July 4, 2015 at 7:38 AM
Cup of Coffee: Benintendi debuts, Stankiewicz shines for Salem
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Pawtucket lost their sixth straight, as they were only able to muster five hits against RailRiders pitching. Joe Kelly made his second start since joining the PawSox, tossing six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, striking out seven. Dalier Hinojosa added three innings of relief, allowing a run on three hits and a walk.
The lone extra base hit of the day came from Carlos Peguero, who led off the second inning with a double. Rusney Castillo picked up a single in his lone at-bat of the evening, entering the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement. Pawtucket hits the road for a six game road trip starting this evening, hoping to gain some momentum before the All-Star break.
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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 11, Portland Sea Dogs 4
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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 11, Portland Sea Dogs 4
Heri Quevedo dropped to 0-5 as he was torched for six runs on five hits and five walks in just 1 2/3 innings of work. Throwing only 29 of his 60 pitches for strikes, Quevedo saw his ERA skyrocket to 8.86. Simon Mercedes added four innings of relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks.
Down 7-0 in the fourth, the Sea Dogs finally got on the board when Keury De La Cruz laced a two-out RBI double that brought home two. An RBI single from Sam Travis in the fifth, and Marco Hernandez in the sixth, would round out scoring for Portland. Every member of the Sea Dogs lineup, with the exception of Reed Gragnani, reached base at least once. However, Portland was just 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
Down 7-0 in the fourth, the Sea Dogs finally got on the board when Keury De La Cruz laced a two-out RBI double that brought home two. An RBI single from Sam Travis in the fifth, and Marco Hernandez in the sixth, would round out scoring for Portland. Every member of the Sea Dogs lineup, with the exception of Reed Gragnani, reached base at least once. However, Portland was just 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
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Continuing the suspended game from the previous night, Salem held a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. That lead would hold until the eighth, when Myrtle Beach rallied for five runs. Taylor Grover, took the loss, allowing all five runs on five hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings of work.
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Making the most of their four hits, Greenville drove past the Crawdads with timely hitting and solid relief pitching. Jalen Beeks moved to 7-4, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Jamie Callahan picked up his first career save, allowing just two hits in three innings of relief.
Yoan Moncada led off the game with a triple, and eventually came home to score on a Danny Bethea sacrifice fly. In the second, Mike Meyers led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw, and came around to score on a ground out from Bryan Hudson. Hickory would fight back, scoring two in the third and one in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. In the seventh, a passed ball and a throwing error allowed the Drive to tie the game, and Hudson's RBI single gave them a 4-3 advantage. Moncada has now hit safely in six of his last eight games, raising his average from .200 to .223 in that span.
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In the regularly scheduled contest, Teddy Stankiewicz (pictured, above) was outstanding, hurling all seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine. The complete game is the first of Stankiewicz's professional career, and also ties his career high in strikeouts (nine).
The game was scoreless until the sixth, when RBI singles by Mario Martinez and Tzu-Wei Lin gave Salem a 3-0 advantage. The victory broke a seven game losing streak for the Red Sox.
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Greenville Drive 4, Hickory Crawdads (TEX) 3The game was scoreless until the sixth, when RBI singles by Mario Martinez and Tzu-Wei Lin gave Salem a 3-0 advantage. The victory broke a seven game losing streak for the Red Sox.
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Making the most of their four hits, Greenville drove past the Crawdads with timely hitting and solid relief pitching. Jalen Beeks moved to 7-4, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Jamie Callahan picked up his first career save, allowing just two hits in three innings of relief.
Yoan Moncada led off the game with a triple, and eventually came home to score on a Danny Bethea sacrifice fly. In the second, Mike Meyers led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw, and came around to score on a ground out from Bryan Hudson. Hickory would fight back, scoring two in the third and one in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. In the seventh, a passed ball and a throwing error allowed the Drive to tie the game, and Hudson's RBI single gave them a 4-3 advantage. Moncada has now hit safely in six of his last eight games, raising his average from .200 to .223 in that span.
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Jose Almonte allowed just one hit and three walks in 5 1/3 innings pitched, striking out four in a no decision. Enfember Martinez picked up the victory, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in his 3 1/3 innings of relief.
The contest was scoreless until the eighth, when Connecticut pushed across a run. In the ninth, Lowell got back-to-back two out, RBI singles from Josh Ockimey and Mitchell Gunsolus to grab the 2-1 lead. The Tigers would get a base runner in the ninth, but could not put together a rally.
Andrew Benintendi (pictured, above) was as advertised in his professional debut, scoring the winning run and going 2 for 4 as the Spinners center fielder.
The contest was scoreless until the eighth, when Connecticut pushed across a run. In the ninth, Lowell got back-to-back two out, RBI singles from Josh Ockimey and Mitchell Gunsolus to grab the 2-1 lead. The Tigers would get a base runner in the ninth, but could not put together a rally.
Andrew Benintendi (pictured, above) was as advertised in his professional debut, scoring the winning run and going 2 for 4 as the Spinners center fielder.
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The Red Sox perfect season came to an end, as they dropped their first game of 2015. Javier Rodriguez got the start and tossed four innings, allowing a run on three hits and three walks. Rafael Oliveras picked up the loss, allowing a run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
The Red Sox wasted no time getting on the board, plating two runs in the first on a passed ball and a Jerry Downs RBI single. In the second, an Oliveras RBI single gave the Red Sox a 3-1 advantage. The Twins tied the game in the sixth, and the game remained scoreless until the 13th. In the 13th, the Red Sox had a runner thrown out trying to steal home, stopping a rally in its tracks.
The Red Sox wasted no time getting on the board, plating two runs in the first on a passed ball and a Jerry Downs RBI single. In the second, an Oliveras RBI single gave the Red Sox a 3-1 advantage. The Twins tied the game in the sixth, and the game remained scoreless until the 13th. In the 13th, the Red Sox had a runner thrown out trying to steal home, stopping a rally in its tracks.
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Alejandro Rodriguez fell to 0-4 as he allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits in three innings of work. Hermeson Serven led the Red Sox offense, going 2 for 5 with a triple. The Red Sox were just 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, leaving 10 men on base. The two teams combined for six errors.
Yorvin Pantoja received the start and pitched well, allowing an unearned run on four hits and three walks, striking out four in six innings. Jervis Torrealba added five scoreless innings of relief, allowing five hits and three walks, striking out five.
The Red Sox lone run of the game came in the second inning, when Imeldo Diaz came home on a wild pitch.
The Red Sox lone run of the game came in the second inning, when Imeldo Diaz came home on a wild pitch.
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Player of the Night: In one of his best outings of the season, Teddy Stankiewicz was in total control. The 21-year-old right-hander hurled seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine in Salem's 3-0 win over Myrtle Beach. The former second round pick recorded the first complete game of his career, and tied his career high in strikeouts (nine). While just 3-8 on the season, Stankiewicz has been solid overall, posting a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts.
Photo Credit: Teddy Stankiewicz by Kelly O'Connor, Andrew Benintendi by John Corneau, Lowell Spinners