August 26, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Season comes to an end for DSL Red Sox
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Shawn Haviland had his best start since joining the PawSox, tossing six scoreless innings, striking out four without walking a batter. He had picked up the loss in his first three appearances for Pawtucket, but he pitched well enough to get the win last night. Jorge Marban followed with two scoreless innings, and Noe Ramirez notched his second save with a perfect ninth. Ramirez has not allowed a run in eight of his 10 appearances since being sent down from Boston on July 25.
Carlos Rivero and Chris Marrero combined to go 4 for 7, while the rest of the team went 1 for 19. Marrero and Humberto Quintero each hit RBI singles, while Allen Craig went hitless for just the third time over his last 15 games.
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The tough luck continued for Danny Rosenbaum, as he fell to 0-7 on the year. He allowed three runs over his five innings, dropping his ERA to 7.67. Mike Augliera was solid in relief, as he did not allow a run over three innings of five-hit ball, and Madison Younginer pitched a scoreless ninth.
It is remarkable how consistent Sam Travis has been this season, and last night he went 2 for 3 with a walk to raise his average to .296. While his power is down a little bit since his promotion to Portland, his on-base percentage has gone from .364 with Lowell last season to .378 in Salem, and now .372 with Portland. Doubles by Tzu-Wei Lin and Keury De La Cruz were the only other hits for Portland.
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The Hillcats got to Trey Ball early and often, chasing him from the game in the fourth inning. Ball went the first 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three. Kyle Kraus was great out of the bullpen, going the final 5 1/3 innings while striking out five without allowing a run. Ball has really struggled lately, with an ERA of 9.67 over his last six starts, with only 16 strikeouts over 27 innings in that span.
Salem got off to a hot start with Kevin Heller launching a two-run home run in the first inning, but they would not score again. Heller later added a single, and Cole Sturgeon slugged a double and drew a walk in the losing effort.
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A heartbreaking loss pushed Greenville further out of a playoff spot, as they let one slip away yesterday. Ben Taylor was excellent, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts over the first five innings. Carlos Pinales followed with two innings of one-hit ball, and the Drive held a 2-1 lead heading into the eighth. The Grasshoppers got to Kuehl McEachern for two runs on four hits in the eighth, and Greenville's comeback attempt in the bottom of the inning fell short.
Yoan Moncada went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base, Danny Mars went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Rafael Devers and Javier Guerra each had a double. Devers had a chance to give the Drive the lead in the bottom of the eighth, but with two men on and one out, he grounded into a double play to end the frame.
Yoan Moncada went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base, Danny Mars went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Rafael Devers and Javier Guerra each had a double. Devers had a chance to give the Drive the lead in the bottom of the eighth, but with two men on and one out, he grounded into a double play to end the frame.
With an Asheville win, Greenville is now 2.5 games out of a playoff spot with 13 left to play.
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Lowell Spinners 5, Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) 2
A four-run fourth inning propelled the Spinners past the Lake Monsters. In his fifth start with Lowell, Kevin Steen fought through four innings, surrendering only two runs despite allowing nine baserunners. The 19-year-old pitched out of a few tight jams which kept the Spinners in the game. Enfember Martinez and Bobby Poyner threw the final five innings, giving up only one hit.
With the Spinners trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Mitchell Gunsolus laced a two-run double that proved to be the difference in the game. Gunsolus finished the night 2 for 3, and Tucker Tubbs went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
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Lowell Spinners 5, Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) 2
A four-run fourth inning propelled the Spinners past the Lake Monsters. In his fifth start with Lowell, Kevin Steen fought through four innings, surrendering only two runs despite allowing nine baserunners. The 19-year-old pitched out of a few tight jams which kept the Spinners in the game. Enfember Martinez and Bobby Poyner threw the final five innings, giving up only one hit.
With the Spinners trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Mitchell Gunsolus laced a two-run double that proved to be the difference in the game. Gunsolus finished the night 2 for 3, and Tucker Tubbs went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
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Despite having 13 runners reach base, the Orioles could not push a run across, as the Red Sox tossed their 11th shutout in 56 games this season. Roniel Raudes moved to 3-0 with five scoreless innings, walking four and striking out five. Raudes entered the game with only five walks over 68 2/3 innings this year, so the four walks represented an uncharacteristic bout of wildness. Nick Duron, Adam Lau, and Algenis Martinez combined to go the final four innings, giving up four hits while striking out four.
The offense only managed six hits, which all came from six different players. Andy Perez drove in a run on a single in the first inning, and the Red Sox got an insurance run when Yoan Aybar scored on an error in the fourth. Roldani Baldwin and Andrew Noviello each added a single and a walk, and Chris Madera singled and stole a base.
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The season came to an end for the second Red Sox squad yesterday, as they were eliminated in the second game of the best-of-three series. For the second straight day the pitching struggled, with Yorvin Pantoja getting pulled after only 2 1/3 innings while allowing five runs on seven hits. The Yankees got two more runs off Warlyn Guzman, and by the end of the fifth inning, the Yankees had an eight-run lead.
Lorenzo Cedrola had two of the team's four hits, and he went 5 for 9 in the two postseason games after batting .321 during the regular season. A Stanley Espinal double and an Imeldo Diaz single was the only other offense on the day, as the team that started the season 30-12 had a disappointing finish.
Player of the Night: A graduate of Harvard University, Shawn Haviland is finally pitching close to home. After allowing four runs in each of his first two home starts, Haviland fired six shutout innings yesterday in his best start as a member of the PawSox. Acquired from Colorado for cash considerations earlier this month, Haviland is providing quality innings for a PawSox rotation that has been hit hard by injuries and promotions.
Photo Credit: Sam Travis by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Sam Travis by Kelly O'Connor