June 17, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Sea Dogs show Hart, Lowell looking for first win
6/17 Cup of Coffee: Offensive production was lacking for Pawtucket, Salem, Greenville and Lowell, with those four teams all losing but Kyle Hart (pictured) continues to string together solid starts on the mound for Portland, his latest a 4-0 shutout of the Baysox. Antoni Flores continues to rake for DSL Red Sox2, extending his hit streak to five games with a four-hit performance as Flores' batting average now stands at .378 in 45 at-bats.
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William Cuevas was roughed up in four innings of work, allowing nine hits and six earned runs, as a five-run fifth inning sank Pawtucket's chances at Coca-Cola Park.
Fernando Rodriguez didn't fare much better in relief, giving up two runs on two hits in two innings. A two-run home run given up to Collin Cowgill netted the damage. Tzu-Wei Lin provided the only punch for the PawSox, delivering an RBI double in the eighth inning.
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Ever since a loss to Trenton on April 22, Kyle Hart has been impressive with the Sea Dogs, with his latest outing resulting in a shutout win for Portland. The 25-year-old lefty pitched seven innings of scoreless ball, scattering six hits and two walks while striking out three. Hart lowered his ERA to 2.51 on the season.
Luke Tendler knocked his sixth home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning while Jeremy Rivera was the only other Portland player to garner an extra-base hit. Tendler went 2 for 2 while Janzten Witte picked up two hits as well. Daniel McGrath worked two innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
Luke Tendler knocked his sixth home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning while Jeremy Rivera was the only other Portland player to garner an extra-base hit. Tendler went 2 for 2 while Janzten Witte picked up two hits as well. Daniel McGrath worked two innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
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Salem didn't do much right on Saturday as the Red Sox collected just three hits and scored their only run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double from Roldani Baldwin while a pair of two-run home runs giving up by Jake Thompson and Algenis Martinez accounted for the game's five runs.
Thompson pitched the game's first 4 1/3 innings while Martinez tossed the final 3 2/3 innings for Salem. Bobby Dalbec and Jerry Downs were the two other players, along with Baldwin, to get a hit.
Thompson pitched the game's first 4 1/3 innings while Martinez tossed the final 3 2/3 innings for Salem. Bobby Dalbec and Jerry Downs were the two other players, along with Baldwin, to get a hit.
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A Kevin Suarez RBI double and Lorenzo Cedrola sacrifice fly gave the Drive an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second but Greenville's pitching and defense crumbled from there as the RiverDogs accumulated 16 total hits and the Drive made three total errors in a loss at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark.
Devon Fisher took the loss, despite not giving up an earned run, as he came in relief of Jhonathan Diaz, who surrendered eight hits, four runs (all earned) in five innings of work. Cedrola went 4 for 4 at the dish, with three RBI, and Isaias Lucena was the only other Drive player to pick up multiple hits.
Devon Fisher took the loss, despite not giving up an earned run, as he came in relief of Jhonathan Diaz, who surrendered eight hits, four runs (all earned) in five innings of work. Cedrola went 4 for 4 at the dish, with three RBI, and Isaias Lucena was the only other Drive player to pick up multiple hits.
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The Tigers jumped all over Lowell starter Juan Perez, scoring three times in the bottom of the first before adding four more runs in the second to chase Perez and cruise to a win in both team's second game of the season. Perez completed just 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing five hits, seven runs (four earned) and three walks.
Garrett Benge picked up his first RBI of the season, going 2 for 4 with a triple and Tyler Esplin also recorded his first RBI of the year, batting 2 for 4 with a double.
Garrett Benge picked up his first RBI of the season, going 2 for 4 with a triple and Tyler Esplin also recorded his first RBI of the year, batting 2 for 4 with a double.
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The Marlins scored twice in the fifth, once in the seventh and once in the eighth to come back from trailing 3-0 to beat the Red Sox. Yoelvis Guedez earned the blown save, allowing two hits, two runs (one earned) in three innings of relief of Emerson Ortiz. Gilberto Jimenez went 3 for 4 while Fabian Andrade had a 2-for-4 performance.
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Danny Diaz blasted a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the third inning, and the Red Sox accumulated 11 hits and took advantage off a solid start from Miguel Suero (4 IP, 2 H, 4 K). Robinson Montero picked up the win in relief, allowing one hit and striking out thee in two frames. The Red Sox first six hitters went a combined 11 for 24 with five extra-base hits. Antoni Flores had the best performance, smacking four hits and three RBI.
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Player of the Day: Ever since Kyle Hart allowed four runs in a loss to Trenton nearly two months ago, the 2016 draft pick out of Indiana University has seen his ERA drop down nearly three-full points. On Saturday, Hart scattered six hits across seven frames and struck out three as Portland blanked Bowie. It marked the fifth straight start that Hart had pitched six innings or more, with four of those lasting seven frames or more.
Photo Credit: Kyle Hart by Kelly O'Connor
Tommy Cassell is a Contributing Editor for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter at tommycassell44.