August 9, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Gonzalez strikes out seven, Ugueto steals home
8/9 Cup of Coffee: It was a light night with Pawtucket, Portland, and Salem all getting the day off while the GCL game was postponed due to rain. The Drive lost a tight battle with the Fireflies as Daniel Gonzalez's quality start and Roldani Baldwin's (pictured) three hits were not enough. Josh Pennington had another battle with his control for Lowell, while both DSL affiliates came away with one-run victories.
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It was a tough loss for the Drive, as a two-out rally in the eighth lifted the Fireflies. Daniel Gonzalez turned in a quality start, allowing two runs over six innings while allowing six hits and striking out seven. He departed with the game tied at two, and Gerson Bautista came on in relief. He was cruising, retiring the first five batters he faced, before a single, passed ball, and another single pushed the go-ahead run across in the bottom of the eighth.
Three of the Drive's eight hits came from Roldani Baldwin, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Luis Alexander Basabe impacted the game every way he could, going 1 for 4 with a stolen base and an outfield assist at home. Tate Matheny and Kyri Washington each added a single and a stolen base, while Austin Rei went 1 for 3 with a walk and a RBI, but his 14th passed ball of the season also put the go-ahead run in scoring position in the eighth.
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The Spinners could not get anything going offensively, striking out 15 times in their loss to the Yankees. Josh Pennington made his first appearance since July 28, a game in which he was pulled after just 2/3 of an inning after hitting two batters, throwing a wild pitch and walking two. He struggled with his command again on Monday, walking three, hitting a batter, and uncorking two wild pitches over four innings while allowing two runs. Pat Goetze followed with four innings of relief, allowing two runs on five hits.
Lowell only managed four hits, with Ryan Scott, Bobby Dalbec, and Yoan Aybar contributing singles, and Jhon Nunez adding a double and an RBI.
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The GCL Red Sox game against the GCL Rays (TB) was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today starting at 10 a.m.
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The Red Sox withstood a late rally from the Royals to escape with a one-run victory. Alejandro Rodriguez earned his fifth win of the season with five innings of two-run ball, walking one while striking out three. Antonio Police was shaky in relief, allowing three runs in 2 2/3 innings, and Eduard Bazardo came on to get out a first-and-third jam in the eighth, and then tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Ricardo Cubillan finished the day 2 for 3 with a double and a triple to go along with a walk and two steals. Marino Campana went 2 for 4 with two RBI singles, and Eddy Reynoso went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run, his third of the year.
The second Red Sox squad came back from two runs down in the bottom of the eighth to beat the Mets. Jose Gonzalez allowed only an unearned run over six innings, walking one and striking out four as his ERA dropped to 1.45. Gonzalez has not allowed an earned run over his last 18 innings. Rafael Gomez struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first save of the year.
Down 3-1 in the eighth, Yeison Coca grounded out to plate one run, and Reinaldo Ugueto executed a straight steal of home to tie the game. After a single and a walk put the go-ahead run in scoring position, Eduard Conde laced an RBI single to give the Red Sox the lead. Coca had two hits in addition to his productive out, and Juan Hernandez went 1 for 4 with two stolen bases.
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Player of the Night: Ricardo Cubillan had a dynamic performance as he led the first DSL squad to a close victory. Cubillan has been a bit of an all-or-nothing player lately, as he has multi-hit games in four of his last eight starts, but he did not record a hit in the other four games. He got off to a slow start this season, but he now has an on-base percentage over .400 over his last 84 at-bats, with 23 walks and 13 strikeouts in that span.
Photo Credit: Roldani Baldwin by Kelly O'Connor