July 3, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Pomeranz pummeled in Pawtucket; Chavis makes season debut
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Making a rehab assignment with Pawtucket, Drew Pomeranz got shellacked in 2 2/3 innings. The left-hander gave up four hits, all of them home runs, and five runs in total in a lackluster performance as Pomeranz tries to return from left bicep tendinitis. One of the Twins top prospects in Byron Buxton, who is rehabbing a toe injury, homered to lead off the game as the Red Wings then hit another solo shot in the first, a solo home run in the second, and then their final solo homer in the third to chase Pomeranz.
The PawSox didn't do much hitting of their own, as a two-run double from Mike Ohlman in the bottom of the first accounted for all of their runs. Tzu-Wei Lin had the only other extra-base hit, collecting two hits on the evening, and Rusney Castillo added a single.
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After losing to the Rumble Ponies in extra innings in Binghamton on Sunday, Portland plated two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to bounce back with a win over Binghamton at Hadlock Field on Monday. Josh Ockimey's triple scored Jantzen Witte for the Sea Dogs first run before an RBI single from Luke Tendler scored Ockimey and tied the game at two apiece. An inning later, Witte tripled to score two before Ockimey knocked in Witte, again, this time with an RBI single.
Matthew Kent (6 1/3 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 6 K) pitched well enough to get the win, but the decision went to Travis Lakins, who allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief while Josh Taylor secured his fourth save of the season. Tim Tebow went 3 for 4 for the Rumble Ponies with two RBIs and a stolen base.
Matthew Kent (6 1/3 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 6 K) pitched well enough to get the win, but the decision went to Travis Lakins, who allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief while Josh Taylor secured his fourth save of the season. Tim Tebow went 3 for 4 for the Rumble Ponies with two RBIs and a stolen base.
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Tanner Houck continued his spiral of late, losing for the seventh time in his last 10 outings, giving up four hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. Houck did, however, strike out nine Wood Ducks. Carlos Tovar picked up the lone extra-base hit for Salem, with his first double of the season. Bobby Dalbec delivered his 57th RBI.
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Enmanuel De Jesus didn't give up a hit through the first three innings but got into trouble in the fourth and fifth, ultimately lasting just five frames while giving up four hits and four runs, including a two-run home run to Jason Lopez. Greenville garnered just five hits and scored its only two runs in the seventh thanks to RBI double from Kevin Suarez and RBI single from Tanner Nishioka. In his first day with the Drive, 2017 13th-round draft pick Garrett Benge went 1 for 3 with a walk.
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Top-ranked prospect Michael Chavis (pictured, left) made his season debut on Monday after serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance. Chavis went 0 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout, while playing third base for the Spinners. Eduard Bazardo picked up the victory with five innings of three-hit, one-run ball and striking out eight. Lowell's bullpen then combined for four scoreless innings of relief as Oddanier Mosqueda (4 strikeouts), Durbin Feltman (2 strikeouts) and Andrew Politi (2 strikeouts) combined to allow just two hits, with the latter two not giving up a single hit in a scoreless frame each.
Tyler Dearden went 2 for 4 with two runs and RBI for the Spinners.
Tyler Dearden went 2 for 4 with two runs and RBI for the Spinners.
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GCL Red Sox 7, GCL Rays 6
Nicholas Northcut's double to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Lane Milligan as the GCL Red Sox walked-off with a win over the Rays. The RBI double capped off a 3-for-5 performance from Northcut, who also scored twice. Milligan went 2 for 5.
The late-inning heroics took Eddy Reynoso off the hook after the right-hander allowed his three inherited runners to score in the eighth, before pitching a scoreless ninth to set up the walk off.
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DSL Red Sox1 4, DSL Braves 0
Four different pitchers combined to allow just four hits in a shutout win for the Red Sox. Jesus Rosillo got the start and gave up just two hits over four innings while striking out four, while Jose Larez collected his second win of the season with three innings of hitless, scoreless relief. Denny Daza, Gilberto Jimenez, and Jose Navas each collected two hits in the win.
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DSL Rangers1 4, DSL Red Sox2 3 (10 innings)
Run-scoring singles from Angel Gonzalez and Ronaldo Pulgar tied it at three apiece to force extra innings, but Erison Medina walked in what would be the game-winning run for the Rangers in the top of the 10th inning.
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GCL Red Sox 7, GCL Rays 6
Nicholas Northcut's double to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Lane Milligan as the GCL Red Sox walked-off with a win over the Rays. The RBI double capped off a 3-for-5 performance from Northcut, who also scored twice. Milligan went 2 for 5.
The late-inning heroics took Eddy Reynoso off the hook after the right-hander allowed his three inherited runners to score in the eighth, before pitching a scoreless ninth to set up the walk off.
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DSL Red Sox1 4, DSL Braves 0
Four different pitchers combined to allow just four hits in a shutout win for the Red Sox. Jesus Rosillo got the start and gave up just two hits over four innings while striking out four, while Jose Larez collected his second win of the season with three innings of hitless, scoreless relief. Denny Daza, Gilberto Jimenez, and Jose Navas each collected two hits in the win.
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DSL Rangers1 4, DSL Red Sox2 3 (10 innings)
Run-scoring singles from Angel Gonzalez and Ronaldo Pulgar tied it at three apiece to force extra innings, but Erison Medina walked in what would be the game-winning run for the Rangers in the top of the 10th inning.
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Player of the Night: Two clutch hits from Josh Ockimey, including his first triple of the season, led to three runs (one scored) in what amounted to be the difference in Portland's 5-3 win over Binghamton on Monday. The 22-year-old drove in a run with the three-bagger in the sixth, and came into score, before driving in the Sea Dogs' final run with an RBI single in the seventh of Portland's come-from-behind victory. It marks the second straight two-RBI game from Ockimey after the left-handed hitting first baseman went six games without driving in a run.
Photo Credit: Josh Ockimey & Michael Chavis by Kelly O'Connor
Tommy Cassell is a Contributing Editor for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tommycassell44.
Tommy Cassell is a Contributing Editor for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tommycassell44.