April 16, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Tobias, Matheny lead Salem attack, Travis homers
4/16 Cup of Coffee: Josh Tobias (pictured) and Tate Matheny helped lead a 17-hit Salem attack on Saturday with the High-A team pounding out seven extra-base hits. Joseph Monge contributed the biggest hit of the night for Portland in a late rally. Sam Travis notched his first long ball of the season on a day that did not end well for Pawtucket.
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It was a tough Saturday for Pawtucket, with little to write home about in game one. Matt Dominguez went 3 for 3, but the PawSox could only manage two other hits aside from their cleanup hitter. Kyle Kendrick pitched a seven-inning complete game, surrendering all six runs and three home runs. He did strike out seven batters and did not walk anyone.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 6 (Game 2)
Game two saw a bullpen implosion for the PawSox, as a five-run lead slipped away in the final two innings. Sam Travis showed some signs of breaking out of his slow start, going 2 for 4 with his first home run of the season. Jantzen Witte also launched his first home run of the year.
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A two-out rally in the seventh inning was sparked by a bases-clearing triple by Joseph Monge and an RBI single by Aneury Tavarez. Rafael Devers went 2 for 4 and was caught stealing. Jacob Dahlstrand allowed just two runs on four hits, but he also walked four. Jake Cosart picked up his first Double-A win with 1 2/3 innings of relief.
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Six different Red Sox had multi-hit games, as Salem pounded out 17 hits, including six doubles and a triple. Josh Tobias had a monster game, going 3 for 6 with two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base. He also helped turn a pair of double plays. Not to be outdone, Tate Matheny came up a home run short of the cycle, scored three times and also stole a base. Jordan Betts also got in on the action, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
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Greenville came up just short of a ninth inning rally, with pinch-hitter Bobby Dalbec and Tyler Hill (0 for 4) each striking out with the bases loaded. Greenville could not get much going outside of a four-run third inning. Tucker Tubbs drove in a pair on Greenville's only extra-base hit of the game. Lorenzo Cedrola went 2 for 4 out the nine hole.
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Player of the Night: It could be argued either way for Josh Tobias or Tate Matheny, but Tobias gets the edge thanks to his play in the field as well as his success at the plate. In early returns, Tobias is showing potential after coming to the Red Sox organization in the trade for Clay Buchholz. In ten games, Tobias has a slash line of .370/.431/.543 with a home run and eight RBI. The 24-year-old switch hitter was drafted by the Phillies out of the University of Florida in the 10th round of the 2015 draft. Tobias is currently ranked 47th in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com
Photo Credit: Josh Tobias by Kelly O'Connor