September 3, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Spinners clinch division as Elias is tough luck loser for Pawtucket
The PawSox ended up on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel, dropping a close 1-0 decision in ten innings. Roenis Elias (pictured, right) took the mound for Pawtucket, allowing just three hits and two walks in six shutout innings. The left-hander struck out nine, throwing 59 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Noe Ramirez added two scoreless innings of relief, punching out three. Chandler Shepherd took the loss, allowing the lone run of the game during his inning of relief. Pawtucket mustered just three hits, with Chris Marrero's double accounting for the team's only runner to reach scoring position.
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An early back-and-forth game broke the way of the Fisher Cats, as they tripped up the Sea Dogs, 7-4. Jalen Beeks took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks, striking out six in three innings of work. Williams Jerez added three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. Mike McCarthy tossed two innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits and two walks, striking out three.
Aneury Tavarez kicked off the scoring with his solo home run in the first inning. With the Sea Dogs down 2-1 in the second, they would reclaim the lead on Jake Romanski's RBI double and Tim Roberson's RBI single. Down 4-3 in the third, Portland temporarily tied the game on an RBI groundout courtesy of Nate Freiman. The Fisher Cats grabbed the lead back in the bottom half of the third, and would tack on insurance runs in the fourth and seventh. Mauricio Dubon and Romanski each had two hits to lead the Portland offense.
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Aneury Tavarez kicked off the scoring with his solo home run in the first inning. With the Sea Dogs down 2-1 in the second, they would reclaim the lead on Jake Romanski's RBI double and Tim Roberson's RBI single. Down 4-3 in the third, Portland temporarily tied the game on an RBI groundout courtesy of Nate Freiman. The Fisher Cats grabbed the lead back in the bottom half of the third, and would tack on insurance runs in the fourth and seventh. Mauricio Dubon and Romanski each had two hits to lead the Portland offense.
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A two-run sixth inning gave the Red Sox a 2-0 victory. The win helped Salem set a record for most road wins in a season (39). Anyelo Leclerc was magnificent, allowing just three hits and a walk, striking out four in seven shutout innings. Jamie Callahan picked up his seventh save, hurling two scoreless innings of relief, allowing a walk and punching out three. With the game scoreless in the sixth, Salem broke through on an RBI single off the bat of Nick Longhi. They would plate their second run on a bases-loaded walk to Jayce Ray. In his second game with Salem, Luis Alexander Basabe was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a triple.
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Strong relief pitching and a five-run second inning pushed the Drive past the Power, 8-2. Logan Boyd improved to 14-7, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out five. Marc Brakeman added 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two.
With the game scoreless in the second, Greenville brought home five on Jeremy Rivera's RBI triple, a Derek Miller RBI single, and a Mitchell Gunsolus two-run home run. In the fourth, the Drive expanded their lead to 7-0 on a Kyri Washington two-run home run. The Power would bring home a run in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull to within three but could not finish off the rally. Rivera was the star offensively for the Drive, going 3 for 5 with a double, a triple, a run scored and three RBI from the leadoff spot.
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Lowell Spinners 5, Connecticut Tigers (DET) 3 (Game One)
With the game scoreless in the second, Greenville brought home five on Jeremy Rivera's RBI triple, a Derek Miller RBI single, and a Mitchell Gunsolus two-run home run. In the fourth, the Drive expanded their lead to 7-0 on a Kyri Washington two-run home run. The Power would bring home a run in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull to within three but could not finish off the rally. Rivera was the star offensively for the Drive, going 3 for 5 with a double, a triple, a run scored and three RBI from the leadoff spot.
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Lowell Spinners 5, Connecticut Tigers (DET) 3 (Game One)
In the first game of a doubleheader, the Spinners took advantage of Tiger miscues as well as a strong day from the middle of their order to claim a 5-3 victory. Making his Spinners debut, Jason Groome tossed 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run on four walks, while striking out two. Daniel Zandona picked up the victory, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings of relief.
With the game scoreless in the second, the Spinners grabbed a 2-0 lead on a Carlos Tovar sacrifice fly and a run-scoring error. In the third, Lowell added two more on a Bobby Dalbec RBI single and a run-scoring wild pitch. With a 4-1 advantage in the sixth, Lowell would tack on an insurance run on a Jerry Downs RBI single. Dalbec was 3 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored and has hit .439 in his last ten games.
With the game scoreless in the second, the Spinners grabbed a 2-0 lead on a Carlos Tovar sacrifice fly and a run-scoring error. In the third, Lowell added two more on a Bobby Dalbec RBI single and a run-scoring wild pitch. With a 4-1 advantage in the sixth, Lowell would tack on an insurance run on a Jerry Downs RBI single. Dalbec was 3 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored and has hit .439 in his last ten games.
Lowell Spinners 3, Connecticut Tigers (DET) 1 (Game Two)
In game two, the Spinners plated three in the sixth to sweep the doubleheader from the Tigers, 3-1. Michael Shawaryn tossed three innings, allowing three hits and a walk, striking out four. Algenis Martinez picked up the victory, allowing a run on three hits, striking out five in three innings of relief. Dioscar Romero picked up his sixth save for a scoreless inning of relief. In the sixth, Downs got things started with a two-run home run. Tovar would add a sacrifice fly to give the Spinners a little extra breathing room. With the sweep, the Spinners clinched the Stedler Division title and secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2009. The team also tied their record for most wins in a season with 45.
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DSL Red Sox1 2, DSL Mariners 1 (SEA) (10 innings)
The Red Sox nipped the Mariners in extra innings to win their semifinal series against the Mariners, 2-1. Alejandro Rodriguez hurled six innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks, striking out seven. Oddanier Mosqueda and Juan Florentino each tossed two scoreless innings of relief. With the game scoreless in the third, the Red Sox got on the board on a Carlos Pulido RBI single. With the game tied up in the tenth inning, the Red Sox would walk off victorious on a bases loaded walk to Ramfis Berroa.
DSL Red Sox1 2, DSL Mariners 1 (SEA) (10 innings)
The Red Sox nipped the Mariners in extra innings to win their semifinal series against the Mariners, 2-1. Alejandro Rodriguez hurled six innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks, striking out seven. Oddanier Mosqueda and Juan Florentino each tossed two scoreless innings of relief. With the game scoreless in the third, the Red Sox got on the board on a Carlos Pulido RBI single. With the game tied up in the tenth inning, the Red Sox would walk off victorious on a bases loaded walk to Ramfis Berroa.
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Players of the Night: Roenis Elias, who hurled six shutout innings in Pawtucket's 1-0 loss to Syracuse takes home the night's honors. The 28-year-old southpaw allowed just three hits and two walks, punching out nine. The left-hander is now 10-5 with a 3.60 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 125 innings pitched this season.
Photo Credit: Roenis Elias by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Roenis Elias by Kelly O'Connor