August 24, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Moncada shows off power and defense as he eyes the big leagues
8/24 Cup of Coffee: Yoan Moncada (pictured, left) is doing his best to prove he is ready to contribute in Boston down the stretch; he homered and walked four times in the Sea Dogs' victory. Both Ben Badler of Baseball America and Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald reported that Moncada made several good plays at third base in addition to his contributions at the plate.
Elsewhere Roenis Elias and Daniel McGrath had rough starts, Chris Madera hit a go-ahead single in the ninth for the Spinners, and Michael Chavis made his debut with Salem.
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It was a rough start for Roenis Elias, who allowed seven runs on nine hits over six innings. Elias entered the game having allowed only four runs over his last 23 2/3 innings with Pawtucket. Robby Scott and Noe Ramirez each followed with a scoreless inning, and Roman Mendez allowed two runs in his only inning of work.
The only extra-base hit for the PawSox came from Bryce Brentz, who went 2 for 4 with a double and an outfield assist. Jose Vinicio was the only other batter to record a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3, and Chris Marrero went 1 for 3 with a walk.
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Top prospect Yoan Moncada blasted a three-run home run to lead Portland to an easy victory. Jalen Beeks was wild, but was able to limit the damage. He held the Fisher Cats to two runs over five innings despite allowing five hits and walking four. Williams Jerez struck out four and walked two over two hitless innings, and Luis Ysla retired the side in order in the ninth.
Moncada walked four times and hit a 411-foot home run to lead the eight-run attack. Jake Romanski pushed his average to an even .300 by going 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI, and Aneury Tavarez maintained his lead in the race for the batting title by going 2 for 3 with a walk, raising his average to .334.
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Potomac scored early and often as it blew out the Red Sox. It was a night to forget for Daniel McGrath; he allowed seven runs (six earned) on three hits and five walks over three innings. The left-hander saw his ERA rise to 4.42 after winning the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week award on Monday. Mario Alcantara held Potomac to one run in his three innings of long relief, but the Nationals got to Jeffry Fernandez for two more runs over the final two innings.
Salem could not get much offense going, with Jose Sermo contributing two of the team's five hits. Deiner Lopez went 1 for 3 with a triple, and Michael Chavis went 1 for 4 with a run scored as the designated hitter in his Salem debut.
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Augusta GreenJackets (SFG) 2, Greenville Drive 1 (10 innings)
The Drive went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, squandering several chances as they lost in extra innings. Austin Glorius allowed only one run over five innings, walking one and striking out two. The five innings were a season-high for Glorius, who needed only 67 pitches. Victor Diaz was followed out of the bullpen, and he recorded four scoreless innings to help push the game to extras. Stephen Nogosek came on in the bottom of the tenth and allowed a two-out RBI single as he picked up his second loss with Greenville.
Center fielder Luis Alexander Basabe contributed with both his glove and bat, going 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI in addition to an outfield assist at third base. Basabe has been in a mini-slump, entering the game 5 for his last 30 with 11 strikeouts. Derek Miller added two singles but also left the go-ahead run at third base in the top of the ninth.
The Drive went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, squandering several chances as they lost in extra innings. Austin Glorius allowed only one run over five innings, walking one and striking out two. The five innings were a season-high for Glorius, who needed only 67 pitches. Victor Diaz was followed out of the bullpen, and he recorded four scoreless innings to help push the game to extras. Stephen Nogosek came on in the bottom of the tenth and allowed a two-out RBI single as he picked up his second loss with Greenville.
Center fielder Luis Alexander Basabe contributed with both his glove and bat, going 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI in addition to an outfield assist at third base. Basabe has been in a mini-slump, entering the game 5 for his last 30 with 11 strikeouts. Derek Miller added two singles but also left the go-ahead run at third base in the top of the ninth.
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An RBI single from Chris Madera in the top of the ninth was the difference as the Spinners edged the Lake Monsters. Kevin Steen was cruising until the fifth inning, when he was tagged for four runs after hitting two batters, walking one, and surrendering a grand slam. He finished with five runs allowed in five innings, walking three and striking out three. Hunter Smith struck out four over his three shutout innings, and Algenis Martinez earned the save with a scoreless ninth.
Madera entered the game as a pinch runner in the top of the third for Ryan Scott, who homered and walked in his two plate appearances. Tyler Spoon went 2 for 5 with two RBI, Tyler Hill went 2 for 5 with a triple, and C.J. Chatham went 1 for 4 with his first home run for Lowell (but his second of the season).
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A two-run, ninth-inning home run by Lorenzo Cedrola was enough to push the Red Sox past the Rays. Jhonathan Diaz went the first five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five. The 19-year-old left-hander has had a solid stateside debut, with an ERA of 2.82 over 51 innings. Max Watt earned the victory with two innings of no-hit ball, striking out three.
Cedrola's home run was his first of the year, and it erased a one-run deficit. He finished the day 3 for 5 with a double and a stolen base to go along with his long ball. Samuel Miranda also contributed three hits, and Steven Reveles went 1 for 3 with a walk.
The Red Sox kept pace with the Twins as the two teams remained tied atop the Gulf Coast League South division.
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In the completion of a game from August 6, the Red Sox managed to hold off the Phillies. The game resumed in the second inning with Ramses Rosario replacing Ritzi Mendoza, who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings earlier in the month. Rosario went the next 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and three walks in a scoreless appearance. Geraldo Perez allowed two ninth-inning runs, but he induced a groundout with runners on first and third to end the game.
The Red Sox recorded 10 hits, with three of those coming from leadoff man Kervin Suarez. He went 3 for 5 with a double and two steals. Carlos Pulido went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI, and Luis Hernandez was on base three times via a single and two walks.
Behind a masterful pitching performance from Juan Perez, the Red Sox blanked the Phillies. Perez struck out nine over his five innings, walking only one and allowing one hit, an infield single to second base. Perez's previous career high in strikeouts was six, and this was easily the best start of his career. Antonio Police finished off the shutout with two innings of one-hit ball.
Pulido picked up where he left off in the first game, going 4 for 4 with three doubles and two RBI. Pulido entered the game with only seven extra-base hits in 210 at-bats this year, but he doubled in three straight at-bats on Tuesday. Ivan Jimenez went 3 for 4 with a double, and Ivan Houellemont went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
The second Red Sox squad entered the ninth with a one-run lead but could not hold it in falling to the Rays. Luis Rivero allowed one run over five innings, striking out five without walking a batter. Shair Lacrus had three strikeouts in his two scoreless innings, but the Rays got to Joan Martinez for a run on a solo home run in the ninth, and Martinez surrendered three more runs in the top of the tenth.
The top three hitters in the lineup combined to go 6 for 14, while the rest of the lineup went 2 for 21. Everlouis Lozada, Reinaldo Ugueto, and Juan Hernandez all had two hits at the top of the order, with Lozada and Ugueto adding doubles. Hernandez and Lozada were also caught stealing, and the Red Sox failed in all three of their stolen base attempts.
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Player of the Night: Yoan Moncada was on base five times and hit his 10th home run with the Sea Dogs. While the Red Sox could wait until September 1 to call up Moncada to avoid having to make any difficult roster decisions, he likely represents an upgrade over Travis Shaw, who entered the day batting .207 with a .643 OPS in 232 at-bats since May 22. Moncada could platoon with Aaron Hill to limit his at-bats against left-handers, and the reports on his defense have been positive since he moved to the hot corner on August 12.
Photo Credit: Yoan Moncada by Kelly O'Connor