Cup of Coffee: Velazquez, Ball strong, Travis collects two hits

6/11 Cup of Coffee: It was a lean night for the system, as Portland was the only team to come away with a victory. There were poor offensive showings across the board, as the other four teams managed to score just six runs between them. Pawtucket received some strong pitching but was ultimately shut out. Both Greenville and Salem lost by six, while the DSL squad staged a late comeback attempt, but came up short.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

Hector Velazquez threw six scoreless innings, but the Pawtucket offense was unable to back his strong effort. Velazquez surrendered five hits and walked just one while striking out four. Jamie Callahan took the loss out of the pen, allowing three runs in two innings of work. SoxProspects.com's own Ian Cundall was at the game and offered a look at Velazquez, as well as Callahan and Ty Buttrey's perfect ninth out of the pen. The Paw Sox managed just six hits on the night, though both Rusney Castillo and Sam Travis each went 2 for 4 with Travis adding a double to the effort. Allen Craig and Mike Miller collected the other two hits for Pawtucket.

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Portland Sea Dogs 4, Erie SeaWolves (DET) 3

Trey Ball took the tough-luck no decision after 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Ball allowed six hits and struck out four, though walks continue to be problematic, as the lefty issued four free passes as well. Jake Cosart scooped up the win after initially allowing Erie to tie the game. Williams Jerez notched his second save of the season with two scoreless innings. Tzu-Wei Lin, Josh Tobias, and Rafael Devers, batting at the top of the lineup, accounted for five of Portland's 10 hits in the game. Lin and Tobias each went 2 for 4 with an RBI, while both Devers and Lin added a double. Cole Sturgeon was the standout for Portland, going 3 for 4 while also driving in two runs.

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Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 10, Salem Red Sox 4

The Red Sox found themselves on the losing side of a blowout, as the Dash roughed up Michael Shawaryn in his second start since a promotion from Greenville. Shawaryn surrendered four runs on five hits and two walks in just 3 2/3 innings, though he did punch out five. Austin Glorius was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, shutting the door with a scoreless final frame. The Red Sox scraped together eight hits, though both Josh Ockimey and Trenton Kemp were held hitless. Jordan Betts went 2 for 3 with a walk and launched his third home run of the season. Michael Chavis went 1 for 5.

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Augusta Greenjackets (SFG) 7, Greenville Drive 1

Logan Boyd and Algenis Martinez both offered uninspiring pitching performances as the offense sputtered behind them. Boyd was saddled with his third loss of the season, going 5 1/3 and allowing four runs on five hits and two walks. Lorenzo Cedrola managed Salem's lone hit of the game, though Chris Madera did work two walks off of Augusta pitching.

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DSL Dodgers1 2, DSL Red Sox 1
Despite strong pitching performances from both Rayniel Moreno and Rafael Gomez and a last-ditch comeback attempt, the Red Sox still fell short. Moreno and Gomez each allowed a run on five hits in their respective outings, though Moreno struck out seven in five innings of work, while Gomez punched out just one Dodger in three innings. Alexander Martinez went 2 for 5 out of the leadoff spot to raise his early-season average to a lofty .458. Keibert Petit also accounted for two of the Red Sox' eight hits in the game. Ivan Jimenez, pinch-hitting for Jesus Chacon, drove in Willis Figueroa in the ninth to plate the lone run.

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Player of the Night: Despite Pawtucket being on the losing end of a blanking, tonight's award goes to Hector Velazquez for his strong effort against the Bisons. Velazquez continues to pitch well in Pawtucket, even if his lone start in Boston was lackluster. Taking last night's six scoreless frames into account, the undersized righty now sports a minuscule 1.29 ERA in nine starts for the Paw Sox. On the season Velazquez is currently striking out 6.43 batters per nine innings and walking just 1.47 per nine.

Photo Credit: Hector Velazquez by Kelly O'Connor

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