June 16, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Castillo homers twice in PawSox win
6/16 Cup of Coffee: Only one affiliate took home a win on Thursday, as Rusney Castillo and a returning Deven Marrero powered the PawSox. Greenville fell out of first place in their playoff race despite a big game from Roldani Baldwin, while Salem lost its contest but maintained its two-game lead.
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The PawSox are over .500 entirely due to their dominance of the Chiefs - they are 11-2 against their North Division rival, and only 22-27 against the rest of the International League. On Thursday they handed the loss to old friend Sean O'Sullivan (WAS), as Rusney Castillo carried the load offensively. The center fielder was 3 for 4 with two home runs and a double, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Deven Marrero reported back to the PawSox after a six-week run in the major leagues, and promptly recorded a pair of doubles. On the mound, Jalen Beeks allowed two runs on five hits in 6 2/3, striking out four against one walk. Promoted from Portland earlier in the day to take the roster spot of Boston-bound Austin Maddox, Josh Smith went 2 1/3 hitless innings to earn the save.
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Rafael Devers blasted his 12th home run of the season with a solo shot in the fourth, but little else went right for the Sea Dogs. Trey Ball struggled on the mound, allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings, walking five and striking out four. It was the fifth time in his last six starts that Ball surrendered at least four runs. Jake Drehoff stabilized things out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
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The Salem bats went silent, generating only three hits. Josh Ockimey crept back above .300 with a 1-for-3 evening, while Michael Chavis went hitless for the second straight game. Roniel Raudes allowed four earned runs on nine hits - including five for extra bases - in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss. Austin Glorius turned in his third straight scoreless appearance, going 2 2/3.
Despite the loss, Salem kept its two-game lead in the Northern Division intact due to Lynchburg also falling short on Thursday. With only three games remaining on the first-half schedule, the Sox could clinch the division on Friday.
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In a matchup for first place in the South Atlantic League's Southern Division, Greenville fell with some impossibly bad luck. The Drive had 13 hits, including two Roldani Baldwin home runs, yet managed to score only 13 runs. Baldwin went deep in the second and again in the eighth as part of a 3-for-4 night. Mitchell Gunsolus also had three hits, including a double, in the losing effort. Starter Logan Boyd surrendered five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3, walking two and striking out four.
The Drive enter the final weekend of the first half a half-game behind the Fireflies. Greenville travels to Rome to take on the Braves for a three-game series.
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Freiberg Marin singled with one out in the top of the first, and the Sox had not registered another hit when the rain came following the eighth inning. Alejandro Rodriguez was outstanding in the start for the Sox, striking out seven without a walk and giving up only two hits in his six innings of work. The date for the completion of the contest has not yet been announced.
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Player of the Day: A two-home run, 10 total base game from Rusney Castillo led the PawSox to victory and brought his season line to .295/.328/.498. Castillo's contract status has seemingly overshadowed a very productive year that has been particularly good of late: .340/.383/.620 in his last 24 games. The 26 extra-base hits off the bat of the 29-year-old place him third in the organization behind only Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis.
Photo Credit: Rusney Castillo by Kelly O'Connor