June 22, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Cosart impressive in Spinners debut
6/22 Cup of Coffee: Three of the five Red Sox affiliates playing on Sunday lost by just one run, as the PawSox lost on a walk-off, the Sea Dogs stranded a multitude of runners on the basepaths, and Salemcouldn't keep a ninth-inning rally going long enough to tie things up. The Drive concluded their first half of the season with a lopsided loss on the road. Yet the Spinners were a bright spot, as Jake Cosart (pictured) made his season debut a memorable one, as Lowell came close to their second no-hitter in franchise history.
-----
Gwinnett Braves (ATL) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 5
The PawSox blew a five-run lead as the Braves scored two off of Pat Light in the ninth to complete the walk-off victory. Jess Todd got the start for Pawtucket and allowed two runs on three hits in his six innings of work. fanning three and walking one. Noe Ramirez then allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1 ⅓ innings. The righty has allowed runs in two straight appearances.
The PawSox blew a five-run lead as the Braves scored two off of Pat Light in the ninth to complete the walk-off victory. Jess Todd got the start for Pawtucket and allowed two runs on three hits in his six innings of work. fanning three and walking one. Noe Ramirez then allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1 ⅓ innings. The righty has allowed runs in two straight appearances.
Ramirez allowed a leadoff double in the eighth and walked a batter before Light took over with one out. Catcher Matt Spring caught the runner on third, but Light gave up a two-out single to allow an inherited runner to score. In the ninth, Light walked the bases loaded before issuing a one-out, walk-off single. Light was charged with the loss and a blown save, the first of his professional career. The runs were the first allowed by Light since moving to Pawtucket.
Carlos Peguero was a force offensively, driving in three runs on two singles. Jackie Bradley Jr. had gone just 3 for 22 in his previous five games, but went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a walk on Sunday. Quintin Berry went 3 for 3 with a run, RBI and walk. Not one member of Pawtucket's lineup collected an extra-base hit.
-----
Portland’s 14 hits and seven runs weren’t enough to earn them a victory, as starter Mike Augliera dropped to 2-11 on the season, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 3 ⅓ innings. Augliera owns a 6.75 ERA over his last five starts and 24 innings, and is averaging 8.4 hits per start. The right-hander hasn’t notched a win since May 25.
A couple of errors from first baseman David Chester and third baseman Jantzen Witte hurt the Sea Dogs, but stranding 14 men on base and going 5 for 19 with runners in scoring position didn't help either. Aneury Tavarez went 3 for 4 with a double and a couple of runs scored, Marco Hernandez drove in two runs from the top of the order, and Chester smacked his sixth home run of the season as part of a 2 for 4 day. Right fielder Cole Sturgeon doubled twice, scored twice and drove in a run.
-----
A rally in the ninth pushed across a run for the Red Sox, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome an ugly start from Kevin McAvoy. McAvoy allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings of work. The Red Sox bullpen, on the other hand, was stellar. Williams Jerez allowed just one hit in his scoreless inning of relief, and Chandler Shepherd allowed two hits and a walk over two innings, fanning five. It was a nice recovery for Shepherd, who had allowed five runs over his last four innings. Jerez has allowed just one earned run in five games since being promoted to Salem.
Dash starter Brian Clark shut down the Red Sox offense through five innings, allowing just one hit. But Salem jumped on the Winston-Salem bullpen for five runs. Forrestt Allday scored twice without the benefit of a hit, but he walked twice. Jordan Betts drove in three runs with a two-run double and sacrifice fly.
-----
Starter Jalen Beeks couldn't escape the fourth inning, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Beeks retired the side in order in the first inning, but things fell apart quickly in the second. Three consecutive hits to lead off the frame, a stolen base, a walk and a sacrifice double play led to two runs. The Blue Claws grabbed another in the third and tagged Drive pitchers for five runs in the fourth, batting around and chasing Beeks from the contest. Jake Drehoff allowed a run on three hits in his 1 1/3, and Michael Gunn allowed an additional run in his two innings. Mario Alcantara was the only bright spot, permitting just one hit in two innings.
The Drive collected just six hits on the day, but four of them went for extra bases. Jordan Procyshen smacked his second home run of the season in the second inning and Javier Guerra drove in his 32nd run (good for second on the team) with his team-leading, eighth home run of the year. Joseph Monge tripled and David Sopilka hit a pinch-hit double.
With the loss, the Drive lost the first-half Southern division title, as the Savannah Sand Gnats won it and earned a playoff berth.
-----
A combined effort from three Spinners pitchers limited the Lake Monsters to two hits. Starter Jake Cosart made his first start of the season, and it was a great one. He didn't allow any hits through four innings, though he did issue three walks and hit a batter. Cosart gave way to Taylor Nunez, who tossed three hitless innings, allowing just one baserunner on a walk. Matt Kent finished things off with two strong innings, allowing two hits and punching out two.
Zach Kapstein went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and a run scored from the fourth spot in the order, and leadoff man Bryan Hudson drove in a run in his third straight game, going 1 for 4. Luis Alexander Basabe got his first hit(s) as part of a 3 for 4 day, hitting two singles and a double and scoring a run. Second baseman Victor Acosta went 1 for 4 and drove in a run.
-----
Playerof the Day: Jake Cosart had an excellent New York Penn League debut. Cosart looked strong in 2014, posting a 2.25 ERA in seven starts and 16 innings, walking 11 and striking out 16. His command wasn't as good as it could have been, walking three, hitting a batter and uncorking a wild pitch, but Cosart was good enough to keep hitters off balance.
"I was expecting to be a little nervous, and I was," Cosart told MiLB.com's Alex Kraft. "I was a little groggy and lethargic before the game and that was a little annoying. But then I got out there and saw that I was pitching in front of 2,000, 3,000 fans, and that really wakes you up quick."
Photo Credit: Jake Cosart by Kelly O'Connor