July 31, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Chavis shines in national TV spotlight
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Pawtucket bats were stymied by Norfolk pitching, settling for a lone extra-base hit, off the bat of Marco Hernandez, in a day game on Thursday. Jonathan Roof drove in the only Red Sox run in the bottom of the ninth. Quintin Berry hit three singles, going 3 for 4. Zeke Spruill battled to a quality start, going six innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three, but also hit a pair of batters.
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Portland Sea Dogs 5, Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 4
Those fans who stuck around Hadlock Field after an hour and 38-minute rain delay were rewarded with a walk-off home run by Aneury Tavarez to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
The homer, Tavarez's fourth, was his only hit of the night in a 1-for-4 effort. According to the Sea Dogs media, it was Portland's eighth walk-off win in their last 12 home victories. Keury De La Cruz had a solid night at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored. William Cuevas was pulled after two innings due to the rain delay, but Heri Quevedo kept Portland in the game with four scoreless innings of relief. Madison Younginer was charged with a blown save, allowing the tying run to score in the seventh, but he picked up his fifth win in the end.
Those fans who stuck around Hadlock Field after an hour and 38-minute rain delay were rewarded with a walk-off home run by Aneury Tavarez to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
The homer, Tavarez's fourth, was his only hit of the night in a 1-for-4 effort. According to the Sea Dogs media, it was Portland's eighth walk-off win in their last 12 home victories. Keury De La Cruz had a solid night at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored. William Cuevas was pulled after two innings due to the rain delay, but Heri Quevedo kept Portland in the game with four scoreless innings of relief. Madison Younginer was charged with a blown save, allowing the tying run to score in the seventh, but he picked up his fifth win in the end.
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The Red Sox dropped a back and forth affair, coming from behind three time before finally being beaten back by the Hillcats to complete the series sweep. Cole Sturgeon provided much of the offensive spark for Salem, reaching base four times. He went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks, three runs scored and a two stolen bases. Yoilan Cerse and Kevin Heller each went 1 for 3 with two RBI. All seven Salem hits were singles. Aaron Wilkerson labored through four innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits while walking four and striking out two. Kyle Kaminska suffered the loss, also going four innings while allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked one.
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Michael Chavis thrived in the spotlight of a national TV audience with Greenville's matchup against Lexington broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Chavis helped his slugging percentage on a 3-for-4 night with a pair of doubles, a solo home run and three RBI. The homer was Chavis's 10th of the season. It wasn't enough, however, as Lexington scored four runs off of Carlos Pinales in the seventh and three off of Mario Alcantara in the ninth. That spoiled a solid performance from Ben Taylor, making his third start since being promoted from Lowell. Taylor went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked none. He threw an impressive 54 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Rafael Devers and Nick Longhi were each held hitless in four at-bats, while Yoan Moncada and Javier Guerra each went 1 for 4.
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Lowell Spinners 5, Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI) 2
Jake Cosart was solid for a third straight start, picking up his second win of the season. He lasted six innings, while giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Cosart has lowered his ERA more than two whole runs to 5.63 over that three-game streak. Bobby Poyner, a 2015 14th-round draft pick, earned his fifth save for Lowell. Andrew Benintendi went 1 for 2 with a walk, a triple and two runs scored. Kyri Washington was credited with a steal of home on a double-steal with Mitchell Gunsolus. Tate Matheny ended the game by doubling off a Williamsport runner off of second base after a fly out.
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GCL Orioles 5, GCL Red Sox 4 (11 inn.)
The GCL Red Sox lost a heartbreaker, falling on a walk-off home run in the 11th inning off of Carlos Garcia. He had just entered his fourth inning of relief when he surrendered the game-winning shot. Garcia also blew the save, allowing the tying run to score with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Eighth-round draft pick Logan Allen went two innings, allowing a run on a hit before giving way to Enmanuel De Jesus. The 18-year-old left-handed Venezuelan was stellar over five innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out six and walking only one. Tyler Hill had the only multi-hit day for the Sox, going 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI.
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DSL Reds 7, DSL Red Sox1 2
Roniel Raudes was a punching bag for the Reds, as the 17-year-old Nicaraguan was charged with all seven Reds runs. The runs came on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief with five strikeouts and no walks. Highly-regarded prospect Christopher Acosta continued to ease his way back from injury, pitching two innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just two hits and struck out one. Elwin Tejada provided the lone Red Sox extra-base hit of the night, going 2 for 3 with a double.
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DSL Braves 6, DSL Red Sox2 3
Denyi Reyes showed signs of being human, suffering his first loss of the season. Reyes had his worst outing of the season, allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings pitched. He struck out two and allowed just his second walk of the season. Reyes had his walk-less streak snapped his last time out at 51 1/3 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is still an unreal 25.00. Right fielder Juan Hernandez went 3 for 4 with a double, raising his average to .316.
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Player of the Night: While his stats still leave something to be desired on paper, Michael Chavis continues to show improvement since his move to the number two spot in the Drive lineup at the start of the second half. Chavis's average has crept up to .221 and he strikes out a ton (107 K's to 20 BB's), but he has slugged a much improved .429 since the second half began on June 25. His season slash line currently sits at .221/.275/.381.
Photo Credit: Michael Chavis by Kelly O'Connor
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Lowell Spinners 5, Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI) 2
Jake Cosart was solid for a third straight start, picking up his second win of the season. He lasted six innings, while giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Cosart has lowered his ERA more than two whole runs to 5.63 over that three-game streak. Bobby Poyner, a 2015 14th-round draft pick, earned his fifth save for Lowell. Andrew Benintendi went 1 for 2 with a walk, a triple and two runs scored. Kyri Washington was credited with a steal of home on a double-steal with Mitchell Gunsolus. Tate Matheny ended the game by doubling off a Williamsport runner off of second base after a fly out.
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GCL Orioles 5, GCL Red Sox 4 (11 inn.)
The GCL Red Sox lost a heartbreaker, falling on a walk-off home run in the 11th inning off of Carlos Garcia. He had just entered his fourth inning of relief when he surrendered the game-winning shot. Garcia also blew the save, allowing the tying run to score with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Eighth-round draft pick Logan Allen went two innings, allowing a run on a hit before giving way to Enmanuel De Jesus. The 18-year-old left-handed Venezuelan was stellar over five innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out six and walking only one. Tyler Hill had the only multi-hit day for the Sox, going 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI.
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DSL Reds 7, DSL Red Sox1 2
Roniel Raudes was a punching bag for the Reds, as the 17-year-old Nicaraguan was charged with all seven Reds runs. The runs came on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief with five strikeouts and no walks. Highly-regarded prospect Christopher Acosta continued to ease his way back from injury, pitching two innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just two hits and struck out one. Elwin Tejada provided the lone Red Sox extra-base hit of the night, going 2 for 3 with a double.
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DSL Braves 6, DSL Red Sox2 3
Denyi Reyes showed signs of being human, suffering his first loss of the season. Reyes had his worst outing of the season, allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings pitched. He struck out two and allowed just his second walk of the season. Reyes had his walk-less streak snapped his last time out at 51 1/3 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is still an unreal 25.00. Right fielder Juan Hernandez went 3 for 4 with a double, raising his average to .316.
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Player of the Night: While his stats still leave something to be desired on paper, Michael Chavis continues to show improvement since his move to the number two spot in the Drive lineup at the start of the second half. Chavis's average has crept up to .221 and he strikes out a ton (107 K's to 20 BB's), but he has slugged a much improved .429 since the second half began on June 25. His season slash line currently sits at .221/.275/.381.
Photo Credit: Michael Chavis by Kelly O'Connor