June 15, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Mata deals, Lowell opens season
6/15 Cup of Coffee: Red Sox affiliates won seven of eight games last night, as Salem swept a doubleheader and Lowell opened up their season with a solid win. Nick Northcut had a big day for Lowell, while Bryan Mata (pictured) dominated again for Salem. Kyle Hart also turned in a good start for Pawtucket.
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Kyle Hart bounced back from a couple tough outings with seven innings of two-run ball. He struck out five and did not issue a free pass. Dan Runzler picked up the two-inning save without surrendering a hit or a run. Jantzen Witte had a good night at the plate by going 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Rusney Castillo went 3 for 4 and Cole Sturgeon added two knocks.
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Konner Wade had his longest and best outing of the season, going the first seven frames and allowing just one run. He only struck out two, but managed to work around seven hits and two walks. Durbin Feltman went two innings and grabbed the save. He did not allow a hit, struck out two, and walked two. He has a 1.35 ERA over his last 13 1/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. Portland scored right away in the first inning on an RBI single by Tate Matheny, who went 1 for 3 with a walk. Jerry Downs and Ricardo Cubillan each had two hits.
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Bryan Mata was brilliant yet again for Salem, tossing six shutout innings. He struck out five and allowed just two walks and three hits. Since coming off the injured list, he has thrown 11 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. Zach Schellinger got the save with a clean seventh. The only Salem run came on a Keith Curcio sacrifice fly to score Victor Acosta. Acosta had a big night at the plate, going 3 for 3. Cucio also added a double.
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Five of Salem's six hits in game two came in a four-run third inning. Ryan Fitzgerald delivered a two-run single that was followed by an Edgar Corcino two-run double. Victor Acosta, Pedro Castellanos, and Garrett Benge each added two-baggers. Dylan Thompson picked up his first win of the year by allowing just two runs in six innings of work. Andrew Schwaab saved it with a scoreless seventh.
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The Drive scored one in the ninth and one in the tenth to steal a win from Charleston. Everlouis Lozada went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. Grant Williams also had two hits including a double and a run knocked in. Dylan Hardy stole two bags and Triston Casas knocked in two runs to give him 50 RBI on the year. Bryan Bello struggled, allowing five runs in just 4 1/3 innings, but Angel Padron and Logan Browning picked him up out of the bullpen. Padron gave up a run in 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and Browning threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks or hits allowed.
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Lowell got off to a great start in their season-opener, as Yusniel Padron-Artilles pitched very well over six innings. He allowed just three hits and one run while striking out seven. Brendan Nail nailed down the save with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Nick Northcut went 3 for 4 with three doubles and three RBI. Gilberto Jimenez also had three hits. SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall was in attendance and added notes on what he saw from Northcut and Jimenez.
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The DSL Sox let this one get away late, allowing all 10 runs in the final two innings. Brainer Bonaci went 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI and Albert Feliz added a double and an RBI. Claudio Ochoa was solid to start for the Sox, tossing four shutout innings with three strikeouts and just two hits allowed before the bullpen struggled.
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The second DSL Sox team scored all eight of their runs in the seventh inning. Elio Prado went 2 for 5 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. Noelberth Romero also added two hits and Naysbel Marcano and Angeudis Santo each picked up doubles. Andres Ortuno had a nice start, throwing five innings and allowing three unearned runs with four strikeouts and no walks. Luis Talavera got the win in relief.
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Player of the Night: Bryan Mata, still just 20 years old, pitched another terrific game for Salem. He lowered his ERA to 1.56 on the year and has 41 strikeouts to just 14 walks in 40 1/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .171 against him and his WHIP is 0.97.
Photo Credit: Bryan Mata by Kelly O'Connor