April 24, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Olt grand in PawSox extra-inning win
4/24 Cup of Coffee: An extra-inning grand slam from Mike Olt (pictured) provided some fireworks for those that stayed to watch the second game of a doubleheader at McCoy Stadium as the four-run homer from Olt powered the PawSox to a 6-4 win over the Toledo Mud Hens. The Sea Dogs didn't fare as well in extra innings, with a comeback effort falling short against the Hartford Yard Goats.-----
Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 0, 7 innings (Game 1)
Rusney Castillo doubled to open the bottom of the first, but the PawSox wouldn't register another hit as two pitchers for the Mud Hens recorded 21 consecutive outs in a shutout loss for Pawtucket in Game 1 of a doubleheader at McCoy Stadium. Old friend Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2 for 3 with a double for Toledo.
Chandler Shepherd picked up his first loss of the season for the PawSox. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out six. Shepherd allowed two home runs.
Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 4, 8 innings (Game 2)
Playing as the away team in a makeup game from April 15, Mike Olt blasted a grand slam in extra innings to push the PawSox to a split of the doubleheader with Toledo. With Castillo starting the eighth inning on second base, Ramon Flores walked, and Sam Travis was hit by a pitch. Olt then smacked a home run to left center field.
After just one base knock in the first game of the twin-bill, the PawSox garnered seven total hits with Olt and Chad De La Guerra the two players with multi-hit games. Brandon Workman got the win while Bobby Poyner, in his first appearance since coming off of the disabled list and being optioned to Triple-A, allowed two runs (one earned) in an inning of relief.
Chandler Shepherd picked up his first loss of the season for the PawSox. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out six. Shepherd allowed two home runs.
Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 4, 8 innings (Game 2)
Playing as the away team in a makeup game from April 15, Mike Olt blasted a grand slam in extra innings to push the PawSox to a split of the doubleheader with Toledo. With Castillo starting the eighth inning on second base, Ramon Flores walked, and Sam Travis was hit by a pitch. Olt then smacked a home run to left center field.
After just one base knock in the first game of the twin-bill, the PawSox garnered seven total hits with Olt and Chad De La Guerra the two players with multi-hit games. Brandon Workman got the win while Bobby Poyner, in his first appearance since coming off of the disabled list and being optioned to Triple-A, allowed two runs (one earned) in an inning of relief.
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With a sacrifice bunt moving the runner starting on second base in extra innings to third, Trevor Kelley allowed a one-out single to left field as the Yard Goats walked off with a one-run victory at Dunkin' Donuts Park.
A sacrifice fly from Tate Matheny scored Esteban Quiroz to tie it at two apiece in the top half of the ninth, and the Sea Dogs took the lead in the top of the 10th when Jeremy Rivera's single drove in Luke Tendler. But Adam Lau allowed one run in the bottom of the inning before Hartford walked off with the win an inning later against Kelley.
Kevin McAvoy had a good outing for the Sea Dogs, posting a line of five innings pitched, six hits, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts in 92 total pitches. Cole Sturgeon, Josh Tobias, and Rivera all had two-hit performances for Portland, with Sturgeon seeing his batting average climb to .367.
A sacrifice fly from Tate Matheny scored Esteban Quiroz to tie it at two apiece in the top half of the ninth, and the Sea Dogs took the lead in the top of the 10th when Jeremy Rivera's single drove in Luke Tendler. But Adam Lau allowed one run in the bottom of the inning before Hartford walked off with the win an inning later against Kelley.
Kevin McAvoy had a good outing for the Sea Dogs, posting a line of five innings pitched, six hits, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts in 92 total pitches. Cole Sturgeon, Josh Tobias, and Rivera all had two-hit performances for Portland, with Sturgeon seeing his batting average climb to .367.
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Augusta Green Jackets (SF) @ Greenville Drive PPD, (inclement weather)
A showdown between the Drive and Green Jackets was postponed to April 25 due to inclement weather. The makeup game will be part of a doubleheader between the two teams on Wednesday.
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Player of the Day: A grand slam from Mike Olt was the biggest moment of the night as the former supplemental first-round pick out of the University of Connecticut handed the PawSox a win in the second game of their doubleheader with Toledo. It was his second home run of the season with the Triple-A club and 10th RBI. Olt had been hitless in his prior three games and has been kind of feast or famine at the dish this season, registering a total of 11 hits in five games while going hitless in seven contests. Still, Monday's two-hit, six-RBI performance was a good one for the 29-year-old.
Photo Credit: Mike Olt by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Mike Olt by Kelly O'Connor