September 3, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Barfield lights up Triple-A debut
9/3 Cup of Coffee: Jeremy Barfield hit the ground running after his promotion to Pawtucket with a huge night at the plate. The Sea Dogs won in dramatic fashion thanks to Mike Olt. Salem got a sparkling start from Daniel Gonzalez en route to a win.
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The PawSox erased an early 3-0 deficit thanks in part to a Triple-A debut to remember from Jeremy Barfield. The 29-year-old right fielder went 4 for 5 with his first Triple-A home run and two runs scored. Dan Butler also drove in a pair on a two-run double. Edgar Olmos earned his ninth win of the season with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four. Hector Velazquez pitched one inning to start the game in anticipation of his likely promotion back to Boston.
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The Sea Dogs pulled off a dramatic comeback to win in extras on a walk-off single from Mike Olt. The rally began in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single from Cole Sturgeon, an RBI groundout by Michael Chavis and the game-tying single from Josh Ockimey. Danny Bethea added his second home run of the season, belting a solo shot in the third. Henry Owens gave up four runs, only one of which was earned, in 6 2/3 innings of work. Owens surrendered four hits and four walks and also struck out six.
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Daniel Gonzalez was stellar on the mound for the second straight start since being promoted back to Salem. The 21-year-old righty hurled seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits. Gonzalez increased his scoreless streak with Salem to 20 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out an impressive nine batters. Conrad Gregor went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a solo shot in the fifth inning. Tyler Spoon drove in a pair, going 2 for 3 with a run.
Though they're still in the playoff hunt mathematically, the Red Sox will need some help to make a deep September run. Salem will need to win all of their remaining games and the Frederick Keys will need to drop each of their final three contests to usher Salem into the postseason.
Though they're still in the playoff hunt mathematically, the Red Sox will need some help to make a deep September run. Salem will need to win all of their remaining games and the Frederick Keys will need to drop each of their final three contests to usher Salem into the postseason.
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A five-run sixth inning doomed the Drive, with Enmanuel De Jesus coming undone in that frame. In his second start since his promotion from Lowell, De Jesus was in decent shape through five innings. But two singles and a double ended his night, finishing with six earned runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. Santiago Espinal went 2 for 3 and drove in Greenville's only run.
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A rainy night in Brooklyn ended the game with a shortened loss for the Spinners. Yorvin Pantoja threw three shutout innings, despite allowing four hits and three walks. Taylor Ahearn took the loss in relief. Alexander Martinez went 1 for 2 with a double, collecting one of Lowell's two hits.
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GCL Red Sox vs. GCL Twins (MIN) (Games 1 & 2 canceled)
Both ends of the GCL team's doubleheader were rained out, ending their season.
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Player of the Night: For the second straight night Jeremy Barfield gets the honors, hitting a homer for the fourth straight game. Barfield certainly made the most of his promotion to Pawtucket, which had been facilitated by the promotion of Tzu-Wei Lin to Boston. The Houston native had been a pleasant surprise for Portland all season. He is two home runs away from becoming the third Red Sox minor leaguer to put up 30 long balls of the year after Bryce Brentz and Michael Chavis.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Barfield by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Jeremy Barfield by Kelly O'Connor