June 1, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Mata impresses again, Brentz stays hot
6/1 Cup of Coffee: Some impressive individual performances were not enough in the upper minors, as both Pawtucket and Portland lost on walk-off home runs. Dedgar Jimenez and Josh Ockimey led Salem to its 32nd win of the season, while Bryan Mata and Lorenzo Cedrola each had great games for Greenville
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A game-tying grand slam from Bryce Brentz (pictured) couldn't quite push the PawSox to victory as they fell in extra innings. Brentz went 3 for 5 on the day to raise his average to .218. Ryan Court also added three hits in addition to walking twice, and Heiker Meneses went 3 for 5 with a stolen base.
Kyle Kendrick was lit up again, giving up seven runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. Chandler Shepherd was able to stop the bleeding with three shutout innings, but Noe Ramirez gave up the walk-off two-run shot.
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It was another rough start for Trey Ball, as he allowed six runs on nine hits, including four home runs, over 5 1/3 innings as he dropped to 1-5 on the season. Ball has now surrendered 20 earned runs over his last 20 2/3 innings as his ERA has ballooned to 5.77. Jeremy Barfield provided most of the offense for Portland, going 2 for 3 with a solo home run. Deiner Lopez added two doubles, while Rafael Devers went 0 for 2 with a walk.
Barfield took one for the team in the second game of the doubleheader, tossing the final three innings before ultimately giving up a walk-off home run in the 13th. He went 2 for 5 at the plate in addition to his pitching duties. Taylor Grover got the start and struck out six over 3 1/3 innings, while Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez combined to allow two runs over 5 2/3 innings of relief. Danny Mars went 3 for 6 and Devers went 2 for 4 with a walk.
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Three Salem pitchers combined to complete the team's second shutout of the season, led by Dedgar Jimenez who went the first six innings, allowing three walks and four hits while striking out five. Austin Glorius struck out four over two innings, and Trevor Kelley got the save after walking two and stranding the tying-run at second in the ninth. Josh Ockimey was on base four times via two singles, a double, and a walk, and Michael Chavis added an RBI double. Austin Rei also added a double as part of his two-hit night as the usual suspects did the damage for Salem.
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Bryan Mata turned in another impressive start as the 18-year-old allowed one run over six innings, walking two and striking out six. He now has 10 strikeouts over his nine innings of work, showing that he is not overmatched against the older competition. Dakota Smith finished the game with three scoreless innings to earn his first career save. It was another teenager who led the offense, as 19-year-old Lorenzo Cedrola went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run, his second of the season. Cedrola pushed his average up to .300, and he is currently sporting a nine-game hitting streak.
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Player of the Night: A game-tying grand slam in the top of the seventh from Bryce Brentz was the biggest hit of the night as the PawSox battled the Tides. Brentz is now 12 for his last 28 with eight walks and three home runs. After starting the year hitting .162 over his first 105 at-bats, Brentz has rebounded nicely to put up some impressive numbers over the last two weeks.
Photo Credit: Bryce Brentz by Kelly O'Connor