August 13, 2018 at 8:28 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dalbec and Chavis slug away, Swihart begins rehab
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The PawSox overcame a 5-0 deficit through three innings by scoring nine unanswered runs, thanks in large part to a six-run explosion in the seventh. Jantzen Witte and Mike Miller each had run-scoring singles in the frame as part of three-hit days as part of a 15-hit performance from Pawtucket. Tzu-Wei Lin had a double and two walks as Sam Travis and Kyle Wren joined in on the two-bagger brigade. Since returning from an injury that prevented a big-league stint, Lin is 7 for 12 in three games, upping his OPS by almost 50 points.
Pushed back a day, Justin Haley had a rough start, allowing four runs in five frames. But Josh A. Smith picked up the slack out of the bullpen, pitching four superb innings to finish, allowing a single hit and striking out one.
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Michael Chavis continued his meteoric August with an RBI single that staked Portland to a 1-0 lead in the first and then ripped a two-run double in the third before scoring on a Bobby Dalbec two-bagger. That was all the cushion the visiting Sea Dogs would need, even though the duo teamed up again in the eighth as Dalbec blasted his fifth home run in nine Double-A games to plate a plunked Chavis. Jeremy Rivera joined the pair with a brace of hits himself.
Matthew Kent responded well to the early lead, spinning seven innings of two-run ball, scattering three hits and two walks while sending five down via strikes. The lefty had come into the game with a dramatic home-road split, but lowered his ERA away from Hadlock Field from 5.48 to 5.10 in earning his eighth win of the season. Trey Ball finished with an encouraging pair of perfect innings, whiffing one.
Matthew Kent responded well to the early lead, spinning seven innings of two-run ball, scattering three hits and two walks while sending five down via strikes. The lefty had come into the game with a dramatic home-road split, but lowered his ERA away from Hadlock Field from 5.48 to 5.10 in earning his eighth win of the season. Trey Ball finished with an encouraging pair of perfect innings, whiffing one.
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When it rains, it pours, and the Salex Sox faced a deluge from both the visiting Mudcats and the skies, mustering only four hits in a rain-shortened shutout before the bottom of the seventh. Josh Tobias had half of the squad's four hits, upping his average with Salem to .458 in 34 games.
After a game in his last start, Jake Thompson was shelled, surrendering five runs on seven hits and a free pass in only two innings. Daniel Gonzalez was excellent in relief, however, striking out five in four frames and allowing only one run. Austin Glorius gave up three runs on three hits without recording an out as he works his way back from torn ligaments in his left ankle.
After a game in his last start, Jake Thompson was shelled, surrendering five runs on seven hits and a free pass in only two innings. Daniel Gonzalez was excellent in relief, however, striking out five in four frames and allowing only one run. Austin Glorius gave up three runs on three hits without recording an out as he works his way back from torn ligaments in his left ankle.
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Everlouis Lozada doubled home Pedro Castellanos in the first and the Drive notched a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and fifth as Jonathan Diaz earned his eighth win. Lozada had two hits on the day, while Jarren Duran and Marino Campana joined Lozada with doubles as Castellanos had his 11-game hit streak snapped.
Diaz turned in another quality start, permitting a single run on four hits and two walks in six innings of work, striking out three. The right-hander has a 2.48 ERA against Augusta in five starts, allowing only 18 hits in 29 frames.
Diaz turned in another quality start, permitting a single run on four hits and two walks in six innings of work, striking out three. The right-hander has a 2.48 ERA against Augusta in five starts, allowing only 18 hits in 29 frames.
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Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 3, Lowell Spinners 1 (8 inn.)
Blake Swihart made his rehab debut with the Spinners, catching six innings and going 0 for 3. Despite out-hitting the visiting Cyclones (8 to 7), Lowell couldn't scrape together a second run during regulation play in the doubleheader before losing in extra innings.
Devlin Granberg had two base knocks, while Tyler Esplin walked and singled in the defeat. The Spinners received excellent pitching from Chris Machamer (3 IP, 1 R, 4 K) and Jose Gonzalez, who pitched four scoreless innings.
Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 3, Lowell Spinners 1 (8 inn.)
Blake Swihart made his rehab debut with the Spinners, catching six innings and going 0 for 3. Despite out-hitting the visiting Cyclones (8 to 7), Lowell couldn't scrape together a second run during regulation play in the doubleheader before losing in extra innings.
Devlin Granberg had two base knocks, while Tyler Esplin walked and singled in the defeat. The Spinners received excellent pitching from Chris Machamer (3 IP, 1 R, 4 K) and Jose Gonzalez, who pitched four scoreless innings.
Lowell Spinners, Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) PPD
The second game of the day, a makeup game itself, was rained out. With the series concluding, no new date of play has been announced.
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Player of the Day: In what has become a breakout season, Bobby Dalbec once more had the system's top effort. The third baseman moved into a tie for the most home runs in the minor leagues with his 31st round-tripper of the year and is the only minor league above Single-A with more than 30 homers. Dalbec added a double in a 2-for-4 performance in Portland's win over Akron, raising his slash line to .364/.421/.848 with the Sea Dogs.
Photo Credit: Bobby Dalbec by Kelly O'Connor
Gabriel Fidler wrote this report.
Photo Credit: Bobby Dalbec by Kelly O'Connor
Gabriel Fidler wrote this report.