July 5, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dalbec provides July 4 fireworks
7/5 Cup of Coffee: Really, there's no need to wait for the 4th of July for a fireworks show when Bobby Dalbec (pictured) is near. We've reached the point in the year known for hot weather, cookouts, and Dalbec hitting a home run every day, as the third baseman helped power Portland past Manchester. Lowell got in on the fun when they walked off for the second consecutive night, this time on a Marino Campana home run. Greenville and Pawtucket provided plenty of offense, with monster games by Everlouis Lozada and Oscar Hernandez, but both squads saw their bullpen falter late.
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The pyrotechnics in Allentown did not wait until the game was over. The PawSox stormed off to a 10-2 lead, with big innings in the second and the fifth backing a solid start by Ryan Weber. Weber went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five. Oscar Hernandez led the offensive attack in his first game back after a whirlwind week. A week ago, Hernandez left for London as the major league team's emergency catcher and then Tuesday was designated for assignment when a 40-man roster spot was needed. The veteran backstop was 4 for 5 with a three-run second-inning homer. Jantzen Witte also went deep as part of his two-hit evening. The game turned nightmarish after Weber exited, with the IronPigs scoring 10 runs in three-plus innings, including six in the bottom of the ninth before an out was recorded.
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On June 29, 2018, Bobby Dalbec started the day hitting .223/.349/.470. He homered that evening to start a 28-game streak where he blasted 12 homers, slugged .835, and played his way to Carolina League MVP honors and a promotion to Double-A. On June 30, 2019, Dalbec was at .231/.372/.453. He homered that night, twice the next, and with his round tripper on Thursday now has five in his last six games. His two-run blast in the fourth keyed a four-run fourth inning that gave Portland a lead it would not relinquish. Luke Tendler also went deep as part of that fourth-inning rally.
Kutter Crawford was excellent in picking up his first Double-A win. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits in six innings, striking out nine and walking three. Eduardo Bazardo, who joined Crawford on the express from Salem two weeks ago, fired two innings of hitless relief, striking out four.
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Salem's three-game winning streak was snapped as the Sox twice rallied to tie but never led. Enmanuel De Jesus couldn't catch a break, as he allowed nine hits and our runs in just three innings. Algenis Martinez followed, returning to the Salem bullpen after missing the first three months of the season with an injury. Martinez allowed a run on two hits. Rio Gomez was saddled with a tough-luck loss after allowing one run in three frames. At the plate, Pedro Castellanos notched his organization-leading 18th double of 2019. The first baseman also singled and scored a run.
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The Drive used an insurance run to move out to an imposing 7-3 lead through seven innings at Fluor Field but, similar to their Triple-A counterparts, saw their bullpen give up five runs in the last two frames. Everlouis Lozada led the offense, narrowly missing hitting for the cycle. The second baseman hit a two-run homer in the fourth and added a single and a triple, scoring two and driving in four. Triston Casas made his first appearance since June 28 and he picked up where he left off. Boston's top ranked prospect singled and walked twice, extending his streak of reaching base to 20 consecutive games. Starter Brayan Bello allowed just two runs on three hits in five innings but battled some control issues. The right-hander issued five walks and needed 85 pitches to complete those five frames.
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The unstoppable Spinners did it again Thursday afternoon as Marino Campana blasted a two-run walkoff homer. It was the second straight walkoff for Lowell, the fifth straight win, and it moves them to 15-4 on the season. Gilberto Jimenez continues to be a catalyst. He ripped an RBI double in the first inning and added a single and a walk, pushing his average back up to .386. Joe Davis added a pair of RBI with his two singles.
Starter Aldo Ramirez was again solid, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in four innings. He struck out four without walking a batter, giving him 19 punchouts against just four free passes. Ryan Fernandez was notable out of the bullpen, surrendering just one hit in three shutout innings.
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It was a frustrating morning for the Sox, who left 15 men on base, including the tying run at second base in the ninth. Jacob Herbert had three hits, while Dean Miller notched his first double as a pro. Dominic D'Alessandro had two hits and a walk. The first baseman has multi-hit games in two of his last three outings and is now 8 for 18 (.444) as a pro. Starter Jorge Rodriguez allowed two runs in five innings, striking out four and walking one. Yoelvis Guedez allowed a run in his 1 1/3 of relief, getting saddled with the loss.
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A pair of highly-touted bats from Boston's 2018-19 International haul had three hit games as the Sox fell short. Eduardo Vaughan blasted his first professional homer as part of a 3-for-4 effort. His outfield-mate Eduardo Lopez was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Carlos Velez allowed just one hit in four innings but was doomed by control issues, walking seven and allowing three runs.
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Gregori Custodio led the way, notching a single and double during regulation and then scoring the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the automatic runner. Angeudis Santos plated Custodio on his second hit of the day. Starter Reidis Sena turned in a strong effort, giving up one run on just two hits in five innings, striking out four and walking two. Jose Ramirez surrendered an unearned run during his three innings of relief, and Emerson Ortiz struck out four in two scoreless innings to get credit for the win.
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Player of the Day: While Summer of Dalbec II is the ongoing story in the organization, Oscar Hernandez was the standout performer on Independence Day. After traveling across the Atlantic as the emergency catcher, Hernandez and his mates were freed from the United Kingdom follwing a weekend that had Red Sox fans ready to start dumping tea into the harbor. Making matters worse, the bullpen implosion overseas left the Sox with the need for an arm, and Hernandez was a victim of a roster crunch, getting designated for assignment on Tuesday. Outrighted to Pawtucket, he got his first game action since June 22 and celebrated with a homer along with four hits that raised his batting average 42 points.
Photo Credit: Bobby Dalbec by Kelly O'Connor