August 21, 2018 at 6:54 AM
Cup of Coffee: E-Rod excellent; Maddox makes second appearance with GCL
8/21 Cup of Coffee: A pair of current and former Boston Red Sox made rehab assignments on Monday night, with Eduardo Rodriguez impressing across four innings for Portland and Austin Maddox allowing one hit over one frame in the Gulf Coast League. Jeremy Rivera (pictured) raked out of the leadoff spot for the Sea Dogs, reaching base four times in five at-bats in the lone victory on the farm above Single-A.
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In a planned four-inning rehab start, Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one hit and two walks while striking out eight across four frames. The left-hander, making his first appearance with Portland since last year and possibly his only rehab assignment after suffering a severe ankle sprain on July 14, threw 39 of 63 pitches for strikes but left the game with a 4-0 lead.
Jeremy Rivera reached base four times in a 2-for-3 effort, hitting a double and working two walks to go along with a run and two RBI. Dedgar Jimenez gave up all three runs across five innings, striking out four and earning the win for the Sea Dogs. Former Sox prospect Santiago Espinal went 1 for 4 with a double and RBI.
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Hickory hit both Angel Padron (5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) and Lukas Young (1 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB) hard in a rout at Fluor Field. Padron picked up the loss, his sixth of the season, which snapped a string of three straight starts with a victory for the 20-year-old left-hander.
Greenville garnered just five hits as a team with Everlouis Lozada delivering the loudest of the handful of hits with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Greenville garnered just five hits as a team with Everlouis Lozada delivering the loudest of the handful of hits with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
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The Spinners followed the Drive's suit, as Taylor Ahearn got rocked to the tune of four hits, six runs, and five walks in just one inning of relief to pick up the loss for Lowell. Lane Milligan recorded the lone RBI in the top of the first for Lowell, driving in Korby Batesole with an RBI single. Batesole had the lone extra-base hit as the Spinners totaled just three hits as a team.
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GCL Red Sox 2, GCL Orioles 0
Battling shoulder inflammation all year after making the Boston Red Sox' ALDS roster last year, Austin Maddox made his second Gulf Coast League appearance, and second appearance in five days, giving up one hit and striking out one in one inning of work.
Bryan Bello picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief, and Robbie Baker wrapped up the save. Juan Carlos Abreu went 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored while Jecorrah Arnold had a double and a single in the win.
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DSL Braves 7, DSL Red Sox1 3
GCL Red Sox 2, GCL Orioles 0
Battling shoulder inflammation all year after making the Boston Red Sox' ALDS roster last year, Austin Maddox made his second Gulf Coast League appearance, and second appearance in five days, giving up one hit and striking out one in one inning of work.
Bryan Bello picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief, and Robbie Baker wrapped up the save. Juan Carlos Abreu went 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored while Jecorrah Arnold had a double and a single in the win.
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DSL Braves 7, DSL Red Sox1 3
Emerson Ortiz was otherwise effective in a no-decision as the 21-year-old right-hander struck out five in six innings, giving up five hits and two unearned runs. Jose Larez wasn't effective, allowing five hits and five runs in a lackluster inning of relief. Lewis Baez had the lone extra-base hit, picking up a triple to go along with a run and RBI.
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DSL Rangers1 3, DSL Red Sox2 1
Five free passes from Irvin Villarroel did in the 17-year-old lanky right-hander as Villarroel picked up his sixth defeat of the year, giving up just one hit, the five walks, and two runs across 4 2/3 innings.
Ronaldo Pulgar went 1 for 4 with a run and picked up his 16th stolen base of the season.
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DSL Rangers1 3, DSL Red Sox2 1
Five free passes from Irvin Villarroel did in the 17-year-old lanky right-hander as Villarroel picked up his sixth defeat of the year, giving up just one hit, the five walks, and two runs across 4 2/3 innings.
Ronaldo Pulgar went 1 for 4 with a run and picked up his 16th stolen base of the season.
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Player of the Day: Although all eyes were on rehabbing Eduardo Rodriguez, it was Jeremy Rivera who stole the show with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, reaching base four times in Portland's win over New Hampshire. It's been a bit of a disappointing 2018 campaign for Rivera after splitting time at Single-A Greenville and Single-A Salem all of last season. In his first year with Portland, the 23-year-old is hitting .252 with five home runs and 39 RBI. But Rivera has hit safely in six of his last seven games and has five multi-hit performances in those six contests in which he's garnered a hit.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Rivera 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.