innings and did not allow an earned run, lowering his season ERA to 2.40.
-----
Youngsters Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis were the lone bright spots for the Drive in this one. Devers went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple, and now has six extra-base hits in his last 14 at bats. Chavis went 2 for 4 as well, chipping in a double of his own. Drive pitching struggled, as Jeffry Fernandez started and went 3 2/3 innings allowing five hits and four runs (two earned). Ryan Harris made his first appearance of the year for Greenville in relief and went 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Carlos Pinales went the final three and allowed seven hits and four earned runs.
-----
Player of the Night: After two rough outings in a row, Stephen Wright has now had two terrific starts in a row for Pawtucket. He has now thrown 14 innings over his last two starts and allowed just seven hits and one run. He also has 14 strike outs in his last two starts.
Photo Credit: Stephen Wright by Kelly O'Connor