July 16, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hernandez earns All-Star Game MVP honors, Moncada homers again
7/16 Cup of Coffee: Marco Hernandez (pictured) made a huge impact on the Eastern League All-Star Game, earning MVP honors. Five other Sea Dogs participated in the game, and Jackie Bradley Jr. played in the Triple-A All-Star game as the PawSox' representative. Yoan Moncada had another big day, homering for the third consecutive day. Salem swept a doubleheader, getting great pitching performances from Kyle Kaminska and Teddy Stankiewicz.
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Jackie Bradley Jr. was the lone PawSox player to participate in the All-Star game. He went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts and was hit by a pitch. After he was hit in the top of the ninth inning, he came around to score the tying run for the International League after the team had entered the inning down by two. Pawtucket manager Kevin Boles was also on the International League coaching staff. Left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson was also selected as an All-Star, but he was called up to Boston on Saturday.
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The Sea Dogs were represented well at the Eastern League All-Star game. Shortstop Marco Hernandez, who is having a tremendous year for Portland, went 2 for 2 with a home run in front of the home crowd at Hadlock Field. His performance earned him the MiLB.com Top Star of the game honors. First baseman Jantzen Witte was also a starter in the game and went 0 for 2. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje came on as a defensive sub in the top of the sixth and got one at-bat, resulting in a ground out.
William Cuevas was the starting pitcher for the Eastern Division All-Stars and tossed a perfect top of the first. Madison Younginer pitched the sixth inning and earned a hold, striking out a batter and not allowing a run. Left-hander Robby Scott retired all four batters he faced, getting the final out of the seventh and pitching a scoreless eighth. There was a little history in this game, as it was the first time in Eastern League All-Star Game history in which the game was decided by Home Run Derby tiebreaker. With the score tied at four after nine innings, each manager chose three players to participate in the derby. Brian Pointer of the Reading Fightin' Phils came through with the home run that gave the Eastern Division a win.
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Salem grabbed the first game of a doubleheader behind a good pitching performance by Teddy Stankiewicz. He went the first six innings and allowed just two hits and two walks while allowing just one unearned run. His ERA is down to 3.82. The Red Sox took the lead in the sixth inning when Tzu-Wei Lin drove a two-run single to center field. He finished 1 for 3 with two RBI, a walk, and his 15th stolen base of the year. Jose Vinicio also had a nice night, going 2 for 4 with a double and the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning. Mike Adams picked up his fifth save of the season after German Taveras surrendered two runs in the seventh.
Salem got more good starting pitching in the nightcap, this time from Kyle Kaminska. He earned his first win of the season after tossing five shutout innings. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five. Taylor Grover finished the game off by throwing two innings, giving up one run and striking out three. Mauricio Dubon, Mario Martinez, and Franklin Guzman each recorded multiple-hit games and Zach Kapstein added an RBI double.
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Yoan Moncada continued his torrid stretch, as he hit a home run in his third consecutive game. This time however, Moncada had to show off his speed to earn the round-tripper, blasting a ball off the center field wall for an inside-the-park-home run. He is 7 for his last 15 with five RBI and three home runs. His slash line on June 20 was .200/.287/.289, but currently stands at .272/.356/.426. Cisco Tellez and Deiner Lopez each added a two-bagger in the loss. Dedgar Jimenez started for the Drive and gave up four earned runs in five innings. Jake Drehoff threw the final four innings and allowed two earned runs.
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It was a big offensive night for Lowell, as the Spinners pounded out 10 hits and scored seven times. Luis Alexander Basabe blasted his fifth home run of the year as part of a 2 for 5 night. He also swiped his sixth bag of the year. 2015 draft picks Chad De La Guerra and Tate Matheny each had two hits, with Matheny roping his first double of the season. Mitchell Gunsolus, another 2015 draft pick, went 1 for 2 with two RBI and two walks.
Jose Almonte started for Lowell and struggled with command, lasting just four innings while allowing four walks and four runs (three earned). The solid night for 2015 draft picks continued on the mound, as Matt Kent earned the win after throwing three scoreless innings and Bobby Poyner earned the save by throwing a scoreless ninth. Taylor Nunez tossed a scoreless eighth inning as well.
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After taking the first two games of a four-game set against the Orioles, the Red Sox dropped this one 7-5. Enmanuel De Jesus started for the Red Sox and took the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs in four innings. Jalen Williams came on and could not find the strike zone. He walked four in an inning and a third, which led to four runs (two earned). Pat Goetze and Trevor Kelley combined to throw 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Chad Madera and Jerry Downs each blasted home runs for the Red Sox. Downs had two hits, a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base. Yoan Aybar also went 2 for 4, raising his average to .322.
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The DSL Red Sox swept the short two-game series with the DSL Rockies. Alejandro Rodriguez pitched well and earned the win by going five innings and allowing just one earned run. He struck out five and walked two. Hildemaro Requena relieved Rodriguez and pitched the next three innings and allowed just one unearned run. Roberto Medina earned the save with a scoreless ninth and lowered his ERA to 0.96. Luis Yovera had a big day offensively, going 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Willis Figueroa had a triple and two walks, and Marino Campana went 2 for 5 with a double.
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The second DSL Red Sox team improved to 28-12 by defeating the DSL Cubs. Yorvin Pantoja started and went the first four innings and allowed just one hit. However, he had five walks and surrendered three runs (two earned). Jervis Torrealba entered in the fifth inning and had four shutout innings, earning the win and improving to 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA. Victor Diaz got his fourth save, striking out two as part of a scoreless ninth.
Juan Barriento fell a home run short of hitting for the cycle during a 3 for 4 showing at the plate. Juan Hernandez also picked up two hits.
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Player of the Night: Marco Hernandez is the Eastern League leader in batting average at .326, and he showed why in last night's All-Star Game. The 22-year old went 2 for 2 with a single up the middle and a two-run home run to right field.
Photo Credit: Marco Hernandez by Kelly O'Connor