August 12, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Devers homers twice, Basabe has four-hit game
8/12 Cup of Coffee: A pair of dramatic home runs keyed a late Pawtucket rally. Rafael Devers (pictured) clubbed two home runs, but it was not enough for Salem. Trent Kemp, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Kyri Washington paced the Greenville offense in a win. After Michael Shawaryn was roughed up in game one, Lowell bounced back with a shutout win in game two of a doubleheader. Yoan Moncada and Mauricio Dubon provided the only offense for Portland in a loss.
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Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Marco Hernandez and Chris Marrero tied and put the Paw Sox ahead, respectively, with a pair of two-run homers. Both home runs came with two outs in the inning and both were the only hits of the game for Hernandez and Marrero. Heath Hembree walked home a run with two outs in the ninth, but he struck out his final batter to hang on for the save. Robby Scott pitched three scoreless innings in his third start in his last four appearances. He struck out three, walked one and gave up two hits.
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The Sea Dogs could only muster two runs, coming on a pair of solo home runs from Yoan Moncada and Mauricio Dubon. The home run was Moncada's first from the right side of the plate this season (excluding the one he hit in the Futures Game). It was Moncada's ninth at the Double-A level and Dubon's second. The bullpen could not hold on to the lead after a quality start from Kevin McAvoy. The 23-year-old righty gave up just one earned run in six innings of work, working around eight hits. He struck out six and walked one.
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Despite outhitting their opponents, 8-7, Salem came up short on Thursday. All of the Red Sox offense was provided by Rafael Devers, who launched his 10th and 11th home runs of the season. Both were solo shots and were the only extra-base hits of the game for Salem. Anyelo Leclerc took the tough loss, giving up three runs (two earned) in five innings of work on seven hits. He struck out three and walked one. Jake Cosart pitched two more innings of shutout ball in his second appearance for Salem, striking out four of the six batters he faced.
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Greenville exploded for 13 hits, paced by a 4-for-5 game from Luis Alexander Basabe. He doubled twice and scored a run. Designated hitter Trent Kemp drove in four runs on a RBI double and a bases-clearing triple. Kyri Washington had perhaps the best all-around night at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a triple, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. Logan Boyd picked up his 13th win of the season, allowing just one run in six innings of work. He allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one.
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After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, it was all Tri-City the rest of the way. Fifth-round draft pick Michael Shawaryn was tagged for five runs (four earned) in two-plus innings of work. He gave up seven hits, but did strike out four and walked just one. After struggling in his first inning of work, Brandon Workman, on a rehab assignment, pitched three innings of work. He allowed two runs on four hits, including a home run. Allen Craig went 0 for 1 with two walks and a run scored. Bobby Dalbec went 2 for 3.
The Spinners bounced back in a big way in game two with a 13-hit attack. Ryan Scott went 2 for 4, blasting his third home run of the season. Catcher Jhon Nunez went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI. Yoan Aybar went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Kevin Steen was excellent in six innings of work, picking up the win. He allowed just three hits and three walks and struck out two.
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Six unanswered runs in the eighth and ninth put the game out of reach for the Red Sox. Hildemaro Requena was the tough-luck loser, despite posting a quality start. He allowed just one run on five hits, striking out two. He did not allow a walk. Ryan Oduber was hit for five runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Rafael Oliveras went 2 for 4 with a double.
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The first DSL squad could only muster four hits as they snapped a six-game winning streak. Ricardo Cubillan drove in the only Red Sox run in the ninth. Rayniel Adames took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work. He also struck out two.
The second DSL team rallied for two runs in the seventh to grab a win. Centerfielder Juan Hernandez drove in the go-ahead run and right fielder Pedro Castellanos plated him with an insurance RBI double. Starter Luis Rivero took a no-decision but was stellar in five innings. He did not allow a run, gave up just two hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter.
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Player of the Night: With his first multi-homer game of the season, Rafael Devers is the Player of the Night. After his well-documented slow start to the season, the 19-year-old Dominican has been nearly unstoppable since July 1. Since then, he has posted a .348/.398/.626 slash line with seven of his 11 home runs coming in that span of 170 plate appearances. After hitting as low as .127 at one point this year, he has raised his season average all the way to .277.
Photo Credit: Rafael Devers by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Rafael Devers by Kelly O'Connor