Cup of Coffee: Chavis homers twice, Reyes dominates

8/31 Cup of Coffee: Michael Chavis shined in his rehab assignment with Pawtucket, while Denyi Reyes pitched well in Portland’s win. Triston Casas homered for Greenville and Salem held on to their 2 1/2 game lead.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 4 (Game 1)

Michael Chavis and C.J. Chatham carried the PawSox to a win. Chavis, the former top prospect who is on a rehab assignment, homered twice and drove in four runs. Chatham went 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. Erasmo Ramirez allowed eight hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings, but still grabbed the win. Bobby Poyner got the save with 1 1/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 4 (Game 2)

Domingo Tapia let this one slip away late by giving up four runs in the seventh. Mike Shawaryn started and allowed three runs on five hits over five innings. Cole Sturgeon went 2 for 3 with a walk, Oscar Hernandez homered, and Jantzen Witte doubled for the 22nd time.

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Cup of Coffee: Cannon, Jimenez lead Lowell to playoffs

8/30 Cup of Coffee: The Spinners entered the day with a great opportunity to clinch the Stedler, with a magic number of one and Noah Song and Chris Murphy, both with sub-0.70 ERAs, the doubleheader's scheduled starters. While neither was quite as dominant as fans have been accustomed, both were solid and an offensive burst in the nightcap led by Cameron Cannon  (pictured) and Gilberto Jimenez brought the division title to LeLacheur Park. Salem got a masterful effort for Enmanuel De Jesus in a pitchers duel to solidify its playoff chances, while Portland also turned in a shutout victory. Pawtucket was able to play spoiler in its doubleheader, gaining the split to knock Scranton down into a tie in the International League North

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Pawtucket Red Sox 9, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 5 (Game 1, 8 innings)

Juan Centeno delivered a dramatic victory in the opener, blasting a walk-off grand slam in extra innings. Centeno had previously doubled, singled, and stolen a base. Josh Ockimey had a big game as well, going 3 for 3 with his 25th homer of the year, doubling twice, and getting hit by a pitch. Starter Teddy Stankiewicz allowed four runs  (three earned) on five hits in six innings. Colten Brewer got credit for the win, giving up an unearned run on one hit in two innings.

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Minor Notes: Casas named All-Star, Dalbec primed for big leagues

Here are Thursday's minor league notes: 

• The SoxProspects.com podcast team was back at it this week, this time sharing their scouting notes from recent trips to Portland and Greenville. Following scouting discussions with Ian (@IanCundall), Chris (@SPChrisHatfield) sat down with Red Sox VP of Amateur Scouting Mike Rikard to discuss scouting, specifically in regards to the 2019 draft class.  

• One member of the Red Sox 2019 draft class who is turning heads is third-round pick Ryan Zeferjahn. The tall right-hander initially struggled as a professional while dealing with a hangnail that prevented him from throwing his slider, but he has quickly turned things around in August, tossing 11 shutout innings and striking out 14 since August 9. SoxProspects.com's Ian Cundall was on hand to see Zeferjahn in his most recent start, and was impressed with what he saw. 

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Cup of Coffee: Three hits for Osinski; Suarez homers

8/29 Cup of Coffee: It was a light day for the system, as rain swept through the northeast and wiped out two of the six games on the docket. The threat of Hurricane Dorian will cause the GCL season to end after play on Thursday and the Red Sox look to end the season on a high note after winning on Wednesday behind three-hit performances from Ceddanne Rafaela and Angel Maita. In Portland, Matthew Kent pitched five effective innings, but the sixth inning proved to be the Sea Dogs' undoing. Michael Osinski (pictured) had three hits, including a pair of doubles in Salem's lopsided loss. Kervin Suarez added a two-run home run for Greenville as well.

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Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Postponed (Rain)

The contest was pushed back to Thursday because of steady rain throughout the afternoon. A doubleheader will begin at 4:35 p.m.

