June 7, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Jerez, Devers among few bright spots in four-loss night
6/7 Cup of Coffee: None of the minor league affiliates could string enough offense together to earn a win, with the DSL Red Sox being the only exception. Pawtucket and Portland managed only five hits apiece. Reliever Williams Jerez (pictured, right) kept Salem in the hunt, while disastrous performances from starter Jess Todd and reliever Jamie Callahan came back to haunt their respective teams.
-----
Pawtucket was held to just four hits and couldn't keep up with Syracuse offensively, despite home runs from designated hitter Bryce Brentz, left fielder/first baseman Garin Cecchini and shortstop Mike Miller. Brentz finished 1 for 3 with two RBI, while Cecchini went 1 for 2. Second baseman Deven Marrero went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts batting out of the No. 2 spot.
Starter Jess Todd was shelled and lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on five hits and walking two. Right hander Dalier Hinojosa and left hander Robbie Ross Jr. each put in two innings of relief work and gave up two more runs apiece. Right hander Heath Hembree finally quieted the RailRiders in the end of the eight inning, tossing the final 1 1/3 innings and giving up one hit.
-----
Bowie jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and somehow hung on, holding Portland to just five hits in the shutout. The Sea Dogs' top four batters each had a hit, and center fielder Aneury Tavarez went 1 for 3 with a double.
Right hander Heri Quevedo tossed five innings, giving up the game's lone run along with two walks and two punchouts. Quevedo earned the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the year. Mike McCarthy and Pat Light each made relief appearances, with McCarthy allowing two hits across three frames. Light had a three-up-three-down top of the ninth to round out the night.
-----
Shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin led the way for the Red Sox, finishing 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI – the game's only multi-hit performance and extra base hit. While every player except one had a hit, Salem's offense was far from potent and ultimately couldn't overcome Potomac's pitching.
Starter Kevin McAvoy drew the start, throwing 5 2/3 innings and giving up three runs on six hits and walking five. The 2014 fourth-round pick also struck out four batters despite drawing the loss, dropping him to 4-4 this season. Left hander Williams Jerez was stellar in relief, keeping the door open for a comeback by tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out five.
-----
Third baseman Rafael Devers paced the Drive in the loss, going 3 for 4 with three RBI and a stolen base. Designated hitter Carlos Mesa wasn't far behind, finishing 2 for 4 with one run scored. Second baseman and leadoff man Mauricio Dubon went 1 for 5 and scored two runs.
Starter Jeffry Fernandez lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on two hits. The 22-year-old right hander also walked three and struck out two. Former second-round pick Jamie Callahan put in another poor performance in what has been a down 2015 campaign. The right hander tossed two innings in relief, giving up six runs on seven hits and striking out two. Right hander Mario Alcantara rounded things out, throwing the final two frames and keeping Savannah off the board.
-----
Catcher Samuel Miranda led the Red Sox offensively in the rout, finishing 3 for 5 with two RBI. Left fielder Marino Campana went 2 for 5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored.
Starter Roniel Raudes turned in 4 2/3 innings of work, giving up six hits and two runs while striking out six. Left hander Juan Perez earned the win, throwing 3 1/3 innings in relief to improve to 2-1 on the year. Right hander Shair Lacrus closed things down in the top of the ninth, giving up one run on two hits and striking out two.
Right fielder Ramfis Berroa finished 3 for 5 with a double, a home run and three RBI to lead the Red Sox to their fifth win of the season. Third baseman Stanley Espinal went 2 for 5 with two doubles and an RBI, while left fielder Juan Barriento went 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored.
Starter Anderson Espinoza tossed four innings, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out two. Right hander Denyi Reyes earned the win after throwing five scoreless relief innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
-----
Player of the Night: Down by only a run heading into the final four frames, Salem still had a realistic shot at pulling out a victory. While they didn't get it in the end, reliever Williams Jerez kept the Red Sox very much alive, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. The left hander, who switched from outfield to pitching last spring, earns Player of the Night honors for doing exactly what a reliever is supposed to do in that situation: pitch well enough to give your team a chance to win.
Photo Credit: Williams Jerez by Kelly O'Connor