August 31, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Chavis hits 30th home run, Mata strikes out seven
8/31 Cup of Coffee: The DSL Red Sox season came to an end after they dropped the deciding game of a three-game series to the Dodgers. Michael Chavis launched his 30th home run of the year for the Sea Dogs. Sam Travis and Bobby Dalbec also went deep, and Tucker Tubbs (pictured) launched two home runs for the Drive. The home runs from Dalbec and Tubbs were more than enough for Bryan Mata, who was on top of his game on Wednesday.
-----
Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 5 (12 innings)
A strong night from Sam Travis powered the PawSox. Travis went 3 for 5 with a double, home run, and walk, and also added a stolen base. The first baseman entered the night with only three extra-base hits in 37 games since being optioned down to Pawtucket on July 19. Deven Marrero went 3 for 6 with a double and his first stolen base of the year, and Matt Dominguez went 2 for 5 with a walk.
Roenis Elias pitched the first inning and held the Bisons scoreless, but he did not come back out for the second. There is no word as to why he left the game. Shawn Haviland surrendered three runs in his five innings of long relief, and Chandler Shepherd earned the victory with four scoreless innings.
-----
Michael Chavis joined Bryce Brentz in the 30-home run club, but it was not enough for the Sea Dogs. Chavis went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, and the long ball was his first since August 9. Jeremy Barfield added a two-run shot, his 24th of the season, and Cole Sturgeon added two singles. It was a strange outing for Teddy Stankiewicz, as he struck out nine and did not walk a batter over six innings, but he also gave up four runs on eight hits. A three-run home run in the second inning was the big blow that proved to be the difference.
-----
The Red Sox did not score again after Conrad Gregor launched a solo home run in the first, falling to Frederick in extra innings. Gregor had two of the team's five hits, and also added a stolen base. On the mound Kyle Hart continued to impress, firing seven innings of one-run ball while walking three and striking out four. It was the third time in the last four starts that Hart has gone seven innings. Daniel McGrath took the loss after he allowed an unearned run to score in the bottom of the tenth. Salem is now two games behind Frederick for the final playoff spot in the Carolina League with only five games to play.
-----
A second straight strong start from Bryan Mata pushed the Drive past the Braves. Mata allowed one run on six hits over six innings, walking two and striking out seven. After a rough four-game stretch where he allowed 16 runs in 16 2/3 innings, Mata has settled down and allowed only one run over his last 11 innings as he has regained his early-season form. Santiago Espinal finished a double short of the cycle as part of a 3-for-4 performance, and Tucker Tubbs went 3 for 4 with a double and two home runs. Bobby Dalbec also went deep, and Ryan Scott laced his fourth triple of the year.
-----
The Spinners rallied from four runs down to beat the Yankees. First-round pick Tanner Houck got the start and looked good in the first inning, striking out two with four swings and misses. SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall was in attendance, and he had Houck at 93-94 mph with his fastball with sink and life, while also throwing his changeup and slider for strikes. Things got away from Houck in the second when a double play ball was booted by the third baseman with one out that allowed one run to score, and the Yankees got to him for three more runs on three hits to finish the inning. Denyi Reyes was the first man out of the bullpen and he improved to 9-0 on the season with four innings of shutout ball. The 20-year-old has now picked up a win in seven straight appearances, allowing only two runs in 38 2/3 innings over that time.
Yoan Aybar continued his hot hitting over the last month, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored, two RBI, and an outfield assist, though he was also caught stealing for the second time in eight attempts this season. Raiwinson Lameda went 2 for 2 with a walk, and Samuel Miranda and Yomar Valentin each had RBI doubles in the winning effort.
-----
A 14-hit attack was not enough as the Red Sox fell to the Orioles. Former major league pitcher Fernando Rodriguez, who was signed on Tuesday and immediately placed on the disabled list, made his system debut, allowing one run on two hits in his only inning of work as he began a rehab assignment. Oddanier Mosqueda came on in relief and was roughed up, allowing six runs on seven hits in only 2 1/3 innings.
The offense was led by Kervin Suarez, who went 3 for 5 out of the leadoff spot. Suarez now has 10 hits over his last four games as his average has climbed to .285. Ramfis Berroa went 2 for 4 with his first triple of the year, and Everlouis Lozada went 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
-----
In the completion of a suspended game from Tuesday, the Red Sox evened the series up at one game apiece. The Red Sox fell behind 2-0 in the second, but they came back to tie the game in the fifth after Willis Figueroa and Freiberg Marin each drove in a run. The game was then suspended, and resumed on Wednesday with the Red Sox taking the lead in the sixth after a fielding error by the Dodgers third baseman. The Red Sox held onto the lead thanks to 2 2/3 scoreless innings from Kelvin Sanchez and a four-out save from Alberto Franco.
The Red Sox season came to an end, as the Dodgers advanced to the finals. The Red Sox took an early lead after an RBI groundout from Ivan Houellemont and a Luis Torres RBI single, but the Dodgers came right back, scoring two in the third and five in the fifth to put the game away. Three of the Dodgers runs were unearned, and the Red Sox left 11 men on base as they squandered multiple chances. Marin went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two walks, but he also committed the error that allowed three unearned runs to score.
-----
Player of the Night: While the lack of a pitching appearance is a bit upsetting, a 3-for-4 night with a double and two home runs from Tucker Tubbs was the top performance on Wednesday. Tubbs had gone 40 straight games without hitting a home run, but he found his power stroke against Rome. It was a great way to break out of a 4-for-53 slump for the soon-to-be 25-year-old as he looks to finish the season strong after a tough second half.
Photo Credit: Tucker Tubbs by Kelly O'Connor