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Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) 7, Portland Sea Dogs 2

Portland scored two runs early, but a six-run sixth inning for the home side proved to be the difference. After five frames of one-run ball, Matthew Kent only recorded one out in the sixth and the first three runs of the inning went on his tab after two singles and a walk. Anyelo Gomez did not fare much better in relief, as he issued free passes to the first two batters he faced, followed by a strikeout sandwiched between two hits. Adam Lau did not surrender a hit across 2 1/3 innings to end the game. The Sea Dogs notched only two hits, of which two came from Tommy Joseph, who also recorded both RBI on a single in the second.

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Cup of Coffee: Curletta powers Portland sweep; Zeferjahn leads playoff push

8/28 Cup of Coffee: It was a big day down on the farm, with an impressive array of starters on the mound and the two teams in playoff contention both solidifying their holds in their respective races. Salem cruised to victory despite ace Thaddeus Ward getting knocked out with an injury in the first inning. Ryan Zeferjahn continues to dominate, helping Lowell lower its magic number to two games. Joey Curletta (pictured, left) had a big day at the plate in Portland's doubleheader, supporting a strong start by Daniel McGrath in the opener and a no-hit bid in a bullpenning nightcap. 

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

The PawSox couldn't take advantage of an opportunity to play spolier as Scranton moved back into sole possession of first place in the International League North. Ryan Weber gave up two runs on nine hits in 5 2/3, striking out six and walking one. Of Pawtucket's three hits, only a Jantzen Witte double went for extra bases. Michael Chavis continued his rehab, going 1 for 3 and playing seven innings at second base.

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Podcast Ep. #164: Scouting catch-up pt. 2/Catching up with Mike Rikard

After focusing on the Lowell Spinners last episode, Chris and Ian emptied their scouting notebooks, which they filled in recent weeks with stops to see the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs. As if that weren't enough, Red Sox VP of Amateur Scouting Mike Rikard joined the podcast to talk about scouting for the draft generally and the 2019 draft class in particular.

Listen in!

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Cup of Coffee: Dalbec and Ockimey go yard, Jimenez homers in Lowell

8/27 Cup of Coffee: It was an up and down night for the Red Sox affiliates, who saw some excellent performances on both sides of the plate. Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey kept their power surge alive with a home run apiece. In Portland, Charlie Madden (pictured) put the team on his back to earn the Sea Dogs a win. In Winston-Salem, Jhonathan Diaz and the Red Sox pitching staff shut out the Dash, and Gilberto Jimenez had yet another impressive performance despite the Lowell loss.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

A home run each from Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey was not enough for the Red Sox, as they fell at home Monday night. Outside of the two long balls, only Jantzen Witte was able to do much of anything for Pawtucket, finishing with two singles and an RBI, though CJ Chatham chipped in with a pair of walks. After surrendering an early run, Kyle Hart cruised through the RailRiders lineup to finish with four strikeouts in six innings pitched. However, the bullpen struggled to close out the game, with Bobby Poyner and Travis Lakins allowed five runs in two innings. Sandwiched between them, Tanner Houck was excellent as he struck out four batters in two innings out of the 'pen.

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Minor Notes: Season winds down, full-season all-stars named

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• Be sure to check out the most recent SoxProspects.com podcast, where Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall discuss the DSL prospects that were sent to Baltimore for Andrew Cashner. They also talk about the 2020 big league bench options, promotions, and the Lowell Spinners. 
• Ryan Fitzgerald was named a full-season all-star in the Carolina League. The 25-year old shortstop hit .275/.352/.373 with 32 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases. 
• Bobby Dalbec and C.J. Chatham were also named full-season all-stars for the Eastern League. Chatham followed a very good 2018 with a steady 2019 in his first taste of Double-A. The 2016 second-round shortstop hit .297/.333/.403 with 26 doubles in 90 games for Portland. He has since been called up to Pawtucket, where he is hitting .273 with four doubles and two long balls in 12 games. Dalbec's power has been on display all season, with 20 home runs in 105 games for the Sea Dogs. He also showed good patience at the plate with 68 walks and a .371 OBP. He has also been called up to Triple-A, where he is hitting .295 with four doubles and five home runs in 21 games. 

