Cup of Coffee: Longhi, Guerra, Devers all rake for Greenville

7/17 Cup of Coffee: The Greenville Drive offense tore it up at the plate on Thursday, with the first five hitters -- Yoan Moncada, Michael Chavis, Rafael Devers, Nick Longhi (pictured, left) and Javier Guerra -- putting on quite a show. Jordan Weems capped off a come-from-behind win for Salem. The Spinners got a solid start from Dioscar Romero, then tightroped out of danger in the ninth. The PawSox and the Sea Dogs both suffered losses to start the second half of their seasons.

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Durham Bulls (TBR) 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 7

Daniel Nava tried to single-handedly carry the PawSox, but the bullpen twice blew the save in a tough loss to start the second half. Nava clubbed a dramatic two-strike, two-out, three-run homer to left in the top of the eighth to put Pawtucket up by two. But Heath Hembree allowed all four batters he faced to reach in the bottom of the frame, including a bases-clearing double. Jonathan Aro was also charged with a blown save, allowing an inherited runner to score in the sixth. Nava finished 2 for 4 with four RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Marco Hernandez went 1 for 4 with a run scored in his Triple-A debut. Jackie Bradley Jr. went 1 for 5 with one RBI.

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 7, Portland Sea Dogs 2

The second half got off to an inauspicious start for the Sea Dogs as well, as Justin Haley could not escape the third inning. He allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. Simon Mercedes was also roughed up in relief, giving up three runs on four hits, walking four and striking out two in three innings. Blake Swihart, rehabbing at DH, was the only player to collect multiple hits on the night, going 2 for 3 with a double. Oscar Tejeda and Jake Romanski drove in the Sea Dogs only runs. Portland left 10 men on base and went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Tzu-Wei Lin went 1 for 3 in his Sea Dogs debut.

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Salem Red Sox 5, Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 3

Salem rapped out a dozen hits and scored five unanswered runs in a comeback win. Mario Martinez hit the game-tying single in the eighth and was followed by the go-ahead single by Jordan Weems. Eight of the nine Red Sox starters had at least one hit. Mauricio Dubon went 2 for 5 with one RBI. Franklin Guzman cranked a solo shot for his fourth home run of the year. Kevin McAvoy turned in a quality start on the mound, but took a no-decision. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, including a home run. He struck out three and walked two. Chandler Shepherd earned his second save with two innings of scoreless relief.

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Greenville Drive 11, Augusta GreenJackets (SFG) 5

The Drive exploded for 11 runs on 19 hits, with just about everyone in the lineup getting in the act. Greenville's first five hitters, Yoan Moncada (2 for 5, 2B, 2 R), Michael Chavis (2 for 5, 1 R, 1 SB), Rafael Devers, Nick Longhi and Javier Guerra went a combined 14 for 24 with six extra-base hits and nine RBI. Longhi led the pack with a stellar 4-for-5 night, coming up a homer short of the cycle. He drove in three runs and scored twice. Guerra had an equally impressive night, coming up a triple shy of the cycle. He went 3 for 5 with a run scored and cranked his 12th home run of the year. Devers would not be outdone with a 3 for 4 game, a double, two RBI and three runs scored. Jeffry Fernandez turned in a quality start for Greenville, going six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out five and walked one.

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Lowell Spinners 1, Connecticut Tigers (DET) 0

The Spinners outdueled the Tigers and picked up the win without the benefit of an RBI. Edwar Garcia squeezed out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the ninth to hang on for the save. Dioscar Romero fared well in the start, throwing six innings of scoreless ball. He allowed four hits while striking out three and walking three. Spinners pitching managed to strand 11 Connecticut runners on the game. There was little to write home about on offense, but Aneudis Peralta hit Lowell's only extra-base hit and scored on a Tigers error.

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GCL Red Sox vs. GCL Orioles - PPD.

The game will be made up in a doubleheader on July 27.

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DSL Yankees1 7, DSL Red Sox1 3

The first DSL team fell to the Yankees despite a nine strikeout, no-walk start by Roniel Raudes. The 17-year-old righty allowed two runs on four hits in five innings pitched. Any hope of a comeback was snuffed out in a five-run Yankee eighth when Shair Lacrus and William Caraballo were roughed up. The offense racked up 11 hits, including a 3-for-5 effort from Hemerson Serven and a 3-for-4 game by Eddy Reynoso. The bottom four hitters in the lineup went a collective 2 for 15, however, which factored in to the loss.

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DSL Red Sox2 5, DSL Pirates 2
Denyi Reyes's streak of not allowing a walk continued, as the 18-year-old has now pitched 48 innings without giving up a free pass. Reyes was actually perfect through five innings, retiring all 15 batters he faced. He struck out five and lowered his ERA to 1.88. Red Sox pitching did not allow an earned run with the two Pirates runs scoring on a pair of errors. Lorenzo Cedrola led the way for the Sox on offense, going 4 for 5 out of the leadoff spot with a triple, one RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. He raised his slash line to .347/.426/.469.

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Player of the Night: Any one of the three players in the middle of the Greenville lineup could be considered the player of the night, but Nick Longhi gets the edge for his four-hit night with three RBI and two runs scored. The 19-year-old Springfield, Mass., native has been on fire lately with a nine-game hitting streak dating back to July 5. Longhi is 17 for 38 during the streak (.447) with three doubles, a triple and seven RBI. He has raised his season slash line to .296/.355/.407.

Photo Credit: Nick Longhi by Kelly O'Connor

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