May 20, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Wren, Granberg power Drive; Madden homers twice
5/20 Cup of Coffee: It was a split decision on Sunday afternoon, with the affiliated going 2-2 on the day. Devlin Granberg remained hot and Jordan Wren supplied some power to lead Greenville, while veteran contributions at the plate and yeoman's work out of the bullpen got the PawSox back in the win column. Results were less positive for Salem, where little went right after a Jarren Duran leadoff double, and Portland, who squandered a two home-run day from catcher Charlie Madden (pictured).
-----
The PawSox salvaged the finale of their three-game set at McCoy Stadium, avoiding the sweep and a possible eighth loss in nine games. Brock Holt provided a fourth-inning solo homer as he continues his rehab assignment. He played seven innings at second base. Rehab-mate Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 4 in his second consecutive start at designated hitter. Among the regulars, Rusney Castillo ripped a double and Juan Centeno drove in a pair of runs with a 1-for-3 afternoon. Starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings, striking out six and walking a pair. Jeremy Bleich, Trevor Kelley, and Travis Lakins combined for four hitless innings of relief.
-----
The Phils completed the four-game sweep of Portland, despite the efforts of recently-added catcher Charlie Madden. Madden, added from Salem when Sandy Leon being placed on paternity leave led to a chain of catchers moving around in the system, made the most of his first 2019 look at Double-A. After a solo homer in the seventh, Madden blasted a two-run shot in the ninth to bring the Sea Dogs within one. CJ Chatham had the only other multi-hit effort, picking up a pair of singles and stealing a base. Denyi Reyes was served with the loss despite giving up just one run on three hits in five innings.
-----
Sunday's affair got off to a good start for Salem, with Jarren Duran picking up his 11th double of the year and then coming in to score from second on a one-out single by Pedro Castellanos. The bats fell largely silent from then on, with the only base hit being a seventh-inning single by Tanner Nishioka. Duran plated a run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly. Jhonathan Diaz took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
-----
A 12-hit effort helped the Drive snap a three-game losing streak. Jordan Wren blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning, his fourth of the season. Devlin Granberg doubled as part of his two-hit afternoon, while Brandon Howlett was 2 for 4 with two driven in. Triston Casas was on base twice, going 1 for 3 and getting hit by a pitch. On the mound, starter Alex Scherff never really got on track, allowing four runs on six hits in three innings. The bullpen was masterful, holding the lead for six innings. Logan Browning was responsible for a big chunk of that with a four-inning effort during which he allowed two hits, struck out two, and walked one.
-----
Player of the Day: Charlie Madden is already having a more fruitful second Double-A stint. In 2018, a roster reshuffle placed Madden with the Sea Dogs just long enough to appear in one game. The 2017 24th-round pick struck out twice as part of an 0-for-4 introduction last August 12. A little over nine months later, Madden went deep twice as part of a 3-for-4 Sunday afternoon after entering the contest with just three homers in his previous 233 plate appearances.
Photo Credit: Charlie Madden by Kelly O'Connor