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Cup of Coffee: Politi remains unhittable; Dalbec blasts another

8/26 Cup of Coffee: There was only one victory down on the farm on Sunday, but it was an important one as Andrew Politi (pictured) tossed five no-hitting innings to help Salem hold onto its first-place position, inching closer to a Carolina League playoff berth. Greenville and Portland rallies fell short, despite the efforts of Jordan Wren and Marcus Wilson. Bobby Dalbec took a top prospect deep and Gilberto Jimenez continued his hitting streak, both in losing efforts.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 4 (11 innings) 

The PawSox were outhit 13 to six, but the Bisons needed extra frames to secure the win. Mike Shawaryn continued to transition back into the more traditional starter's role he occupied early in the season. The right-hander went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits, and throwing 74 pitches. Both runs came on solo homers, including the first Triple-A blast of old friend Santiago Espinal. Shawaryn struck out three and did not issue a walk. Shawaryn ramping back up to a starter's workload may be notable, as he's positioned to start the next time Brian Johnson's turn comes up in the rotation, should the club feel compelled to make a move. 

Bobby Dalbec had a big day at the plate. The third baseman homered for the second straight day, this time off top pitching prospect Nate Pearson, and added a single and a walk. Bryce Brentz also went deep, his 18th of the season.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas and Dalbec go yard, as De Jesus dazzles

8/25 Cup of Coffee: It was a banner day for the Red Sox farm system, as the affiliates swept the competition. Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey homered to lift Pawtucket, while in Portland, Konner Wade headlined an excellent pitching performance. Garret Benge and Enmanuel De Jesus (pictured) helped lead Salem to victory with a pair of herculean efforts, while in Greenville, a Triston Casas homer helped the Drive overcome the Tourists. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 2

A home run from Bobby Dalbec opened the scoring and a home run from Josh Ockimey closed the scoring as the PawSox downed the Bisons. Ockimey pinch hit for a rehabbing Michael Chavis, who had a successful night at the plate as he notched two doubles as part of a three-hit evening. Tzu-Wei Lin joined Ockimey and Dalbec in the home run column with a solo shot of his own, while Gorkys Hernandez joined Chavis in notching a trio of hits. Erasmo Ramirez had a solid night on the mound, allowing two runs in his six innings pitched. The bullpen took over in the seventh and never looked back, as Bobby Poyner, Tanner Houck, and Travis Lakins each fired a scoreless frame to close out the game. 

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Cup of Coffee: Scherff, Kent turn in solid outings

8/24 Cup of Coffee: Alex Scherff (pictured) and Matthew Kent each turned in brilliant outings, but Scherff was the one who got all the run support. Pawtucket hit a trio of home runs and Kervin Suarez did plenty of damage for Greenville. Salem had their game suspended in extra innings. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 2

The PawSox used three solo home runs to their advantage, as Tzu-Wei Lin, Cole Sturgeon, and Rusney Castillo each went deep. For Castillo, it was his 17th home run of the year, a career-high. The trio each added another hit as well. Teddy Stankiewicz picked up the win with a solid effort through 5 2/3 innings, as he surrendered just two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and only one walk. Colten Brewer struck out three in 1 1/3 innings, while Hector Velazquez and Trevor Kelley each tossed a scoreless frame to close it out, with Kelley striking out two and grabbing his 12th save. Michael Chavis went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his rehab appearance. 

