July 23, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Benintendi debuts in left, Basabe stays hot
7/23 Cup of Coffee: It was a big night in Portland, where the Sea Dogs rolled to a 9-3 victory and Andrew Benintendi took another step toward the majors by making his first start in left field. Joe Kelly tossed another scoreless outing, and Daniel McGrath started a shutout for Salem. Luis Alexander Basabe (pictured) mashed a home run for the second straight night in Greenville’s narrow loss. GCL Red Sox played a wild one, tying the game with two outs in the ninth on a little league home run before rain suspended the contest.
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Two Columbus runs in the bottom of the first accounted for all the scoring in another narrow loss for Pawtucket. After Roenis Elias was scratched from his start just before game time, Robby Scott received a spot start and made one big mistake, allowing a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Scott finished 3 1/3 innings without any more damage and Roman Mendez tossed the next 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run, though he did walk a batter for the first time in an incredible 42 2/3 innings (17 appearances). Joe Kelly tossed his third scoreless outing in relief this week, working around a double and an infield single in one inning of work and touching 99 miles per hour. The offense was dormant, managing only three hits. Ryan LaMarre doubled, and Jantzen Witte reached twice with a single and a walk.
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Four Sea Dogs turned in multi-hit efforts as Portland used two four-run innings to roll over Binghamton. Mauricio Dubon and Andrew Benintendi each finished 2 for 5 with a double and two runs. Benintendi’s strong night at the dish accompanied a clean first start in left field. The second-ranked prospect saw plenty of action in his first game, putting out three of the Mets’ first four batters. Jake Romanski and Cole Sturgeon also chipped in two hits each for Portland, and Yoan Moncada went 1 for 4 but struck out three times. Starter Teddy Stankiewicz cruised through his first four innings and finished his night with six innings and three runs allowed. Austin Maddox did not allow a baserunner in two innings of relief, and Luis Ysla tossed a scoreless ninth.
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Powerful Salem bats backed a stellar start by Daniel McGrath, as the Red Sox rolled to a 7-0 victory. McGrath allowed just three hits in six shutout innings, and the bullpen completed the scoreless effort. Jorge Marban allowed one hit in two innings, and Yankory Pimentel threw a clean ninth. To back the strong pitching, Salem whacked three home runs. Joseph Monge led off the top of first with a solo blast, his second of the season. Jordan Betts hit a two-run shot in the fourth, his second of the year as well. Finally, Rafael Devers crushed a line drive, two-run homer to centerfield in the fifth. Mike Meyers also had a big night at the dish as well, reaching base four times with three singles and a walk.
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Roniel Raudes took just his third loss of the season after allowing four runs in five innings. The bullpen was rock solid behind him, as Jeffry Fernandez and Victor Diaz combined for three innings of scoreless ball. The Greenville offense trimmed their deficit to one on a home run from Luis Alexander Basabe in the eighth, but could not close the gap. Basabe continued his hot streak with his tenth home run of the season -- and second in as many nights -- as part of a 2-for-4, two-RBI night. Mitchell Gunsolus also finished 2 for 4, but Josh Ockimey struggled, striking out twice in an 0-for-3 effort.
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Lowell committed five errors and surrendered runs in five of the first six innings, including eight in the third, in a loss to Mahoning Valley. It was the first ugly start for Josh Pennington, who coughed up five runs in two innings and saw his ERA jump from 1.67 to 3.10 in the outing. Relievers Pat Goetze and Algenis Martinez similarly struggled out of the bullpen. Despite the pitching troubles, the Lowell offense performed well. Every Spinner notched at least one hit, and Victor Acosta and Isaias Lucena led the way with three hits apiece. Yoan Aybar mashed his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth.
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After a come-from-behind win Thursday, the GCL Red Sox outdid themselves with a wild five-run ninth inning to tie the game Friday. Rain caused the 5-5 game to be suspended with the bases empty and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox trailed 5-0 entering the final frame, but two walks and two singles brought home a run and loaded the bases. With two outs, Juan Carlos Abreu blasted a bases-clearing triple and scored the tying run on a throwing error by the right fielder. Abreu finished 1 for 4 with the team’s only extra-base hit. Yomar Valentin went 1 for 3 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Yorvin Pantoja allowed just one earned run in his five-inning start, striking out six and walking none.
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Two fifth-inning runs were the difference for the Red Sox on a night that saw them rack up 11 hits, including two triples and two doubles. Carlos Pulido led the offense with a 3-for-5 night including an RBI double and RBI single. Ramfis Berroa ripped a double and triple and scored two runs. Elwin Tejada and Jesus Chacon each contributed two hits. Red Sox starter Juan Perez surrendered five hits and two runs in six innings of work. Juan Florentino nailed down the save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Three runs in the bottom of the eighth vaulted the Red Sox in front after the team had trailed since the top of the first. The decisive innings started with two quick outs but four consecutive singles lifted the team to victory. Everlouis Lozada reached base three times and scored two runs to lead the offense, and five other Red Sox contributed hits. Eduard Conde drove in three runs. Gregory Santos allowed three runs (only one earned) in his five-inning start. Luis Rivero picked up the win with three innings of one-run ball.
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Player of the Night: Luis Alexander Basabe smacked an RBI single and home run and stole a base for the Drive. July has been good to Basabe, who has hit safely in 13 of 16 games this month, including nine in a row since the Red Sox traded his twin brother Luis Alejandro Basabe on July 9. Basabe is also showing his raw power, amassing two doubles, a triple and two home runs in his last five games. The torrid July comes after Basabe has steadily improved throughout the year and pushes his season OPS to .804.
Photo Credit: Luis Alexander Basabe by Kelly O'Connor