June 18, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Duran celebrates pro debut with two-triple afternoon
6/18 Cup of Coffee: Four of the five affiliates in action on Sunday picked up victories. The highlight was the first action of several draft picks for Lowell, notably the smashing debut of seventh-round pick Jarren Duran (pictured, left). Excellent pitching was another running theme throughout the organization, as all five starters allowed one earned run or fewer, with four going at least 5 2/3 innings.
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The PawSox couldn't hang on, wasting a dominant outing from Chandler Shepherd. The 25-year-old righty scattered three hits over six shutout innings, striking out five without walking a batter. He was as efficient as he was effective, needing only 76 pitches to complete those six innings, throwing 50 for strikes. Things turned quickly when Tyler Thornburg entered. Thornburg had been nearly unhittable since his rehab assignment started back up two weeks ago, but the IronPigs greeted him with a single, homer, double, and single to tack on three runs.
At the plate, Rusney Castillo picked up two more hits to give him an International League-leading 80 on the season. Aneury Tavarez also had a pair of hits, including a double for the PawSox' only extra-base hit of the night.
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A five-run first inning catapulted Portland to complete the sweet of the three-game series. Chad De La Guerra blasted a two-run homer after Danny Mars led off the game with a single, and the Sea Dogs never relinquished that advantage. De La Guerra had another base hit and added a walk on the afternoon, while Luke Tendler drove in a pair of runs during a 2-for-4 effort. The outburst was more than enough support for Matt Kent to work his magic. Kent allowed just one run on three hits in six innings, the lone blemish coming on a solo home run. Travis Lakins struck out a pair in another hitless inning. Lakins' has seemingly taken to his new short relief role: he has allowed just one hit in six single-inning appearances combined.
A pair of pitchers with Red Sox ties were effective out of the Bowie bullpen. Former 40-man lefty Luis Ysla struck out four in three innings without surrendering a hit, and unsigned 2009 sixth-round pick Branden Kline fired a perfect ninth.
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Bryan Mata had a strong start as Salem eked out a one-run win. One start after striking out a career-high eight batters, Mata followed by punching out seven in 5 2/3 innings. The 19-year old surrendered one run on only four hits, lowering his ERA to 3.29. As has frequently been the case with the Carolina League's youngest player, efficiency was the lone negative, as he needed 97 pitches to complete those 17 outs, walking four and hitting a pair of batters. Bobby Dalbec ended a mini-homer drought, going deep for the first time since June 6 for his 14th round tripper of the season. Tyler Hill added a three-hit afternoon for the Sox.
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A strong start by Durin O'Linger (pictured, right) propelled the Drive to take the rubber game of their set against their cross-state rival. O'Linger went seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits, striking out five without issuing a walk. Angel Padron struck out three in two scoreless frames to notch his first save of the year. Marino Campana powered the offense, picking up two doubles and a pair of RBI. Pedro Castellanos and Everlouis Lozada chipped in with a triple apiece.
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The 2018 draft class is starting to arrive in force, leading Lowell to its first win of the season. Jarren Duran, Boston's seventh pick, had a memorable debut accounting for five of the six Lowell runs. Duran ripped two triples and a double out of the leadoff spot, scoring three times and driving in a pair. Fourth-round pick Kole Cottam singled in his first pro at-bat and later was hit by a pitch. 2017 draftee Garrett Benge reached base four times, going 3 for 4 with a walk and two RBI.
Yorvin Pantoja got the start, allowing three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3, striking out three and walking two. Hard-throwing righty Victor Garcia did not allow a hit in his two innings of work, striking out two and walking one. Long-time catcher Danny Bethea, in the organization since 2013, made his first appearance since transitioning to the mound this offseason. He threw a hitless inning, walking a pair.
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Player of the Day: It was an inauspicious sign when Jarren Duran struck out to lead off the game in his first professional plate appearance. It also proved to not be predictive, as the second baseman piled up eight total bases, driving in two runs and scoring three. The former Long Beach State Dirtbag signed this week for the recommended slot value of $189,000.
Photo Credit: Jarren Duran from Long Beach State athletics; Durin O'Linger by Kelly O'Oconnor