August 26, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Houck, Reyes lead Lowell to victory
8/26 Cup of Coffee: Terrific pitching was a common theme throughout the system, highlighted by Hildemaro Requena (pictured) grabbing his 10th victory. Tanner Houck and Denyi Reyes were also tremendous in an extra-innings win for Lowell.
-----
The PawSox let a 3-0 lead slip away, as Williams Jerez lost his control in the seventh with five walks. He finished with an odd line, giving up two runs (none earned) on no hits, five walks, and two strikeouts. Justin Haley started and pitched pretty well, allowing just two runs in 5 1/3 with six strikeouts and one walk. Ben Taylor and Chandler Shepherd each tossed a scoreless frame with two strikeouts. Brian Bogusevic and Matt Dominguez each went 3 for 5, with Bogusevic roping a pair of doubles. Jake Romanski and Tzu-Wei Lin added RBI singles.
-----
A two-run first was all Portland needed in this one. Chad De La Guerra ripped an RBI double and Jeremy Barfield had an RBI single in the inning. Danny Mars had the only other hit for the Sea Dogs, a triple. Teddy Stankiewicz picked up the win by tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He struck out five and walked one while allowing five hits. Ty Buttrey finished it off for the save by getting the final two outs.
-----
The script was flipped in game two, as the Sea Dogs dropped this one 2-1. Elih Villanueva was solid for five, allowing a run on eight hits with one walk and three punch outs. Jake Cosart pitched a scoreless sixth before Jacob Dahlstrand surrendered the lead in the seventh. Mike Olt was 2 for 3 with two doubles, and Josh Tobias had an RBI single. Michael Chavis went 0 for 3.
-----
Matt Kent was brilliant in this one and deserved better. He allowed just one run in six innings while striking out eight and walking none. Austin Glrorius did not have it, surrendering two hits, a home run, two walks, and two runs in two innings. Adam Lau pitched a scoreless ninth. Tate Matheny had a nice night by going 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Conrad Gregor also had a two-bagger.
The loss brings the Red Sox a half-game up on the Frederick Keys for the second playoff spot in the Northern division.
The loss brings the Red Sox a half-game up on the Frederick Keys for the second playoff spot in the Northern division.
-----
Just like the Sea Dogs did in game one, Greenville did all of their scoring in the first inning. Ryan Scott smoked a two-run double and Jerry Downs added a sacrifice fly. Brett Netzer went 2 for 4 with a walk and Tyler Hill added a pair of hits as well. Hildemaro Requena was terrific in picking up win number 10. He allowed just four hits and one walk over seven innings and did not allow an earned run. His ERA is down to 2.12. Juan Florentino closed it out with a two-inning save. He did not allow a run and struck out a pair.
-----
The Spinners provided more outstanding pitching to go along with a three-run rally in the top of the 10th. 2017 first-rounder Tanner Houck was great for three innings, striking out four, walking none, and allowing just one hit and no runs. He was relieved by Denyi Reyes, who continued his impressive season. The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball and allowed just three hits, no walks, and struck out eight. He moved to 8-0 with a 1.55 ERA this year. Ryan Oduber picked up the save with a scoreless 10th. The Spinners took advantage of eight walks, as two of the three runs in the 10th came on bases loaded walks. Alexander Martinez was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two walks, while Yomar Valentin was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a free pass.
-----
The Sox pounded out 15 hits in this one, led by Ivan Houellemont's 4-for-5 showing. Fabian Andrade went 3 for 5 with two RBI and three other starters finished with two knocks. Luis Colmenares was solid, allowing three runs in six innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Manuel Ramirez was lights out for three innings, striking out five without a walk and allowing just one run.
The Red Sox have a half-game lead in their division over the Dodgers1 squad.
The Red Sox have a half-game lead in their division over the Dodgers1 squad.
-----
Player of the Night: Hildemaro Requena has been on an incredible run of late. Since being moved into the starting rotation, Requena has made seven starts and gone at least five innings in all seven. He has also allowed zero earned runs in five of those seven starts and his seven innings last night were a season-high. The right-hander just turned 20 in July and was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in July of 2013.
Photo Credit: Tanner Houck by Kelly O'Connor