June 5, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hernandez homers twice, Duran debuts in Portland
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The PawSox used a four-run seventh inning to extend their winning streak to four games. The big hit came from Chad De La Guerra, who launched a three-run home run with two outs in the seventh to give Pawtucket the lead. Gorkys Hernandez contributed two home runs of his own, both of which were solo shots. In his first game since being added from Portland, Josh Tobias went 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and an RBI.
Brian Johnson made his fifth rehab appearance (first with Pawtucket) and had better results, allowing only a solo home run over three innings. He walked two and struck out one. Fresh off a complete game shutout in his Triple-A debut, Kyle Hart added another win on Tuesday, though he was not quite as sharp as his first start. He allowed four runs over the final six innings, walking four and striking out four.
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Portland Sea Dogs 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) 2
It was a solid Double-A debut for Jarren Duran as he went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Joey Curletta had the only extra-base hit of the day for Portland as he launched a solo home run, his second of the year, and Tate Matheny went 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI, and an outfield assist.
Konner Wade had a strong outing in his second appearance with the Sea Dogs, allowing only two runs over six innings. Kevin Lenik, who was recently signed to a minor league deal after being released by the Royals, picked up the win after firing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. It was a shaky ninth inning for Durbin Feltman, but he still managed to keep Richmond off the board despite loading the bases with one out.
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Potomac Nationals (WAS) 5, Salem Red Sox 3
The rough season for Salem continued as they dropped to 18-38 on the year. Jhonathan Diaz fell to 2-5 after surrendering four runs on eight hits in four innings. The bullpen was able to limit the damage from there, led by Rio Gomez who allowed only one hit over his 2 2/3 scoreless innings. After giving up two runs in his first appearance with Salem, Gomez has since fired 6 2/3 scoreless innings over three appearances.
Five of Salem's seven hits came from Tanner Nishioka and Jagger Rusconi, with Nishioka going 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Rusconi going 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
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Lexington Legends (KC) 6, Greenville Drive 3
The offensive contributions from Triston Casas and Brandon Howlett were not enough to offset another poor start from Brayan Bello. Bello was hit hard, giving up eight hits and four runs over five innings. He walked one and only struck out two. Casas and Howlett did their part, with Casas going 2 for 4 with a double and a triple, and Howlett reaching base three times with a single, double, and a walk. Jordan Wren topped both of them by going 3 for 4 with a home run, his fifth of the year, while also swiping his 14th bag.
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DSL Royals1 (KC) 2, DSL Red Sox1 1
The Red Sox pitching staff was able to limit the damage despite walking eight batters, but the offense was quiet in a loss to the Royals. Gabriel Jackson walked five in only two innings, but he allowed only one earned run and one hit. Royman Blanco walked three in his three innings, but he held the Royals hitless. Nixson Munoz did not walk a batter, and tossed three scoreless innings while striking out five. On offense, two of the team's four hits came from Albert Feliz, who went 2 for 4 with a double.
DSL Red Sox2 15, DSL Dodgers Shoemaker 11
In a game that took over four hours and featured 24 hits and 23 walks, the Red Sox came out on top. The star of the game was Elio Prado who went 3 for 5 with a double, home run, and six RBI. The home run was a grand slam with two outs in the seventh. Bryan Gonzalez surprisingly did not homer, but he still went 2 for 6 with an RBI and a stolen base. Noelberth Romero also had a great game as he reached base five times via a single, a triple, and three walks.
The pitching started off well, with Carlos Reyes and Robinson Parra combining to allow only an unearned run on two hits over the first six innings. It fell apart from there, but Jose Ramirez came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth and gave up one more run before closing the door to earn the save.
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Player of the Night: After spending all of the last two seasons in the majors with the Giants, Gorkys Hernandez has struggled this year with the PawSox, hitting .204/.292/.353. He has turned it on over the last week, going 8 for 17 with four home runs, including two on Tuesday night. The 31-year-old is not on the 40-man roster so he is unlikely to see time in Boston, but performances like this will help get him back onto the major league radar.
