Cup of Coffee: Kopech drives Greenville past Charleston

5/23 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates were 2-2 on Friday, as Portland and Salem had difficulties pushing runs across the plate. Pawtucket used steady starting pitching and key hits with runners on base to find the winner's circle. In Greenville, SoxProspects.com's #10 prospect put together his second straight solid outing to carry the Drive to victory. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Louisville Bats (CIN) 5 
Keith Couch allowed just two runs on five hits and a walk across seven innings to pick up his second victory of the season. The recently acquired John Cornely made his Pawtucket debut and recorded the final two outs of the game to pick up the save.


Travis Shaw led the PawSox offense with a 3-for-4 evening, scoring three runs and adding a double. Luke Montz was 2 for 2 as the designated hitter, knocking in three runs. After having issues bringing home base runners the night before, Pawtucket was 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left only five men on base. The PawSox turned four double plays defensively, helping to bail them out of a number of jams.

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Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) 6, Portland Sea Dogs 2
It was a quiet night at the plate for the Sea Dogs, who mustered only four hits, and did not have a base runner until Keury De La Cruz's single in the fifth inning. Carlos Asuaje's ninth inning two-run home run was the lone bright spot offensively for Portland.

William Cuevas dropped to 5-2 after hurling six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk. Kyle Kraus added three innings of relief, allowing a further three runs on three hits and two walks.

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Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 4, Salem Red Sox 0
The Red Sox wasted a fantastic start from Aaron Wilkerson as they were only able to compile five hits offensively. The aforementioned Wilkerson tossed six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while punching out seven. Mike Adams took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in two innings of relief. At the plate, Aneury Tavarez continued to wield a hot bat, going 2 for 3 with a triple.  The 23-year-old outfielder is hitting .394 in his last ten games.

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Greenville Drive 2, Charleston RiverDogs (NYY) 1
Michael Kopech (pictured,above) turned in his second straight solid outing against Charleston, tossing five innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. The right-hander improved to 2-2 on the season, as he threw 41 of his 60 pitches for strikes. Nick Longhi's RBI double in the fourth plated both Greenville runs. Mario Alcantara continued to be outstanding, adding another two scoreless innings of relief on the way to his second save.

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Player of the Night: Michael Kopech, who picked up the victory for Greenville, hurled five innings, and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out six. The 19-year-old right-hander has had back-to-back impressive starts against Charleston, blanking them in five strong innings on May 17th. On the season, Kopech is 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA in seven starts, striking out 30 and walking just nine in 28 2/3 innings. 

Photo Credit: Michael Kopech by Kelly O'Connor

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