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Cup of Coffee: Chatham goes deep; McGrath falls short

8/23 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough day on the farm, with as many teams getting eliminated from their perspective playoff races as there were victories. A day after Pawtucket and the GCL Red Sox were officially knocked out, losses by Greenville and the DSL Red Sox1 ended the playoff hopes for those squads. A rare less-than-dominating effort by Daniel McGrath pushed the Sea Dogs to the brink as well. A CJ Chatham (pictured) homer wasn't enough to push the PawSox past Scranton, and Lowell saw its division lead continue to dwindle despite the work of Nick Decker and Ryan Zeferjahn. Danny Diaz blasted a game-winning homer for the DSL Red Sox2, while Yoelvis Guedez was the highlight of a stellar 15-strikeout effort by the GCL Sox staff.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The PawSox fell for the ninth time in their last 11 contests despite the best efforts of Cole Sturgeon. The leadoff hitter was 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and run scored. CJ Chatham blasted his second home run in 10 games since joining Pawtucket. He had three all season with Portland before the promotion. Ryan Weber took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in eight innings.

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Minor Notes: Groome returns to action, McGrath close to making history

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• Sixth-ranked prospect Jay Groome made his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2018. The left-hander struck out two and allowed one hit in his one inning of work on Wednesday. With the minor league season nearing an end Groome will likely only get one or two more appearances in, but seeing him healthy and succeeding is a huge step in the right direction heading into 2020. 

• Josh Herzenberg of Fangraphs.com watched the Lowell Spinners over the weekend and had good write-ups on both Noah Song and Gilberto Jimenez. He had Song's fastball up to 97, while he graded Jimenez out as "at least a 70 runner". 

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Cup of Coffee: Casas drills two doubles; Groome retuns

Cup of Coffee 8/22: It was a true mixed bag for the system on Wednesday, as three affiliates had doubleheaders and they split each of them, with a blowout loss for Salem contrasted with a huge victory for the DSL1 squad. Jay Groome returned to game action for the first time since Tommy John surgery during last season and struck out a pair of hitters in his inning of work. Triston Casas (pictured) also seemed to start to come out of his slump, as he notched a pair of two-base hits to go along with a Tyler Dearden home run for Greenville in a come-from-behind win.Gorkys and Oscar Hernandez each had multi-hit performances in Pawtucket. Casey Sutherland pitched five shutout frames in relief for the GCL team in the second half of the twin bill, while Bramdon Perez was 3 for 4 in the opener.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

The game was tied 2-2 after the second and remained that way until the eighth, when a pair of runs were split between Kyle Hart and Trevor Kelley. Hart pitched 7 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on six hits, with two walks against five punch outs. Kelley's run came in 2/3 of an inning on a singular hit. The Hernandez's, Gorkys and Oscar, each turned in multi-hit games. Cole Sturgeon, as well as Oscar, drove in the Pawtucket runs. 

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Cup of Coffee: 11-hit attack leads Pawtucket; Reyes struggles in Portland

8/21 Cup of Coffee: The Pawtucket offense was the highlight of the night with several players having multi-hit nights or continuing recent hot streaks. Denyi Reyes was hit hard for the Sea Dogs and Kevin Biondic struggled to control his knuckleball in Greenville. In the Dominican both Eduardo Lopez and Danny Diaz both had solid performances as they look to close their seasons out on a high note.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 4
Gorkys Hernandez finished a home run shy of the cycle and Oscar Hernandez launched a two-run home run to lead the PawSox. It was another good night for C.J. Chatham as he went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI to raise his average to .314 with the PawSox with a .791 OPS. Jantzen Witte also went 2 for 5 with a double, and Bobby Dalbec went 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout. His line is now up to .333/.375/.561 over 57 at-bats in Pawtucket.

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Cup of Coffee: Davis, Groshans power Lowell, Jimenez stays hot

8/20 Cup of Coffee: An exciting finish in Portland highlighted an otherwise quiet day in the Red Sox system. Home runs from Marcus Wilson and Joey Curletta, and a strong debut from Tommy Joseph was not enough, as the Sea dogs fell in the tenth. In Lowell, Joe Davis (pictured) had an explosive day at the plate, while strong showings from Jaxx Groshans and Gilberto Jimenez sealed a victory for the Spinners. 

