September 5, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Haley dominates, Dubon stays hot
9/5 Cup of Coffee: No-hitters being broken up on singles back to the mound seemed to be a theme on Sunday, even in the minors. Justin Haley (pictured) was brilliant in his no-hit bid for Pawtucket. Salem won in 12 innings, while the GCL Red Sox' season ended in the playoffs. The DSL Red Sox had their championship series tied up.
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This was an interesting game, as the only run came in the first inning when Buffalo starter Scott Copeland made a throwing error when attempting to pick off Jose Vinicio at second base. The PawSox had just four hits, with Chris Marrero ripping his 30th double and Chris Dominguez adding a double of his own.
Justin Haley was dominant, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Just like Eduardo Rodriguez' start in Oakland, Haley's no-hitter was broken up on a single back to the mound. Overall, he threw eight shutout innings, struck out seven, and walked just one. Luis Ysla picked up the save with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
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Mauricio Dubon and Aneury Tavarez continued their magnificent seasons in the win. Dubon went 2 for 4 with his sixth home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Tavarez also went 2 for 4 with a home run, his seventh of the year. Cody Decker added his 14th bomb and Cole Sturgeon had a hit, a run, and an RBI.
Mitch Atkins was terrific for 6 2/3 innings, giving up just one run and striking out nine with one walk. Jake Drehoff did not allow a hit in his 2 1/3 innings, but gave up a run due to three walks.
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Salem won a thriller in the 12th inning when Jose Sermo drove in the game-winning run with a single. He also had an RBI double as part of a 2-for-6 day. Joseph Monge and Deiner Lopez each had three hits, with Monge recording a double and Lopez a triple. Luis Alexander Basabe had two hits and scored the winning run. Nick Longhi also belted his 40th double and walked twice.
Matt Kent started and went the first six, giving up just two runs. He struck out an impressive 10 batters and walked just one. Jake Cosart struggled, giving up two runs in two innings on a hit and three walks. Simon Mercedes earned the win with three brilliant innings of relief. He gave up just two hits and struck out five without allowing a run. Jordan Betts recorded the save in the 10th.
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The Drive found an odd way to lose, as the only two runs against them scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Daniel Gonzalez tossed seven innings of one-run ball. He punched out five and did not walk a batter. Gerson Bautista took a tough loss, as the only run he gave up was unearned, coming on the passed ball by Austin Rei. Greenville had just three hits, and Kyri Washington provided the only run with his 16th homer of the year.
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Lowell broke away late with five runs in the final three innings. C.J. Chatham had a huge day by going 3 for 4 with a double, three runs, and three RBI. He's raised his Lowell average from .190 to .260 over his past 15 games. Andy Perez had two hits and two runs, and Tucker Tubbs knocked in a pair. Chris Madera came into the game late and was 1 for 1 with an RBI and a walk.
Dakota Smith pitched well again by going six innings and allowing two runs (one earned). He struck out just one but surrendered only two hits and lowered his ERA to 1.77. Pat Goetze was very good in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Jordan Weems allowed a run in his only inning, but all three outs were strikeouts.
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The Red Sox saw their season come to an end in the GCL semifinals, which was just a one-game do-or-die. They couldn't get much going offensively and Victor Garcia surrendered three runs in four innings to begin the game. He struck out two and walked two. Ryan Oduber came on in relief and gave up two runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Four of the five outs he recorded were strikeouts. Francisco Soto finished the game and went 2 1/3 innings with five strikeouts, one walk, and just one run allowed. Stephen Reveles and Santiago Espinal highlighted the offense, each going 2 for 4. Reveles had a pair of doubles and Espinal knocked a triple.
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The DSL Sox dropped game two of their best-of-five championship series to even it up at a game apiece. Eduard Bazardo started and was solid over five innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and struck out six with two walks. Rayniel Adames struggled in relief, allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Junior Figueroa gave up another two runs in his 1 1/3 innings of work. Offensively, Willis Figueroa had the only multiple-hit game by going 2 for 3, and Eddie Reynoso had the only extra-base hit with a double.
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Player of the Night: Any time you take a no-hitter into the seventh inning, you're probably doing something right. Justin Haley did just that yesterday, as it was broken up on a single with two outs in the seventh. Haley has thrown at least six scoreless frames in four of his past seven starts. He has a 3.59 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 85 1/3 innings with Pawtucket this year after posting a 2.20 ERA in 12 starts with the Sea Dogs.
Photo Credit: Justin Haley by Kelly O'Connor