May 16, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Tyler Hill powers Drive again
5/16 Cup of Coffee: A three-run homer off the bat of Tyler Hill to lead a come-from-behind win for Greenville was the highlight on Monday night. The Drive won their third straight as they continue to open their lead in the South Atlantic League Southern Division. After leading 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the PawSox ended up falling on a walk-off, 12th-inning grand slam, and Salem squandered its shot by going 1 for 17 with runners in scoring position.
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It was a tough night for the PawSox, who allowed a home run to the first batter they faced and the last batter they faced and also failed to hold a ninth-inning lead in between. Brian Johnson, a candidate to start in the majors this weekend if Drew Pomeranz needs to miss a start, allowed a lead-off homer but settled in after that, giving up three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3. Several hours later, Brandon Workman entered in an unenviable situation. With two on and one out in the bottom of the twelfth, Workman surrendered a single followed by a walk-off grand slam. Steve Selsky homered for the third time this season, and Sam Travis added a pair of hits. The worst news of the evening came in the fifth inning when rehabbing third baseman Brock Holt had to leave the game due to a recurrence of vertigo symptoms.
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Michael Chavis continues to punish Carolina League pitching. The third baseman was 2 for 5 with a double, RBI, and his first stolen base of the year. On his way to winning the SoxProspects.com April Player of the Month recognition, Austin Rei delivered 10 doubles. May had been less kind to the 2015 third-rounder, who was 1 for 32 without an extra-base hit before picking up his 11th double of the season. Starter Matt Kent was solid, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings, striking out four.
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An 11-hit barrage powered the Drive to their third straight win. Tyler Hill followed Sunday's 4-for-5 performance by going 2 for 4 with a three-run homer. Santiago Espinal and Tucker Tubbs also went deep for the Drive, the first round-tripper of the year for both players. A 2-for-4 evening from Yoan Aybar was encouraging, as the 19-year old entered in a 1-for-28 skid. Starter Robby Sexton surrendered 11 hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. Algenis Martinez turned in 2 1/3 shutout innings to get the win.
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Player of the Day: For the second consecutive day, Tyler Hill takes the honor. The Wilmington, Delaware native has enjoyed his homecoming to the Delmarva peninsula, going 6 for 9 with four runs scored and six RBI in the last two days. Hill's three-run blast in the sixth proved to be the difference as the Drive moved to 24-12.
Photo Credit: Tyler Hill by Kelly O'Connor