June 10, 2017 at 10:52 AM
Cup of Coffee: Beeks, Hart shine, Longhi walks off
6/10 Cup of Coffee: Besides the DSL Red Sox, everybody went home with a victory last night. Solid pitching was a major theme, as Jalen Beeks, Roniel Raudes, and Kyle Hart (pictured) each turned in terrific starts. Nick Longhi blasted a walk-off home run for Portland.
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Jalen Beeks impressed during his second Triple-A start, picking up his first win. He went six innings, allowed just one run, struck out eight, and walked only one. Austin Maddox and Noe Ramirez finished it off with a combined five strikeouts in three shutout frames. Ryan Court paced the offense with a double, a triple, and three RBI. Mike Miller went 3 for 4 and Sam Travis was 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game back with Pawtucket.
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Portland walked off in a back-and-forth affair when Nick Longhi belted his fourth homer of the season in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Josh Tobias went 2 for 4 with a three-run homer, Jeremy Barfield had three hits, and Rafael Devers went 1 for 5 with a two-run double. Teddy Stankiewicz tossed a quality start by allowing three earned runs in six innings. He punched out eight and walked three. Josh Smith picked up the win in relief with five strikeouts in three innings.
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Roniel Raudes made his first start back off the DL and pitched very well, allowing one run on three hits in five innings while striking out four and walking none. Daniel McGrath picked up a four-inning save and allowed just one run with three strikeouts. Salem was patient at the plate, drawing six walks. Trent Kemp and Mike Meyers each added two-hit games, Tate Matheny swiped his 14th and 15th bags of the year, and Michael Chavis roped his 17th double.
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Kyle Hart got it done on the mound, firing 6 2/3 shutout innings to pick up his second win. He allowed just four hits, one walk, and struck out seven. His ERA was lowered to 1.86 on the year. Hunter Smith picked up the save with 2 1/3 shutout innings. Tucker Tubbs smacked two doubles and drove in a pair, and Mitchell Gunsolus picked up two hits. Ryan Scott added an RBI triple.
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It was sloppy for the DSL Sox, as they scored just one run, did not pitch well, and made three errors on defense. Alejandro Rodriguez took the loss despite striking out six in 3 2/3 innings. Starting pitcher Gary Calvo was pulled after facing just one batter in the first inning. Alexander Martinez did his job out of the leadoff spot with two hits and a walk.
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Player of the Night: Kyle Hart didn't start pitching this season until May 11, but he has impressed for Greenville ever since. He has made six appearances, including five starts, and posted a 1.86 ERA with 31 strikeouts and eight walks in 29 innings. The 2016 19th-round selection was taken out of Indiana after he spent five seasons at the University.
Photo Credit: Kyle Hart by Kelly O'Connor