June 18, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Northcut rakes as affiliates sweep
6/18 Cup of Coffee: Strong offensive performances were the flavor of the day as all four affiliates in action won their contests Monday night. The Sea Dogs were the low scorers with six runs, but a solid outing from Tanner Houck was enough to earn them the win. In Lowell, Nick Northcut's (pictured) torrid start continued as he drove in three, and Bryan Gonzalez and Brainer Bonaci continued to tear up the DSL.
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The Sea Dogs overcame a first-inning deficit to win their fourth game in a row. A power display put Portland over the edge, with both Luke Tendler and Jeremy Rivera launching two-run blasts. Out of the leadoff spot, Jarren Duran smacked his third double of the season and scored a run. Jhon Nunez continued his strong season with a double as part of his two-hit night, while CJ Chatham notched a pair of hits batting behind him.
Tanner Houck got the start for the Sea Dogs and scattered four hits across six innings pitched, surrendering three runs and striking out three. Coming out of the bullpen Jake Cosart continued his scoreless Double-A season with a shutout seventh. Kevin Lenik and Matthew Gorst combined to finish the game with a scoreless inning apiece
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The Spinners continued their strong start to the season with a dominant win over Hudson Valley Monday night. Kelvin Sanchez was on the mound for Lowell and was solid, allowing only an unearned run in his 3 2/3 innings pitched. Relieving him was Eddie Jimenez who hurled 1 1/3 shut out innings and earned the win. Miguel Suero nearly matched Sanchez by allowing an unearned run in three frames, and Kris Jackson closed things out with a scoreless ninth.
At the plate, Nick Northcut kept rolling as he collected two hits, including a bases-clearing triple. Elih Marrero was a catalyst for the Spinners, singling three times and stealing a base as drove in a trio of runs. Also notching three hits was Ricardo Cubillan who also added a triple. Marino Campana and Jeccorah Arnold brought the power with a home run apiece, while Gilberto Jimenez chipped in with a double.
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The Red Sox took advantage of some wild pitching a dominant outing from their pitching staff to rout the Dodgers Bautista squad. Brainer Bonaci was responsible for the only extra-base hit of the day for either team with his RBI double, while both Alex Zapete and Erick Flores both finished the day with a pair of singles. Beiker Pineda was dominant on the mound, striking out five across four shut out innings. The bullpen was equally dominant, with Carlos Velez and Royman Blanco combined to end the game by hurling five scoreless innings.
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The DSL Red Sox2 offense exploded to help the affiliates complete the DSL sweep Monday. The hero of the day was Naysbel Marcano, who finished the day with six RBI on three hits including a double. Setting the table for Marcano were Elio Prado and Bryan Gonzalez who notched three and four hits respectively including a triple from Gonzalez. Also chipping in were Giancarlos Santana who laced three singles and stole a pair of bases, and Axel James who finished with two hits.
Starter Reidis Sena was tagged for three runs in his 4 2/3 innings of work, but only walked a single batter and struck out three. Despite surrendering two unearned runs Efren Diaz earned the win, striking out four in 2 1/3 innings out of the pen. Faysel Gregorio closed out the game for the Sox with two shut out frames.
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Player of the Day: It has been a dream start to Nick Northcut's first full season as a professional player. The Red Sox 2018 11th-round draft pick struggled in his small cup of coffee with Lowell last season, but has done nothing but hit thus far in 2019. Although he has yet to show over the fence power, his plus raw power is evident by smacking extra-base hits in five of his eight hits on the season, good for a .471/.500/.824 batting line.
Photo Credit: Nick Northcut by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Nick Northcut by Kelly O'Connor