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 11, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

The Red Sox failed to score a run until the ninth inning, as they found themselves on the wrong end of a rout. Things came apart quickly for Pawtucket as starter Erasmo Ramirez was tagged for seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings pitched. Domingo Tapia and Bobby Poyner followed and combined to strike out 5 across 3 2/3 innings, but the damage had already been done. There were some promising signs at the plate despite the low run total, as both CJ Chatham and Gorkys Hernandez doubled. Cole Sturgeon also had a solid game from the leadoff spot, singling twice and driving in the lone Pawtucket run of the evening.  

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Podcast Ep. #163: I want to be from hot waters

The annual summer hiatus is over. Chris and Ian return to update you with the latest from around the Red Sox' system. First up, they share insights on the DSL guys dealt for Andrew Cashner. The guys do a back of the envelope review of the 2020 big league club bench. From there, Chris goes over the late season promotions. With that covered, Ian and Chris talk about the Lowell Spinners. And man, that club is interesting. There isn't a night where you won't see a dude on the hill. Chris and Ian break down who's shoving, raking and the guys who just need the offseason to get here. In closing, the guys crack open the mailbag to get to your questions.

Listen in!

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Cup of Coffee: Haworth takes no-hitter into sixth; Cannon powers Spinners

8/19 Cup of Coffee: A no-hit bid by Greenville's Hunter Haworth (pictured) and a Lowell attack led by Cameron Cannon and Gilberto Jimenez highlighted the affiliates two Sunday victories. Haworth combined with a pair of relievers on a five-hitter, while Lowell's victory helped open up its division lead. Salem missed a chance to bolster its playoff chances, getting swept in a doubleheader. The PawSox lost a heartbreaker despite some strong individual performances, while little went right for Portland, who dropped to fourth place in the Eastern Division. 

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Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

Another strong start by Teddy Stankiewicz wasn't enough to get the PawSox back into the win column, as they dropped a stunner in the ninth. Stankiewicz, allowed just two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings, striking out eight against just one walk. The second-round pick back in 2013 has been on one of the best runs of his pro career of late: it was his fourth straight start with two or fewer runs allowed and his 4.06 ERA ranks fourth in the offense-inflated 2019 International League. The righty departed with the lead, but the normally stingy Trevor Kelley was not able to nail down the victory. Kelly, who entered the day with a 1.55 ERA, allowed a two-run ninth inning homer to former first rounder Daz Cameron. Tanner Houck had pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out one. Houck has allowed a run in just three of his 11 Triple-A outings. CJ Chatham led the way at the plate, extending his hitting streak to five games with a 2-for-5 effort.

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Cup of Coffee: McGrath hurls Sea Dogs to vicory

8/18 Cup of Coffee: It was a quiet night on the Red Sox farm system, with only two affiliates winning games Saturday evening. Daniel McGrath (pictured) was excellent once again as he pitched Portland to victory, while Lowell fell despite an excellent start from Chris Murphy.

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Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

Despite notching eight hits, the Pawtucket offense was quieted Saturday night as they fell to the Mud Hens. Jantzen Witte had the best night at the plate, singling and doubling while driving in the lone PawSox run on the evening. Also collecting multiple hits were Cole Sturgeon and Bobby Dalbec, who each singled twice. Rusney Castillo notched the PawSox lone extra-base hit of the night with a double. Ryan Weber got the start and was tagged for three runs in four innings. Mike Shawaryn tossed three scoreless frames in relief, while Colten Brewer allowed two runs (one earned) in his inning pitched, and Domingo Tapia tossed a scoreless ninth.

