September 3, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: GCL Red Sox capture second straight league title
9/3 Cup of Coffee: The GCL Red Sox edged out the Blue Jays 1-0 in seven innings to complete a sweep of the Blue Jays for the championship. Roniel Raudes was terrific again on the mound for the GCL Sox. The PawSox and Sea Dogs both won dramatic games that got tight late. Sam Travis had a huge game, reaching base five times. The Spinners and Salem Red Sox also had big offensive nights.
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The PawSox were able to overcome a big blow in the top of the eighth inning. With a three-run lead, Robby Scott surrendered a three-run home run to tie the game in the eighth. However, Pawtucket scratched out a run in the bottom half of the eighth to seal the win. William Cuevas turned in a nice outing, going six innings and allowing two earned runs. He struck out six and walked just one. His ERA is now 2.83 in six games with Pawtucket. Scott blew the save in the eighth, but Jorge Marban closed it out in the ninth. He ended up getting the final out of the eighth, along with his scoreless ninth.
The PawSox got their eighth inning rally going with two outs and nobody on base. Luis Martinez walked, Deven Marrero singled, and Marco Hernandez walked to load the bases for Carlos Rivero. He worked the count full before drawing a walk to force in the go-ahead run. Rivero ended the game with a hit, two walks, and two RBI. Marrero and Chris Marrero each had two hits as well. Jonathan Roof went 3 for 4 with a double.
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The Sea Dogs bullpen also let a late lead slip away, but they prevailed in extra innings. The Fisher Cats were down to their final two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Kyle Kaminska surrendered a game-tying two-run home run. Kaminska had pitched well up until that moment, as he tossed three scoreless innings before the home run. He relieved Aaron Wilkerson, who started and went the first five innings. He gave up one earned run on five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. His ERA is down to 2.86 in six games with Portland and will be heading to the Arizona Fall League. Kyle Martin got the last two outs of the ninth before shutting it down in the tenth, earning his second win.
Sam Travis, another guy who will be sent to the AFL, led the way offensively. He reached base in all five of his trips to the plate with three singles and two walks. He also knocked in a pair of runs and stole a base. Kuery De La Cruz went 2 for 4 with a walk and his ninth long ball of the season. Manuel Margot also went 2 for 4, driving in a run and scoring twice. David Chester added a pair of hits.
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The top four hitters in the Salem lineup were on fire last night, collecting 10 of the teams 13 hits. Mauricio Dubon went 3 or 5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Wendell Rijo went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and two RBI. Kevin Heller went 3 for 5 and Mario Martinez went 2 for 4 with two doubles and a walk.
Kevin McAvoy turned in a solid outing, going 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits, a walk, and three strikeouts. Mike Adams and Taylor Grover combined to go the final 3 1/3 innings and did not allow a run.
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It was a frustrating game all around for the Drive in this one. Offensively, they had base runners all night, but managed to go just 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Nick Longhi had a great night, going 3 for 4 with a double. J.T. Watkins also had a productive evening and drove in the only two Drive runs as part of a 2-for-4 showing. Joseph Monge added two hits and Andrew Benintendi had a double.
Jalen Beeks hit the showers early, lasting just two innings. He gave up eight hits and four earned runs. He did not walk a batter or strike anybody out. Jamie Callahan came on in relief and pitched well, going four scoreless innings. He stuck out four and walked just one. Edwar Garcia pitched the final two innings and gave up two runs, both of them unearned.
Asheville lost as well, keeping the Drive just a half-game back for a playoff spot.
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The Spinners outlasted the IronBirds in a slugfest. Each club scored four runs in the first inning, but Lowell was able to pull away. Victor Acosta had a big game out of the cleanup spot, going 2 for 4 with a walk, a double, two RBI, and two runs. Kyri Washington also went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored three times. Tate Matheny and Chad De La Guerra also had 2 for 4 games.
Austin Glorius had an interesting outing. He got the win, but allowed five runs in five innings. On the positive side, he struck out eight and walked just two. Michael Gunn struggled out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs in 2/3 innings of work. Matt Kent shut down the Aberdeen offense, tossing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to earn his first save. His ERA is down to 1.86 and allowed just two hits without a walk in this outing.
The Spinners are 1.5 games out of a playoff spot with five games remaining.
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The GCL Red Sox clinched their second championship in as many years yesterday afternoon. They got it done by doing what they've done all season: pitch. Roniel Raudes started the game and went five innings, allowing no runs, five hits, and just one walk while punching out seven. Nick Duron pitched a scoreless sixth before Adam Lau closed it out.
The Red Sox did not do much offensively, managing just five hits, all of which were singles. The lone run came in the first inning, when Andy Perez singled to open the game, Rafael Oliveras singled Perez to third, and Jerry Downs knocked in Perez with a ground out. Oliveras would add another single later, and Roldani Baldwin and Andrew Noviello also picked up base hits.
After a 3-0 playoff run, the GCL Red Sox finished 2015 with a very impressive combined record of 44-17 (they were the only team in the league to finish the regular season with over 40 wins). Players celebrated the victory after the game.
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Player of the Night: Roniel Raudes had a chance to cap off a championship run for the GCL Red Sox, and he came through. The 17-year old came up big, tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. After posting a 3.52 ERA for the DSL Red Sox earlier this season, Raudes put up a miniscule 0.90 ERA in 20 innings for the GCL Sox.
Photo Credit: Sam Travis by Kelly O'Connor