May 25, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Shawaryn fans 11 as Drive salvage split
5/25 Cup of Coffee: It's not quite the same pace as Chris Sale, but Mike Shawaryn continues to rack up the strikeouts in his full-season debut. The right-hander struck out 11 to help lead Greenville to victory after it fell in the opener of a doubleheader. Pawtucket lifted up David Price, who struggled in a rehab outing, with an 18-hit barrage. Portland got six shutout innings from its bullpen in a morning victory, while Salem's attempt to play a double-header was shortened by rain.
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Making his second rehab start, left-hander David Price allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one, and 61 of his 89 pitches were thrown for strikes. The Pawtucket bullpen shut down Louisville after Price departed, with Marcus Walden, Kyle Martin, and Blaine Boyer combining for 5 1/3 scoreless innings of work. Every member of the Pawtucket lineup got at least one hit as part of a 13-run rampage. Pablo Sandoval, also on a rehab assignment, got the start at third base and was 2 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. Bryce Brentz doubled and homered, picking up his first extra-base hit since April 30. Steve Selsky and Brian Bogusevic also went deep, while Matt Dominguez tallied three hits.
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For the first time in over a month, Jalen Beeks surrendered runs that were not on solo homers. Beeks had four straight scoreless appearances and had surrendered two runs, both on solo shots, in his last start, but he finally allowed a scoring rally in the Thursday start. Beeks struggled some with his control, walking four, hitting a batter, and uncorking a wild pitch in his three-run, three-inning outing. Jacob Dahlstrand got the win with four scoreless innings, and Jake Cosart had a shutout ninth for the save. Tzu-Wei Lin had a base hit, and has now reached safely in 24 straight. Mike Olt hit a solo home run, and Rafael Devers was 1 for 4.
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How do you make sure Michael Chavis only gets on base twice in a game? Limit it to five innings long, apparently. The scalding hot third baseman was 1 for 2 with a walk in the lightning-shortened contest. The bad news came on defense, when he committed his seventh error in only his 11th start in the field. Austin Rei delivered his 13th double of the year, and Josh Ockimey kept his on-base percentage well north of .400 with a single and a walk. Daniel McGrath took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) in eight runs in only 2 1/3 innings.
The Astros and Red Sox were scheduled to play a doubleheader on Wednesday, but the weather foiled that plan. The two will try again for a twinbill on Thursday.
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Kyle Hart and the Drive were on the short end of a pitchers' duel in the opener of Wednesday's doubleheader. On the day where his former Indiana Hoosier teammate Sam Travis was making his major league debut, Hart allowed just one run on two hits in five innings, striking out four and walking two. The offense mustered only four hits, including a double by Tyler Hill.
In a "nightcap" which began just after noon, Mike Shawaryn continued his trend of dominance. The 2016 fifth-round pick struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings, the sixth time in nine starts he has struck out eight or more batters. He gave up two runs on four hits, and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time as a professional. The former Maryland ace threw 60 of 92 pitches for strikes, and now has 69 strikeouts against only 10 walks in 47 1/3 innings. Ryan Scott carried the offense, going 3 for 4 with a third-inning solo homer. Scott compiled four hits in the doubleheader. Lorenzo Cedrola also had a big game, chipping in with a double, triple, and pair of RBI.
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Player of the Day: The 2017 season got off the an inauspicious beginning for Mike Shawaryn. The right-hander was shelled on April 6, giving up nine runs and only retiring six batters. In eight starts since, he has only allowed 10 runs, good for a 1.99 ERA. In 45 1/3 innings across those eight starts, he has struck out 67 batters (38.1%) while walking only eight.
Photo Credit: Mike Shawaryn by Kelly O'Connor