August 21, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Requena, Hill power Drive
8/21 Cup of Coffee: Greenville, led by dynamic games from Hildemaro Requena and Tyler Hill (pictured), knocked three home runs in a blowout win. Lowell was the only other affiliate to win as Tanner Houck threw three shutout innings and Nick Sciortino homered twice. The PawSox lost despite a strong game by Justin Haley. Portland played a doubleheader against Binghamton, who walked off in both games. Salem lost a slugfest with Victor Acosta leading the way with three RBI.
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Justin Haley turned in another strong start for the PawSox, allowing two runs and striking out five in six innings, but his offense and bullpen let him down in a loss. Kyle Martin allowed four runs in an inning of relief and Williams Jerez threw a scoreless frame, striking out two. Pawtucket's only run came via a fourth inning home run by Brian Bogusevic, who was 1 for 3.
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The Sea Dogs and Rumble Ponies resumed Friday night's game, which was suspended in the third inning with no score. Taylor Grover tossed four shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk while fanning three. Ty Buttrey was on the hook for the walkoff loss, allowing a run in the bottom of the eighth. Left fielder Henry Urrutia was the only Portland batter to record multiple hits, going 2 for 3.
The Sea Dogs suffered another walkoff loss in the second game of the doubleheader. This time, however, they took a lead early as Jeremy Barfield slammed a three-run homer in the first inning. Teddy Stankiewicz worked 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out seven. Bobby Poyner was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
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Salem grabbed an early lead with a four-run second inning, highlighted by a three-run double by Victor Acosta, who was 2 for 4. Third baseman Jordan Betts also had a strong game, going 2 for 4 with two runs. Matt Kent started for the Red Sox, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Marc Brakeman allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
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The Drive swatted three homers en route to a lopsided win against West Virginia. Tyler Hill led the charge from the top of the lineup, going 4 for 5 with a double and a home run. Ryan Scott and Isaias Lucena each hit a two-run homer. Third baseman Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 4 with a double and a walk. Hildemaro Requena made a strong start, allowing just one unearned run on one hit in six innings, walking three and striking out eight. Joan Martinez and Juan Florentino finished the game with three combined innings of scoreless relief.
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First-rounder Tanner Houck started for Lowell, tossing three shutout frames, allowing a hit while walking two and striking out one. Denyi Reyes followed Houck with six strong innings, allowing a run on five hits. Catcher Nick Sciortino had a productive game, going 2 for 4 with two solo home runs and two strikeouts.
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Player of the Day: The Drive hit three home runs on Sunday but it wasn't enough to overshadow a dominant start by Hildemaro Requena. Requena threw six innings, allowing just an unearned run on one hit with eight strikeouts and three walks. The 20-year-old Requena is having a great season for Greenville, featuring a 2.30 ERA in 82 1/3 innings. He has been even better since moving to the rotation, allowing just five runs (three earned) in 39 innings.
Photo Credit: Tyler Hill by Kelly O'Connor