Photo Credit: Gorkys Hernandez by Kelly O'Connor
Brian Johnson made his fifth rehab appearance (first with Pawtucket) and had better results, allowing only a solo home run over three innings. He walked two and struck out one. Fresh off a complete game shutout in his Triple-A debut, Kyle Hart added another win on Tuesday, though he was not quite as sharp as his first start. He allowed four runs over the final six innings, walking four and striking out four.
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Portland Sea Dogs 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) 2
It was a solid Double-A debut for Jarren Duran as he went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Joey Curletta had the only extra-base hit of the day for Portland as he launched a solo home run, his second of the year, and Tate Matheny went 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI, and an outfield assist.
Konner Wade had a strong outing in his second appearance with the Sea Dogs, allowing only two runs over six innings. Kevin Lenik, who was recently signed to a minor league deal after being released by the Royals, picked up the win after firing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. It was a shaky ninth inning for Durbin Feltman, but he still managed to keep Richmond off the board despite loading the bases with one out.
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Potomac Nationals (WAS) 5, Salem Red Sox 3
The rough season for Salem continued as they dropped to 18-38 on the year. Jhonathan Diaz fell to 2-5 after surrendering four runs on eight hits in four innings. The bullpen was able to limit the damage from there, led by Rio Gomez who allowed only one hit over his 2 2/3 scoreless innings. After giving up two runs in his first appearance with Salem, Gomez has since fired 6 2/3 scoreless innings over three appearances.
Five of Salem's seven hits came from Tanner Nishioka and Jagger Rusconi, with Nishioka going 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Rusconi going 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
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Lexington Legends (KC) 6, Greenville Drive 3
The offensive contributions from Triston Casas and Brandon Howlett were not enough to offset another poor start from Brayan Bello. Bello was hit hard, giving up eight hits and four runs over five innings. He walked one and only struck out two. Casas and Howlett did their part, with Casas going 2 for 4 with a double and a triple, and Howlett reaching base three times with a single, double, and a walk. Jordan Wren topped both of them by going 3 for 4 with a home run, his fifth of the year, while also swiping his 14th bag.
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DSL Royals1 (KC) 2, DSL Red Sox1 1
The Red Sox pitching staff was able to limit the damage despite walking eight batters, but the offense was quiet in a loss to the Royals. Gabriel Jackson walked five in only two innings, but he allowed only one earned run and one hit. Royman Blanco walked three in his three innings, but he held the Royals hitless. Nixson Munoz did not walk a batter, and tossed three scoreless innings while striking out five. On offense, two of the team's four hits came from Albert Feliz, who went 2 for 4 with a double.
DSL Red Sox2 15, DSL Dodgers Shoemaker 11
In a game that took over four hours and featured 24 hits and 23 walks, the Red Sox came out on top. The star of the game was Elio Prado who went 3 for 5 with a double, home run, and six RBI. The home run was a grand slam with two outs in the seventh. Bryan Gonzalez surprisingly did not homer, but he still went 2 for 6 with an RBI and a stolen base. Noelberth Romero also had a great game as he reached base five times via a single, a triple, and three walks.
The pitching started off well, with Carlos Reyes and Robinson Parra combining to allow only an unearned run on two hits over the first six innings. It fell apart from there, but Jose Ramirez came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth and gave up one more run before closing the door to earn the save.
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Player of the Night: After spending all of the last two seasons in the majors with the Giants, Gorkys Hernandez has struggled this year with the PawSox, hitting .204/.292/.353. He has turned it on over the last week, going 8 for 17 with four home runs, including two on Tuesday night. The 31-year-old is not on the 40-man roster so he is unlikely to see time in Boston, but performances like this will help get him back onto the major league radar.
Photo Credit: Gorkys Hernandez by Kelly O'Connor