May 27, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Owens, others struggle on mound
5/27 Cup of Coffee: It was a night to forget for starting pitchers at all four levels playing on Thursday for Red Sox affiliates. Henry Owens (pictured), Ty Buttrey, Dedgar Jimenez and Marc Brakeman were all pulled from their respective starts in under five innings of work. Rafael Davers of Salem and Ryan Court of Portland provided the few offensive highlights of the day.
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Henry Owens struggled with consistency again, continuing his recent trend of good start/bad start. Owens threw 90 pitches in just 3 1/3 innings of work, walking five and surrendering five earned runs on six hits, including a two-run home run. Pawtucket pitchers allowed 15 hits overall. Rusney Castillo and Ryan LaMarre provided five of the Red Sox seven hits - including a solo home run each - out of the top two spots in the lineup. Castillo went 2 for 5 with two runs scored while LaMarre finished 3 for 4 with a run scored. It was Castillo's fifth home run of the season and LaMarre's third. Sam Travis went 0 for 4.
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The Sea Dogs had the closest chance for a win on Thursday, but Simon Mercedes gave up four walks in the bottom of the ninth as Portland fell on a walk-off walk. Ty Buttrey battled through 4 2/3 innings of work, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits. Buttrey struggled with walks, giving up five free passes. He did not register a strikeout. Shortstop Ryan Court was the lone bright spot on offense for the Sea Dogs, mashing a pair of triples and a solo home run on a 3-for-4, three-RBI day.
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Yet another starter struggled with walks, as Dedgar Jimenez allowed five free passes in 3 2/3 innings work. The allowed five runs on six hits and did not strike anyone out. Jamie Callahan did not fare any better in relief, giving up four runs on two hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings. Rafael Devers did club his fourth home run of the season with a three-run shot in the third inning. That briefly gave Salem the lead before surrendering it in the fourth. Mike Meyers reached base four times, going 1 for 1 with a triple, three walks and two runs scored.
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Marc Brakeman was the one starter in the minors to not struggle with walks, but he did allow five runs (four earned) on eight hits, including a home run. He struck out two and walked none. Greenville pitchers allowed 15 hits in total. Greenville only collected four hits and could not take advantage of the seven walks handed out by Rome pitchers. Five of those walks came in the second inning courtesy of highly touted Braves prospect Touki Toussaint. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks and another on a wild pitch. Roldani Baldwin hit a solo home run. Greenville went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
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Player of the Night: On a night where all four teams struggled, Ryan Court was one of the few bright spots. The home run was Court's first of the season. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft. After playing independent baseball in 2015, he is in his first season in the Red Sox system.
Photo Credit: Henry Owens by Kelly O'Connor