September 1, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Requena extends scoreless streak to 28 innings
9/1 Cup of Coffee: Pitching was the story on Thursday, and the highlight was the continued excellence of Hildemaro Requena (pictured). The Venezuelan right-hander likely closed the book on his regular season with by extending his shutout innings streak to 28. Justin Haley also continues his run of excellent pitching since rejoining the organization, while Durin O'Linger had a strong outing in the nightcap of the Lowell doubleheader.
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Justin Haley turned in another quality start, allowing just one run on four hits in seven inning, striking out four. Haley has quality starts in six of his seven outings since being returned from the Minnesota Twins, and he sports a 2.66 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with the PawSox. Buffalo reached rehabbing Carson Smith for three runs in the eighth inning in one of Smith's final tune-ups before returning to the major league club. At the plate, Jantzen Witte doubled twice as part of a 3-for-4 effort.
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The Portland lineup went deep four times against Yard Goats pitching, with Jeremy Barfield launching numbers 25 and 26 for the season to lead the way. Josh Ockimey went back-to-back with Barfield in the ninth for his third homer since his promotion, and Josh Tobias connected as well. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that a Portland home run surge didn't include Michael Chavis. The third baseman settled for his organization-leading 35th double and three RBI. Big Dedgar Jimenez continues to impress, lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.91 after allowing one run in 5 1/3.
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An 11-hit attack was not enough for the Sox, who now stand precariously close to elimination from the Carolina League playoff picture. Jhon Nunez tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth, his third of the year. Jordan Betts reached base three times, going 2 for 4 with a walk, and Jose Sermo added his 34th double of the year. Matt Kent got the start, allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings.
The Frederick sweep swung the playoff picture, with Salem going from a one-game lead to a two-game deficit, now with only four games remaining on the schedule.
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Hildemaro Requena closed his outstanding month of August with another dominant outing. The 20-year-old righty gave up only two hits over six shutout frames, extending his scoreless streak to 28 innings. Requena struck out six without issuing a walk, and he finishes the month with only three earned runs allowed in 36 innings. He got plenty of support along the way, with the Drive pounding out 15 hits and Bobby Dalbec, Jagger Rusconi, and Ryan Scott each delivering two-run homers. Jerry Downs tripled as part of a three-hit night, while Isaias Lucena doubled and drove in three.
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It was a tough loss for Lowell, who was shut down after scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first. Raiwinson Lameda had the only multi-hit performance of the opener, going 2 for 3 with a run scored. Angel Padron took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings.
The second 3-2 loss of the day was even harder to take, as Lowell took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh where the Cyclones scored two to tie before walking off in the eighth. The comeback spoiled an excellent start by Durin O'Linger. The undrafted free agent went six shutout innings, scattering a pair of hits and striking out eight without walking a batter. Amazingly, Lowell did not record a single in the game. Nicholas Hamilton homered in the fifth inning, and the Spinners other two hits were a double and triple off the bat of Tanner Nishioka.
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The Sox prevailed on the final day without a doubleheader scheduled this season. Tyler Dearden led the way, driving in three to give him 10 RBI in his last five games. Rayniel Adames got the start, allowing a run in 3 1/3 before giving way to a trio of relievers who went 5 2/3 scoreless to seal the win. Jose Gonzalez gave up four hits while going the final four frames, striking out two without walking a batter.
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Player of the Day: Thursday gave a number of qualified candidates, from Jeremy Barfield to a number of hurlers, but the nod goes to Hildemaro Requena for his excellence both on the night and throughout the month of August. With a 0.75 ERA on the month, Requena has lowered that mark to 1.98 on the season. In his last four starts, Requena has given up just 11 hits in 25 shutout innings of work, striking out 22 and walking seven.
Photo Credit: Hildemaro Requena from milb.com