August 11, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Decker (two home runs) powers Portland
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Brian Johnson picked up the victory as Pawtucket lassoed the Durham Bulls. Johnson tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out two. Joe Kelly added 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two. Noe Ramirez picked up the save, allowing a run in his lone inning of relief.
After Durham kicked off the game with two runs in the top of the first, the PawSox responded in the bottom half of the inning with a Marco Hernandez RBI triple and a Chris Marrero sacrifice fly. In the second, Deven Marrero's solo home run gave the PawSox a 3-2 advantage. Chris Marrero added a solo home run in the third, and Brennan Boesch's RBI single in the fifth put Pawtucket on top, 5-2. The Bulls attempted a comeback, adding runs in the seventh and the ninth before finally being shut down. Boesch, Hernandez, and Rusney Castillo each had two hits in the victory.
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After Durham kicked off the game with two runs in the top of the first, the PawSox responded in the bottom half of the inning with a Marco Hernandez RBI triple and a Chris Marrero sacrifice fly. In the second, Deven Marrero's solo home run gave the PawSox a 3-2 advantage. Chris Marrero added a solo home run in the third, and Brennan Boesch's RBI single in the fifth put Pawtucket on top, 5-2. The Bulls attempted a comeback, adding runs in the seventh and the ninth before finally being shut down. Boesch, Hernandez, and Rusney Castillo each had two hits in the victory.
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On the strength of five home runs, the Sea Dogs blew away the SeaWolves. Jalen Beeks improved to 4-2, allowing just a pair of hits and a pair of walks in six innings of work. He struck out five. The Sea Dogs compiled 22 hits, as every member of the lineup had at least one. Aneury Tavarez and Jake Romanski each had four hits to the Portland offense. Cody Decker (pictured, above right) was 3 for 6 with two home runs, three RBI, and two runs scored. Ryan Court chipped in with a homer and five RBI.
Trey Ball pitched effectively in a no-decision, allowing a run on fours hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings. Jamie Callahan added two scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. Simon Mercedes picked up the victory, allowing a hit and two walks in two innings of relief. The Red Sox got on the board in the first, plating a a run on an error. After the Pelicans evened the tied it in the second, the game remained scoreless into extra innings. In the tenth, Joseph Monge scored on an error to give the Red Sox the victory.
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Greenville used a combination of power and pitching to capture the victory. The win was the Drive's sixth in their last seven contests. Dedgar Jimenez improved to 6-5, hurling 6 2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six. Victor Diaz picked up the save, hurling 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out four. Down, 1-0, in the second, Derek Miller laced a three-run home run to put the Drive on top. Greenville would plate single runs in the seventh and the eighth, and bring home two more in the ninth to secure the victory. Luis Alexander Basabe and Roldani Baldwin each had to hits in the win.
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Lowell Spinners vs. Tri-City Valley Cats (HOU) (PPD)
Wednesday's game between the Spinners and the Tri-City ValleyCats was postponed due to rain. The team's will play a doubleheader Thursday in Lowell beginning at 4:05.
GCL Rays (TB) 5, GCL Red Sox 0
The Red Sox were blanked as they were unable to muster any offense on Wednesday. Jhonathan Diaz tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one base runner (walk) and punching out three. Max Watt took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and two walks without retiring a batter. Juan Barriento was 3 for 4 with three singles in the loss.
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DSL Red Sox1 6, DSL Athletics 2
Strong pitching and a three-run eighth inning helped the Red Sox push past the Athletics. Edilson Batista picked up the victory, hurling five scoreless innings and allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out two. Ramses Rosario added three innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits while striking out three. Ramfis Berroa was the star offensively, going 3 for 4 with a double, triple, and two RBI.
The Red Sox improved to 37-18 as they beat the Rays. Rayniel Moreno allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings. Shair Lacrus picked up the victory; he didn't allow a base runner in his three innings of work. Everlouis Lozada, Pedro Castellanos, and Rafael Rincones each had two hits in the victory.
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DSL Red Sox1 6, DSL Athletics 2
Strong pitching and a three-run eighth inning helped the Red Sox push past the Athletics. Edilson Batista picked up the victory, hurling five scoreless innings and allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out two. Ramses Rosario added three innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits while striking out three. Ramfis Berroa was the star offensively, going 3 for 4 with a double, triple, and two RBI.
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DSL Red Sox2 4, DSL Rays2 1The Red Sox improved to 37-18 as they beat the Rays. Rayniel Moreno allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings. Shair Lacrus picked up the victory; he didn't allow a base runner in his three innings of work. Everlouis Lozada, Pedro Castellanos, and Rafael Rincones each had two hits in the victory.
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Player of the Night: Cody Decker, who was 3 for 6 with a pair of home runs, two runs scored, and three RBI in Portland's blowout win, gets the nod. The 29-year-old first baseman is having a nice start to August, as he has hit .379/.419/.793 with three home runs and six RBI in seven games this month.
Photo Credit: Cody Decker by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Cody Decker by Kelly O'Connor