July 9, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hernandez, Brown are unhittable; Dalbec stays hot
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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
With projected starter William Cuevas getting the call to the majors early in the day, the task of taking on Yankee prospect Justus Sheffield fell onto a quintet of relievers. Fernando Rodriguez got the first call and turned in yeoman's work, allowing a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings, striking out five. Williams Jerez also fanned five in his 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing two runs. Kyle Martin, Robby Scott, and Ty Buttrey each turned in a scoreless outing, with Scott striking out all three batters he faced. However, Sheffield and the RailRiders bullpen were able to limit the PawSox to six hits as the two teams closed out the season's first half.
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Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 4, Portland Sea Dogs 1
The Sea Dogs will be happy to close the book on the first half of the 2018 season, as they head into the All-Star break 19 games below .500. Mike Shawaryn struck out eight in his five innings of work, but allowed three runs on five hits, taking the loss. Josh Ockimey provided the offense, blasting his 12th homer of the year, along with another base hit. Top prospect Michael Chavis appeared in his second game since rejoining Portland, and he is still waiting for his first hit. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout on Sunday.
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Salem Red Sox 7, Potomac Nationals (WAS) 4
Darwinzon Hernandez turned in arguably the best outing of his pro career on Sunday afternoon. The left-hander went 5 2/3 hitless innings and notched a career-high 10 strikeouts. It was the second straight scoreless outing for Hernandez, who had 17 swinging strikes. The only blemish was the five walks allowed on the day. He got support from a white-hot Bobby Dalbec, who reached base four times with two singles and two walks, scoring a pair of runs. Trenton Kemp homered as part of his two-hit day, and CJ Chatham was 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.
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Kervin Suarez led off the game with a home run, setting the tone for Greeville's 15-hit barrage. Ryan Fitzgerald also went deep for the Drive, adding a double during his two-hit day. Zach Sterry (pictured, right) was the offensive star, going 4 for 4 with a walk, two RBI, and a run scored. Garrett Benge, Marino Campana, and Isaias Lucena all had two hits, including a double apiece. The beneficiary of the outburst was lefty Jhonathan Diaz. The 21-year-old lefty allowed three runs on four hits in 6 1/3, striking out six and walking only two. Juan Florentino closed out the win with 2 2/3 scoreless frames.
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Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) 10, Lowell Spinners 5
It would be hard to guess from the final score, but Lowell starter Brian Brown turned in five no-hit innings. The ninth-round pick in last month's draft struck out three and walked two, lowering his ERA to 1.72 through his first four professional starts. Happy to see Brown out of the game, Hudson Valley turned on Taylor Ahearn and Tanner Raiburn, tallying two runs in the sixth and eight runs in the seventh. Durbin Feltman was dominant again out of the bullpen, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless ninth inning.
Jarren Duran continued to impress at the plate, going 4 for 5 with his sixth triple of the year. SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting was in attendance, and noted Duran's excellent athleticism and speed. Veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips appeared in his second game since joining the Boston organization, blasting a three-run homer in the third.
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Player of the Day: There were several players worth consideration in this spot, with Brian Brown's five no-hit innings, Zach Sterry reaching base five times, and Jarren Duran continuing his run as a triples machine all likely winners on most days this season. Most days haven't seen a pitcher strike out 10 in 5 2/3 no-hit innings as Darwinzon Hernandez did on Sunday. The system's 11th-ranked prospect has a 2.01 ERA, 31 strikeouts, and only 15 hits allowed in 22 1/3 innings over his last four starts.
Photo Credit: Darwinzon Hernandez, Zach Sterry by Kelly O'Connor