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Cup of Coffee: Song, Bello deal

8/17 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket and Lowell had the long ball working, as the two teams combined for six home runs, including Bobby Dalbec and C.J. Chatham. Brayan Bello (pictured) was brilliant over seven innings for Greenville, and Thaddeus Ward was solid for Salem. Ian Cundall was in attendance to see Bryan Mata throw for Portland, while Noah Song was outstanding in his three innings of work. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 4

The ball was flying for the Sox, as Bobby Dalbec, C.J. Chatham, and Jantzen Witte each went deep. It was Chatham's first home run with the PawSox. Chatham and Dalbec also added doubles. Kyle Hart picked up his ninth victory of the season with six solid frames, allowing just two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Bobby Poyner and Trevor Kelley each added a scoreless inning as well, with Kelley notching his 11th save. 

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 4, Portland Sea Dogs 2

Bryan Mata started this one and surrendered seven hits and four runs across six innings, but SoxProspects.com's Ian Cundall, who was in attendance, noted that Mata's outing was better than his line indicated, as he sat at 96 MPH with his fastball and retired the final nine hitters he faced. Jordan Weems and Robinson Leyer tossed shutout frames, with all three of Leyer's outs coming via the strikeout. At the plate, Jarren Duran stayed hot by going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Cundall also noted Duran's quick bat speed and ability to hit to all fields. Luke Tendler also had a 2-for-4 night. 

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Cup of Coffee: Tanner Houck dominates in PawSox 'pen

8/16 Cup of Coffee: Some days everything clicks right in the system, with individual and team performances coming together to craft an alchemy of thrilling wins backed by compelling narratives. Thursday was not that kind of day. Indeed, there were some standout efforts, such as the continued emergence of Tanner Houck (pictured) as a force in the bullpen and the second-half surge of Jhonathan Diaz in Salem. But the offensive production largely dried up, leading to the affiliates submitting a woeful 0-for-9 day.

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Norfolk Tides 8, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

Matinee baseball at McCoy Stadium on a sunny 78-degree afternoon would never be described as dreary, but the on-field product on Thursday was befitting of more foul climes. Tanner Houck was the notable baseball-centric highlight, striking out five of the seven batters he faced in two hitless innings of relief. The only player who reached base off of the 2017 first-round pick was hit by a pitch, and the International League is hitting a meager .167 off of the right-hander. It was a tough day for starter Josh Smith, who gave up seven runs on 12 hits in three innings. Cole Sturgeon and Jantzen Witte both doubled, the only extra-base hits recorded by the Pawtucket lineup.

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Minor Notes: Castellanos finds his stroke, Chatham debuts for Pawtucket

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• For the third time in as many weeks, Sea Dogs pitcher Daniel McGrath is taking home Eastern League silverware. The lefty took home the Pitcher of the Week award following a pair of dominant starts in which he tossed 13 innings and struck out 16, good for a 0.69 ERA. 

• There were two key promotions in the Sox system this past week, with Travis Lakins making his return to the majors and CJ Chatham earning his first promotion to Triple-A. Lakins has been called up once again amid troubles in the Red Sox bullpen, with the hope that a fresh arm can help the beleaguered Red Sox bullpen. Meanwhile, Chatham has been rewarded for yet another solid season in which he leads Portland in both hits and doubles.

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Cup of Coffee: Grant Williams goes 3 for 4; 8 punch outs for Gabriel Jackson

Cup of Coffee 8/15: The rookie teams played well, as the three teams went 4-0 and DSL Red Sox1 and the GCL team pounded out 13 and 14 hits, respectively. Dean Miller recorded four hits for the GCL squad, while teammate Dominic D'Allesandro had three hits, matching the total from the DSL pair of Alex Zapete and Nelfy Abreu. Moises Barajas helped DSL Red Sox1 walk off with the win. Gabriel Jackson had the best start of the low minors, notching eight strikeouts in five innings. However, Pawtucket squandered an early lead and Greenville was shut out. In Salem, Grant Williams (pictured) made the most of his debut, scoring two runs in a 3-for-4 performance. Portland also split its doubleheader with Hartford, while Lowell was rained out. 

