July 31, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Devers homers again, Kimbrel rehabs
7/31 Cup of Coffee: Craig Kimbrel started for the PawSox in his first rehab appearance after his surgery. Rafael Devers (pictured) was at it again with another home run, and Lowell won in spectacular fashion in the bottom of the ninth.
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The PawSox came away victorious in a back-and-forth affair. After an early 4-0 advantage, they lost the lead in the seventh before taking it right back in the eighth. Brennan Boesch went 2 for 4 with a two-run blast, his third of the year. Rusney Castillo, Marco Hernandez, and Jose Vinicio each had two hits as well, with Hernandez and Castillo roping doubles. Chris Marrero also added his 20th big fly of the year.
Craig Kimbrel had an uninspiring first rehab appearance, as he started the game and faced three batters, allowing two to reach. He threw 17 pitches, nine for strikes, and gave up a single and hit a batter. Roenis Elias took over and battled through 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking three. Kyle Martin struggled, allowing four runs and two home runs in two innings. Pat Light gave up a run in his lone inning, and Noe Ramirez was sharp in a clean ninth with two strikeouts.
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The Sea Dogs dropped a tight one, as Kevin McAvoy had one of the more interesting pitching lines you will see. He gave up three hits and walked six batters in five innings, but was able to limit the damage to two runs (one earned). He struck out five. Ty Buttrey was good in his two innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Luis Ysla tossed a scoreless frame in the eighth with one strikeout. The only run for Portland came on an RBI single off the bat of Yoan Moncada, who also stole his eighth base. Jake Romanski had a single and a double, and Aneury Tavarez ripped his eighth triple, which is the most by a Sea Dogs player since 2003.
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Red Sox pitchers were touched for 15 runs on 19 hits in this one, but on the bright side, it doesn't look like Rafael Devers is slowing down anytime soon. He belted his ninth home run of the year as part of a 2-for-4 evening. His OPS is now identical to what he finished at last year in Greenville, with a .773 mark. He's also hitting .360/.413/.685 in 121 July plate appearances. Jayce Ray went 3 for 4 with three singles, Danny Mars went 2 for 4 with a double, and Jordan Betts reached three times with a triple, a single, and a walk.
Trey Ball started and gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits in six innings. German Taveras had a night to forget, surrendering six earned runs on two hits and four walks in just a third of an inning. Jorge Marban wasn't much better, giving up three runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.
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Enmanuel De Jesus allowed 10 baserunners (five hits, five walks) in just five innings of work, but limited the damage to two runs. Adam Lau was solid in relief, allowing just a run on two hits while striking out three. Trevor Kelley had a nice inning, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth. The bats couldn't get much going, as they went just 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position in the loss. Trent Kemp blasted his 13th homer of the year and Derek Miller doubled in a run. Miller reached three times with the double, a single, and a walk. Mitchell Gunsolus also had a two-bagger.
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The Spinners won in exciting fashion, as Jerry Downs laced a pinch-hit, two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning after Lowell entered the frame with a one-run deficit. 2016 fourth-rounder Bobby Dalbec stayed hot to begin his professional career by going 2 for 3 with a walk and his first stolen base. He is now 8 for 18 (.444) with Lowell. Carlos Tovar and Tucker Tubbs each went 2 for 4, with Tubbs belting his fourth home run of the year.
2016 third-round pick Shaun Anderson struggled in his pro debut, leaving after and inning and a third with Lowell in a 3-0 hole. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out two. Dakota Smith took over and turned in a relief appearance that brings flashbacks to Pedro Martinez in the 1999 ALDS. He tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings and gave up just two hits. He did not issue a walk and struck out six. Stephen Nogosek continued to throw well, firing a scoreless ninth inning with three strikeouts. He has a 1.46 ERA in nine games so far. Be sure to check out SoxProspects.com's Director of Scouting Ian Cundall's Twitter feed, as he was in attendance and impressed with what he saw from Dalbec and Nogosek.
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The GCL Sox were shut out and held to just two hits. Imeldo Diaz and Rafael Oliveras delivered singles. Hildemaro Requena was knocked around, giving up five runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Francisco Soto gave up a run in his inning and a third. Devon Fisher struggled, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks in an inning. Angel Padron was the lone Red Sox pitcher to not allow a run, as he went two innings without giving up a hit or a walk.
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This wasn't the most fundamentally sound game for the Sox, as just one of the four runs they allowed were earned, and two came on a throwing error and a wild pitch. Rayniel Adames started and went the first 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one run (unearned) with three strikeouts. Hitters had a tough time putting the ball in play against Oddanier Mosqueda, as he punched out eight in just 3 1/3 innings of work. He allowed one run on just two hits and two walks. Geraldo Perez ran into some tough luck, allowing two runs (0 earned) in his lone inning. Ricardo Cubillan and Jose Mejias each went 2 for 4, with Cubillan collecting a double and Mejias swiping a bag. The team went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
The Sox pitching staff allowed 16 hits in this one, but they generated plenty of offense of their own even though they did not have an extra-base hit (14 hits, 14 singles). Everybody in the lineup reached base, with eight of nine recording hits and five of nine collecting multiple hits. Juan Hernandez went 3 for 5 with three RBI, Marcos Martinez went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Everlouis Lozada went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a walk to high let the offense. Jose Zacarias gave up two runs in three innings with three strikeouts in his start. Luis Rivero allowed eight hits but just two runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Rafael Gomez had the rare combination of blowing a save but getting a win in his 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
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Player of the Night: Jerry Downs played the hero role in Lowell with a walk-off double, but it could not have been possible without a tremendous relief effort from Dakota Smith. The small right-hander threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just two baserunners to give the Spinners a shot to win after being down 3-0. The 23-year old was just recently signed (July 17) by Boston out of independent ball. He was never drafted.
Photo Credit: Rafael Devers by Kelly O'Connor