July 13, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Moncada bounces back in Greenville win
7/13 Cup of Coffee: Manuel Margot and Rafael Devers represented the Red Sox system in the Futures Game on Sunday. It was a tough day for the upper levels as Pawtucket, Portland and Salem all struggled to push across runs. But the Drive launched an offensive attack led by Yoan Moncada and Javier Guerra (pictured, right), while the Spinners won in extra innings in a very unusual manner.
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U.S. Futures 10, World Futures 1
Manuel Margot got the start in center field for the World team, but, much like the rest of the World lineup, was unable to do much against U.S. pitchers, going 0 for 2 with a strikeout. Rafael Devers got two at-bats, playing the second half of the game at third, but also went 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
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U.S. Futures 10, World Futures 1
Manuel Margot got the start in center field for the World team, but, much like the rest of the World lineup, was unable to do much against U.S. pitchers, going 0 for 2 with a strikeout. Rafael Devers got two at-bats, playing the second half of the game at third, but also went 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
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Starter Steven Wright was cruising until a four-run seventh. Wright allowed six of his nine hits and his only walk in that single inning. Wright then loaded the bases after surrendering a three-run home, but managed to escape without any further damage.
Not that Wright's awful inning mattered much, since the PawSox managed only four hits on the afternoon. Rusney Castillo had the only extra-base hit, a double, while Allen Craig and Mike Miller both went 1 for 3. Perhaps the day's only bright spots were the performances from the bullpen; Zeke Spruill and Dayan Diaz each went an inning, allowing no hits but a walk each.
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The Sea Dogs lost in almost identical fashion to the PawSox, eking out just five hits. Oscar Tejada went 2 for 4 with two doubles, Marco Hernandez doubled and extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and Carlos Asuaje and Jake Romanski had a hit apiece.
Luis Diaz was solid on the mound, going six innings and allowing three runs on six hits, but his four walks came back to haunt him as he drops to 1-8 on the season. Madison Younginer allowed three hits but no runs in his two innings of work, and has now permitted just one earned run in his last 23 innings (12 games).
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The Red Sox couldn't take advantage of three Frederick errors and stranded seven men on base in the loss. Wendell Rijo drove in his 27th run of the year on a ground out, and Yolian Cerse went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. Mauricio Dubon, who has struggled to the tune of a .176/.246/.196 line since his promotion, enjoyed his first multi-hit day with Salem, going 2 for 4.
Ty Buttrey allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in 5 2/3 innings and saw his ERA on the year jump from 3.12 to 3.53 with the ugly outing. The bullpen was solid, with German Taveras throwing an inning and a third of hitless ball, striking out two, and Brandon Show making his second appearance for Salem, tossing a perfect eighth.
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Yoan Moncada had a huge day atop the Greenville lineup, going 3 for 5 with a double, home run (his second of the season), two runs scored and two RBIs. Javier Guerra went yard twice with two solo home runs, his 10th and 11th of the season, driving in his his team-leading 43rd and 44 th runs. Nick Longhi had four hits, all singles, and catcher J.T. Watkins drove in two runs with a single and a double out of the nine-hole. Cisco Tellez and Joseph Monge also had two hits each.
The offense was the star on Sunday, but starter Michael Kopech shined as well. He earned his fourth win of the year with five innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and striking out three. The only issue with Kopech's outing was his four walks; over his last nine innings of work, he's issued nine free passes. Carlos Pinales allowed a run on three hits (including a solo home run) in his two innings, and Ryan Harris had a tough outing, allowing two runs over two innings on a pair of hits and walks.
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Winning on a balk is not something you see every day, but that's exactly what the Spinners did in the 11th inning of Sunday's contest. A walk, single and sac bunt set the scene, and with Chad De La Guerra batting, Jeremy Rivera came home with the winning run on a balk. Prior to the extra-inning dramatics, the Spinners struggled to capitalize with runners on base, stranding 13 and going 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They scattered eight hits throughout the lineup, with each member of the top 2/3 of the lineup singling once and Mitchell Gunsolus going 2 for 5 with a RBI. They did, however, take advantage of four errors from the Scrappers.
Starter Luis Ramos lasted four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks. Reliever Randy Perez was solid, allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk in three innings. Bobby Poyner gave up the tying run in the ninth inning, and Edwar Garcia allowed just one hit, pitching the 10th and 11th.
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Player of the day: Yoan Moncada was perhaps the most impressive out of a very productive Greenville lineup. Moncada was coming off a particularly rough day on Saturday, in which he went 0 for 5 and struck out four times. But Moncada came out swinging on Sunday, leading off the game with a double to right, his first hit in 11 plate appearances, and put the ball in play in every at-bat. He also showed off his speed, swiping third base, his 15th steal of the season.
Photo credit: Javier Guerra by Kelly O'Connor
Photo credit: Javier Guerra by Kelly O'Connor