June 29, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Campana goes deep in both ends of doubleheader
6/29 Cup of Coffee: For the first time since Monday, the affiliates managed to notch a win. A Marino Campana (pictured) three-run homer in the opener of Greenville's doubleheader ultimately went for naught, but his solo shot in the nightcap helped key the split for the Drive. The hug watch season got underway early, as Santiago Espinal was removed from the Salem contest in advance of a post-game trade with the Blue Jays for veteran bat and former Red Sox draftee Steve Pearce. His teammates fell to Carolina and sit precariously close to being swept in their four-game series.
-----
Buffalo completed its sweep at Coca-Cola Field, outscoring the PawSox 14-3 in the three-game set. Chandler Shepherd allowed six runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings, surrendering a two-run homer in the third inning. Ivan De Jesus collected two of Pawtucket's four hits, driving in Deiner Lopez for the only run.
-----
Portland Sea Dogs @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats, PPD (rain)
The final game of Portland's four-game series in Manchester was rained out. The two teams will make up the contest as part of a doubleheader on August 22.
-----
Salem dropped the third straight game of its four-game series and will try to avoid the sweep on Friday evening. Darwinzon Hernandez got the start, striking out eight but allowing five runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings. He struggled badly with his efficiency, needing 102 pitches to get 14 outs. Santiago Espinal popped out to lead off the game and was removed for pinch-hitter Jerry Downs in the third, ending his 15-game hitting streak and his Red Sox career. The shortstop was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran right-handed bat Steve Pearce. Downs did his best Espinal impression upon entering, going 3 for 3 with a walk, a triple, and two RBI.
-----
Greenville fell in the completion of Wednesday's weather-suspended game, despite a five-run seventh inning. Enmanual De Jesus allowed one run on 3 2/3 yesterday. When the game resumed, Durin O'Linger took the mound, allowing 2 runs on six hits in 2 1/3. Marino Campana delivered the big hit during that seventh-inning rally, a three-run homer that gave the Drive a short-lived advantage. Kervin Suarez reached base three times, going 1 for 2 with two walks.
Campana went deep again in the nightcap, picking up his 13th home run of the year with a third-inning solo shot. Augusta was unable to retire Victor Acosta, who walked twice and doubled, adding a stolen base. Jhonathan Diaz allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings, walking one and striking out seven. Devon Fisher struck out three across two scoreless frames to get credit for the save.
------
Lowell Spinners vs. Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL), PPD (rain)
The opener of Lowell's series will be made up on Friday as part of a doubleheader.
-----
Raynel Adames was excellent for the Sox, moving to 2-0 with five shutout innings. Adames scattered three hits and struck out two while walking one. Chad Hardy blasted a two-run seventh-inning homer and drove in another in the second as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon. Juan Carlos Abreu reached base three times, going 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
-----
An eight-run sixth inning propelled the Sox to victory and occurred in very Dominican Summer League fashion. The inning featured four walks, a hit batsman, two wild pitches, and a stolen base to go along with two singles, a double, and a triple. The triple came off the bat of Ceddanne Rafaela, who also drove in three runs as part of a 2-for-5 effort. Brandon Rincones also went 2 for 5, while Erick Flores ripped his fourth double of the year. Starter Miguel Suero allowed just one unearned run in his four innings of work. Yoelvis Guedez got the win in relief.
-----
The Sox jumped off to a 9-4 lead but fell as the Rays collected 19 hits. Angel Maita continues to be a force in the lineup, registering his sixth straight multi-hit game by going 2 for 5 with a triple and three RBI. During his eight-game hitting streak, Maita is 18 for 37 with four extra-base hits and only three strikeouts. Nelfy Abreu scored a pair of runs out of the leadoff spot, and Luis Hernandez walked three times.
-----
Player of the Day: Marino Campana has been sporting an extreme case of all-or-nothing so far in 2018, but he came away with "all" on Thursday. The 20-year old outfielder from the Dominican Republic totaled nine homers in his first three years in the system, but his two on Thursday give him 13 on the year.
Photo Credit: Marino Campana by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Marino Campana by Kelly O'Connor