Cup of Coffee: Moore comes through in the clutch for Salem

5/21 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket and Salem made late comebacks Friday, but while the Salem Sox rallied for a victory, the PawSox comeback was erased in a walk-off loss. Ben Moore (pictured) was the hero for Salem, and Chris Marrero and Chris Dominguez homered for Pawtucket. Portland’s offensive woes continued in an 8-0 blowout. 

-----

Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 5

The PawSox rallied with three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to tie the game, but the Bisons answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win. Pawtucket jumped to an early lead on a Chris Marrero home run in the top of the first. Henry Owens gave his team five innings of one-run ball, but his command troubles continued with five walks. Buffalo scored four in the sixth off Roman Mendez to take a big lead before the late PawSox rally. Down to their last out in the ninth, Pawtucket closed the gap with a long home run off the bat of Chris Dominguez.

Seven different PawSox contributed hits to the offense, but Ryan LaMarre and Jantzen Witte were the only two to reach twice each walking. Rusney Castillo went 0 for 3 before he was pulled from the game in the ninth for an unknown reason. 

-----

Altoona Curve (PIT) 8, Portland Sea Dogs 0

Portland starter Teddy Stankiewicz kept the game close for as long as he could, but the Sea Dogs never mounted a threat offensively and the Curve ran away with the game late. Stankiewicz held Altoona to two runs through six innings, his seventh quality start in eight tries. Reliever Simon Mercedes allowed five runs in an ugly eighth inning. Portland managed only three hits on the night. Nate Freiman went 1 for 4 with a double, and Henry Ramos reached twice on two walks and stole a base. Andrew Benintendi went hitless in four trips, his third 0-for-4 night in four games at Double-A.

-----

Salem Red Sox 6, Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 4

A four-run bottom of the eighth inning turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead for Salem as the squad continued its domination of the Carolina League with its 29th win. Ben Moore came through with a two-run, go-ahead single out of the eight-hole in the decisive eighth inning. Four walks set the stage for Moore’s hit, as the Salem offense picked up after Winston-Salem starter Spencer Adams quieted the bats for the first seven innings.

Moore finished his heroic night with three hits, including a double. Mauricio Dubon reached base three times on a double and two walks and scored two runs. Yoan Moncada also chipped in a double in a 1-for-5 night. Jalen Beeks allowed four runs on five hits and four walks through 5 1/3 innings, and Mario Alcantara picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of terrific relief, retiring the last nine batters he faced. 

-----

Greenville Drive 0 vs. Lexington Legends (KCR)

The game between Greenville and Lexington was postponed due to rain, so the pair will play a doubleheader Saturday.

-----

Player of the Night: Ben Moore dropped a two-run single into centerfield to plate two runs, vault Salem over Winston-Salem, and give the organization its only win of the night. Moore’s 3-for-4 night put a much-needed end to the catcher’s 1-for-27 skid through his last eight games. Moore is an offensive-first catcher, who hit .319 for Greenville last season, but has yet to show the same productivity at High-A.

Photo Credit: Ben Moore by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet