June 27, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Ball great again, Benintendi stays hot
6/27 Cup of Coffee: Trey Ball (pictured) and Roniel Raudes turned in terrific outings to guide Salem and Greenville to victories. The trio of Yoan Moncada, Mauricio Dubon, and Andrew Benintendi combined for seven hits and seven runs scored in Portland's win. Brock Holt also continued to play well during his rehab stint with Pawtucket, reaching base four times.
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Henry Owens was unable to continue the dominance from his one-hitter last start into Sunday's start. He lasted just four innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs. His control escaped him again, as he walked five batters. Wesley Wright wasn't any better in relief of Owens, surrendering four earned runs in three innings of work without recording a strikeout. The bright spot on the pitching staff for the PawSox came from Pat Light, who continued his recent brilliance with two shutout innings, collecting three strikeouts. He has a 2.05 ERA this year for Pawtucket.
The two players who are rehabbing and working their way back to Boston, Brock Holt and Ryan Hanigan, provided a majority of Pawtucket's offense in this one. Holt went 3 for 4 with a walk out of the leadoff spot, and Hanigan went 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and a run scored. Henry Ramos also drove in a run with a sac fly.
Be sure to check out SoxProspects.com's Matt Huegel's Twitter page for some more in-depth scouting notes on the game.
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Nate Freiman blasted a clutch three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Sea Dogs the one-run lead they would need to seal the win. This one was a back and forth slugfest, and Portland was led by the red-hot Andrew Benintendi. He went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored. Yoan Moncada went 2 for 5 and scored a pair of runs, and Mauricio Dubon reached four times by going 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Cole Sturgeon also had a nice day by going 2 for 5 with two RBI.
Kevin McAvoy got knocked around, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits and three walks in just four innings. He struck out four and allowed a pair of home runs. The Portland bullpen was lights out, with Nik Turley breezing through three shutout innings with a remarkable eight strikeouts and no walks. Austin Maddox picked up the win by tossing the final two innings without allowing a run.
SoxProspects.com's Director of Scouting Ian Cundall was in attendance for this one and captured some terrific video from the Sea Dogs' win.
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Salem broke a scoreless tie in the sixth in a big way with six runs. Their first three runs scored without a base hit, with the runs coming on a throwing error, a sac fly, and a bases loaded walk. Joseph Monge would then follow with a three-run double. The Red Sox drew nine walks in this one, with the eight and nine hitters, Deiner Lopez and Bryan Hudson, combing to go 0 for 2 with six walks.
Trey Ball continued his impressive campaign with seven shutout innings. He struck out six, walked two, and allowed just two hits, one of which was a bunt single. He lowered his ERA to 2.29 on the year and moved to 5-3 in 2016. Jamie Callahan finished off the final two innings, allowing just one run and striking out five.
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Roniel Raudes delivered an outstanding start for Greenville by going the first five innings and allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk. Trevor Kelley was also brilliant in relief with three scoreless frames. Victor Diaz picked up his third save by striking out two in a scoreless ninth.
Both Drive runs came in the bottom of the fifth, with Luis Alexander Basabe drilling an RBI double and Austin Rei delivering a sac fly. Chad De La Guerra tripled and walked as well.
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The Spinners' perfect season came to an end on Sunday. After a 9-0 start, the Lowell pitching staff was unable to hold down the ValleyCats. Darwinzon Hernandez exited after just 1 1/3 innings. He allowed just two hits, but five runs (three earned). He walked three and struck out two. Algenis Martinez tossed 3 2/3 innings of solid relief, allowing one run and striking out four. Casey Janssen appeared in his second game for Lowell and pitched a scoreless sixth inning. After the Spinners battled back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game, Pat Goetze gave up five runs (four earned) in the seventh inning.
Tyler Hill had a big day in the three-hole, going 2 for 5 with a double, a triple, and three RBI. Roldani Baldwin also had a great game, going 3 for 5 with two doubles. Nick Lovullo had two hits and two walks and Tucker Tubbs had a perfect day by going 2 for 2 with three free passes.
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Player of the Night: Despite a lot of terrific offensive performances throughout the system, it's Trey Ball who stood out the most. He went seven innings for the second consecutive start, and allowed just two hits, both singles, and no runs. He has now allowed only two earned runs over his past 19 1/3 innings pitched, and opponents are hitting just .220 against him this year.
Photo Credit: Trey Ball by Kelly O'Connor