June 5, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Chavis homers twice, Shawaryn joins Salem
6/5 Cup of Coffee: Despite none of the affiliates picking up a win on Sunday, there were many notable individual performances. A trio of arms currently ranked in the Top 25 debuted at new levels, as Jalen Beeks and Ty Buttrey joined the PawSox while Mike Shawaryn moved up to High A Salem. Among players staying put for the weekend, Michael Chavis (pictured) continued his domination of Carolina League pitching. Unfortunately, the team results gave less reason to celebrate. Pawtucket fell by a single run, while Greenville took one of the worst losses in franchise history. Salem was swept in its doubleheader, and Portland was once again rained out.
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Two promising arms made their Pawtucket debuts on Sunday afternoon after good starts to the 2017 campaign in Portland. Lefty Jalen Beeks got the start, allowing four runs and six hits in six innings, walking and striking out three apiece. Ty Buttrey had put himself back on the prospect radar with his early-season success with the Sea Dogs. The big right-hander allowed a run on two hits in two innings. Bryce Brentz continued his mid-season resurgence, connecting for his fifth home run in 11 games and ninth of the season. Allen Craig homered for the first time since May of 2016. Ryan Court doubled as part of his 2-for-5 day, his fourth two-base hit in his last four games.
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Portland Sea Dogs @ Binghamton Rumble Ponies, PPD rain
Portland got rained out for the 12th time this season. The two teams will make up this game with a doubleheader on August 18th.
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For a time it seemed that Michael Chavis and Shaun Anderson might team up to win the first game of Salem's doubleheader on their own. Chavis collected two of Salem's three hits, and both were home runs. He delivered a two-run shot in the first inning, and then his solo blast in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie. The two round-trippers give the 2014 first-round pick a Carolina League-leading 14 on the season. Meanwhile, Anderson was in the midst of a strong performance on the mound. He blanked the Hillcats for his first five innings before surrendering a pair of run in the sixth. After inducing a line out to first to start the seventh, Anderson issued his first walk of the night to the final batter he faced. That batter would eventually come around to score on what proved to be a decisive three-run homer off Adam Lau. Anderson's final line had him allow the three runs on six hits in 6 1/3, striking out three along the way.
Mike Shawaryn took the ball in the nightcap, making his High A debut. After striking out 46 batters in 30 innings in May while with the Greenville Drive, Shawaryn punched out six in five innings in his introduction to the Carolina League. He allowed two runs on seven hits, walked one, and surrendered a first-inning solo home run. Chavis was held to a very rare hitless game, going 0 for 4 in the contest. Chad De La Guerra picked up two hits, his fourth multi-hit game in his last five.
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Things went about as poorly as they can for Greenville on Sunday. The long bright spot was catcher Roldani Baldwin, who was 4 for 4 with a double. Everything else went awry for the Drive, who collected only one other hit, made two errors, walked eight batters, and surrendered 17 hits.
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Player of the Day: Despite much debate, this portion of the Cup of Coffee has not yet been renamed The Official Daily Michael Chavis Player of the Day Award. The 21-year-old Chavis continues on his absurdly productive 2017 campaign. He blasted his league-leading 13th and 14th home runs, finishing the day with a .337/.411/.680 slash line. Chavis now has three multi-homer games at Haley Toyota Field, notorious for suppressing power numbers.
Photo Credit: Michael Chavis by Kelly O'Connor