September 2, 2018 at 6:55 AM
Cup of Coffee: Devers powers Pawtucket; Nishioka follows suit with Drive
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Four pitchers combined for a shutout while a rehabbing Rafael Devers provided all the offense the PawSox would need. Josh D. Smith (4 IP, 3 H, 2 K), Travis Lakins (2 IP, 1 H, 1 K), Fernando Roriguez Jr. (2 IP, 1 H, 3 K), and Marcus Walden (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) all pitched in for the shutout with Lakins picking up the win and Walden the save. Devers hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning as Pawtucket collected just five hits as a team.
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An RBI single from Danny Mars gave Portland a lead in extra frames, but Adam Lau gave up two hits, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch in the bottom half of the 11th as the Rumble Ponies walked off with the win.
Daniel McGrath worked his way around 10 hits across six frames, giving up three runs while striking out three. Bobby Dalbec went 2 for 4 with a triple, run and three RBI.
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Daniel Gonzalez got roughed up over three innings, giving up nine hits and nine runs to fall to 8-8 on the season in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Jerry Downs hit a two-run homer in the sixth while Tyler Hill had the other RBI for Salem.
Salem Red Sox 4, Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 3 (Game 2)
Jared Oliver blew a save but picked up the win as Salem took Game 2 of a twin bill. Hunter Smith pitched well across five frames, giving up just two hits and no runs while striking out three. It was just the second start of the year for the 24-year-old right-hander, and the second time he's hasn't surrendered a run. Hill had two hits an RBI in the nightcap while Ryan Scott notched the only other extra-base hit in the win.
Jared Oliver blew a save but picked up the win as Salem took Game 2 of a twin bill. Hunter Smith pitched well across five frames, giving up just two hits and no runs while striking out three. It was just the second start of the year for the 24-year-old right-hander, and the second time he's hasn't surrendered a run. Hill had two hits an RBI in the nightcap while Ryan Scott notched the only other extra-base hit in the win.
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A day after being officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Drive's bats powered them with an 11-hit performance in a win over the Legends. For a second straight contest, Tanner Nishioka smacked a home run. His two-run blast in the fourth was part of a three-run inning, as Greenville garnered a run in each of the first four frames.
Kervin Suarez hit a solo home run in the sixth and tallied three RBI, just like Nishioka. Enmanuel De Jesus wasn't sharp across four innings, giving up six hits and four runs while striking out eight.
Kervin Suarez hit a solo home run in the sixth and tallied three RBI, just like Nishioka. Enmanuel De Jesus wasn't sharp across four innings, giving up six hits and four runs while striking out eight.
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Hunter Haworth tossed 50 of his 79 pitches for strikes, doing well across five innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out four to lower his ERA to 3.28. The 21-year-old right-hander is now 5-3 on the season.
Elih Marrero went 4 for 5 with a pair of doubles and Xavier LeGrant added three hits and a double.
Elih Marrero went 4 for 5 with a pair of doubles and Xavier LeGrant added three hits and a double.
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Player of the Day: A day after hitting a home run and racking up three RBI, Tanner Nishioka had a repeat performance on Saturday, going 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs in a 9-7 victory for Greenville over Lexington. Before Friday, the 23-year-old from Hawaii hadn't homered since Aug. 23. Nishioka now has 10 home runs and 46 RBI on the season.
Photo Credit: Tanner Nishioka by Kelly O'Connor