June 26, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Portland welcomes new call-ups, Moncada has big night
Cup of Coffee 6/26: After a flurry of system activity, several players made their debuts for Portland, including Sam Travis, Jake Romanski and Williams Jerez. With several Greenville players also getting the call up to Salem, the Drive shook up its lineup to positive effect. Yoan Moncada (pictured, right) had one of his best games of the season, hitting leadoff for the first time.
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The PawSox fell short of completing a dramatic rally in the ninth after bringing the winning run to the plate. Pawtucket scored twice in the ninth and a Humberto Quintero single brought the Sox within one. Carlos Peguero flew out to center field to end the game. Peguero still had a big night, going 3 for 5 with a two-run home run. Rusney Castillo had his second multi-hit game in as many nights since being demoted, going 2 for 5 with a solo home run and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Rehabbing Shane Victorino went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored while the recuperating Ryan Hanigan went 0 for 2. Henry Owens took a no-decision, going 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out six. Owens continued to show progress with his control, walking only one. Dailer Hinojosa took the loss after surrendering a three-run home run in the eighth.
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A late fielding error led to three unearned runs as Portland could not hold on, spoiling the debut of three newly promoted players and big nights from Manuel Margot and Marco Hernandez. A ball went through the legs of Carlos Asuaje to begin the eighth, and Madison Younginger could not recover. He allowed three straight hits, a hit batsman and three runs. Williams Jerez impressed in his Double-A debut out of the bullpen, pitching two innings of scoreless ball while working around three hits. Margot broke out for the first time at the Double-A level, going 2 for 4 with his first extra-base hit, a double, his first RBI and his first two stolen bases for Portland. Sam Travis went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored in his Double-A debut. Hernandez continued his hot streak, going 2 for 4 with two runs batted in. He is on a seven-game hitting streak and has a .375 average with two home runs, 10 RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases in that span. Catcher Jake Romanski went 0 for 4 in his Portland debut.
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Aaron Wilkerson was solid in six-plus innings, picking up his fourth win of the season to start the second half on a positive note for Salem. He allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking none. Salem benefited from a pair of early Frederick errors, scoring four unearned runs. Right fielder Kevin Heller went 3 for 4 with a double and one RBI. Left fielder Yoilan Cerse went 1 for 4 with two RBI, while Mario Martinez went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI. Austin Maddox picked up his tenth save of the year with a scoreless ninth. Recent call-ups Mauricio Dubon, Jordan Procychen, and Derek Miller did not play.
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Yoan Moncada showed signs of breaking out of his slump with his first multi-hit night in nearly a month. The 20-year-old Cuban hit leadoff for the first time in a revamped Drive lineup due to the recent roster moves -- and it payed off. He went 2 for 3 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Michael Chavis hit out of the two-hole and went 1 for 4 with a double and one RBI. Drive pitching was stellar, with Jeffry Fernandez picking up his second win. He went six innings and gave up just three hits - all singles - while striking out six and walking none. Kuehl McEachern picked up the three-inning save, his fifth, allowing four hits and striking out three. He did not walk a batter either.
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Eight of the nine Spinner hitters had at least one hit on an impressive night at the plate, as Lowell held off Aberdeen in its home opener. Ninth-round draft pick Tucker Tubbs got the offense going early with a first-inning, two-run double, finishing 1 for 4 with a run scored. Josh Ockimey also went 1 for 4 with a run scored and two-run RBI double. Tenth-round pick Mitchell Gunsolus went 1 for 4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored. Fourth-rounder Tate Matheny collected his first professional hit and finished 1 for 4 with two runs scored. 19-year-old Venezuelan Daniel Gonzalez picked up the win with five innings out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one.
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It took a dramatic finish for the GCL Red Sox to complete the four-game, home-and-home sweep of the Rays to start the season. Catcher Devon Fisher broke a 3-3 tie with a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. Fisher then scored on an error to give the Red Sox a crucial insurance run. Rhode Island native Trevor Kelley was able to tightrope out of a one-out, bases loaded jam and earn the save by inducing a 1-2-3 double play to end the game. Kelley was drafted in the 36th round this season out of UNC Chapel Hill. Right fielder Tyler Hill went 2 for 4 with one RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Trenton Kemp went 1 for 3 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.
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The first DSL Sox team blew a four run lead in a wild loss to the first DSL Yankees team. A seven-run sixth inning was the big blow, as Juan Perez allowed four runs (three earned) without allowing a hit (4 BB, 1K) and Victor Familia took the loss. Familia allowed six runs (four earned) in two innings on four hits, while walking two and striking out one. Samuel Miranda entered the game in the third at catcher and ended up going 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Designated hitter Jesus Perez hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the second. Leadoff hitter Dawill Aponte went 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored.
The second DSL Red Sox team extended its winning streak to ten games with an 11-hit attack. Center fielder Lorenzo Cedrola continued to be hot, going 1 for 3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored. The 17-year-old has a .362/.444/.493 slash line in 19 games. Left fielder Juan Barriento went 2 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Victor Garcia threw five solid innings, giving up just one unearned run on two hits while striking out six and walking just one.
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Player of the Night: A move to the leadoff spot might be what Yoan Moncada needs for his confidence, as the second-ranked SoxProspects.com prospect did well there. Moncada's average had dropped to .200 at the All-Star break. Friday's game was just the third time this season Moncada had a multi-hit game. He is starting to use his speed on the basepaths more, as he has five steals in his last six games.
Photo Credit: Yoan Moncada by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Yoan Moncada by Kelly O'Connor