September 5, 2015 at 7:12 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rijo powers Salem, Lowell's hopes dashed in heartbreaking loss
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Shawn Haviland dropped to 5-10, despite hurling 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, striking out five. Madison Younginer added 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in his PawSox debut. It was a quiet night offensively for Pawtucket, who mustered only five hits and only moved three runners into scoring position all evening. The PawSox lone run of the evening came in the bottom of the eighth on a Jonathan Roof RBI single. Pawtucket begins their final series of the season on Saturday against Buffalo.
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Like their Triple-A counterparts, Portland's offense was quiet Friday evening. The Sea Dogs managed just four hits, all singles, and advanced just one runner into scoring position. Danny Rosenbaum pitched well in a no decision, twirling six shutout innings, allowing only two hits, striking out four. Mike Augliera fell to 3-15 as he took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings of relief.
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A six run second inning fueled the Red Sox to their fourth straight win. Trey Ball improved to 9-13 as he allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, punching out six, across five innings of work, Brandon Show picked up the save, as he allowed an unearned run on four hits in four innings of relief. In the second, Salem kicked off their scoring with a bases loaded walk to Jordan Betts. Yolian Cerse's RBI triple brought home three more, putting the Red Sox on top, 4-0. Wendell Rijo (pictured, above) capped off the scoring with a two-run home run, his sixth of the season.
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Greenville's game against Savannah was postponed due to rain. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game taking place at 4:30 PM. Asheville was victorious Friday, moving them a game ahead of the Drive in the Wild Card race. The starter for tomorrow's game one is TBA, but is likely to be Anderson Espinoza in his Greenville debut.
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In yet another crushing loss, the Spinners playoff hopes finally came to an end, as they were eliminated from contention Friday evening. Kevin Steen received the start for the Spinners, pitching well in his five innings of work, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out three. Emmanuel De Jesus followed Steen, allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Lowell took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Jhon Nunez sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Carlos Tovar scurried home on a Mitchell Gunsolus RBI ground out. The score would remain 2-0 Spinners into the bottom of the ninth. De Jesus retired the first batter he faced, but a costly error and a single ended his evening. Bobby Poyner came on in relief, and promptly allowed three straight singles that tied the game 2-2. A fielder's choice line out, allowed the winning run to score, and the IronBirds to walk off with the win. The Spinners will come home for their final series of the 2015 season, as Travis Lankins will make his Lowell debut tomorrow evening.
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Player of the Night: Wendell Rijo, who was 2 for 5 with a two-run home run in Salem's 6-3 victory over Potomac. The home run was Rijo's second in as many days. The 20-year-old second baseman had a solid month of August, hitting .287/.370/.356 and has gone 6 for 18 with two home runs and nine RBI in four games thus far in September. Rijo for the season is hitting .256/.319/.381 with six home runs and 47 RBI in 105 games for Salem.
Photo Credit: Wendell Rijo by Kelly O'Connor