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Norfolk Tides (BAL) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

Erasmo Ramirez gave up a run in the second and three more in the third, but managed to give the PawSox six innings of work. Mike Shawaryn, Colten Brewer and Hector Velazquez each delivered a shutout inning. Trevor Kelley allowed a walk and a single to load the bases in the 10th before another free pass gave Norfolk the lead. Gorkys Hernandez and Juan Centeno each had two hits, including a pair of RBI base knocks for Hernandez.  

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Cup of Coffee: Chatham debuts for PawSox; Castellanos homers twice

8/14 Cup of Coffee: C.J. Chatham's promotion to Pawtucket took a back seat to Pedro Castellanos (pictured) and Salem's offense on Tuesday, as Castellanos hit two home runs and Salem scored 11 times. Jarren Duran was removed from the game in the fifth inning, but there is no word on if this was due to injury or a manager's decision.

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Norfolk Tides (BAL) 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 0
Teddy Stankiewicz was the tough-luck losing pitcher as the PawSox could not do anything against the Tides. Stankiewicz struck out six without walking a batter over 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Ryan Brasier continued to find his footing in Pawtucket as he struck out the side in the ninth and lowered his ERA to 1.08 over 8 1/3 innings.

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Cup of Coffee: Murphy, Cannon, and Jimenez stay hot in Lowell win

8/13 Cup of Coffee: It was a successful, if quiet, day in the Red Sox system as three of four affiliates emerged victorious. A group effort at the plate saw Greenville narrowly defeat the GreenJackets, while a pitching staff led by Chris Murphy (pictured) helped Lowell win their 32nd game of the season. 

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Greenville Drive 6, Augusta GreenJackets (SFG) 5

Tyler Esplin led an offensive attack that just managed to hold off Augusta for the victory Monday night. Esplin notched three hits, including a triple, while Tyler Dearden added a double and three hits of his own. Korby Batesole had a productive night at the plate, as he doubled, singled and drove in a trip of runs. Not to be outdone, Alan Marrero launched a solo home run and walked, good for an RBI and two runs scored.

Alex Scherff had an up-and-down night on the mound for Greenville; striking out seven but allowing four runs (one earned) in as many innings pitched. Coming out of the bullpen, Angel Padron was excellent, tossing three shutout innings and striking out four. Brendan Nail attempted to close out the game for the Drive but was pulled in favor of Devon Fisher after loading the bases in the ninth. Fisher got the final out of the contest to earn his first save of 2019.

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Minor Notes: Song impresses, Owings called up

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• After Hector Velazquez was optioned to Pawtucket, Boston called up Chris Owings to make his Red Sox debut Sunday. As Chris Cotillo details for MassLive.com, Owings had to catch a flight at 5:45 a.m. before leading off and playing second base for the Red Sox' afternoon tilt with the Angels. 
• Chris Hatfield was in attendance to watch Noah Song throw for Lowell on Saturday. He had some tweets about what he saw, including a fastball that touched 95 MPH and a changeup that was his best secondary offering. Gilberto Jimenez also flashed his 80-grade speed. 

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Cup of Coffee: Jimenez tallies five hits in twinbill; McGrath again solid

8/12 Cup of Coffee: Two of the hottest players in the Red Sox system were on display on Sunday afternoon. While Lowell netted just nine hits while getting swept in its doubleheader, scorching-hot Gilberto Jimenez (pictured) was responsible for five of them. Meanwhile, Daniel McGrath has been so stingy all year that his six-inning effort with one earned run allowed caused his ERA to go up. McGrath wasn't the only long-tenured farmhand named Daniel to turn in a strong pitching effort in victory, as Salem's Daniel Gonzalez led the way for the Sox. Pawtucket fell despite a pair of exciting rallies, while Greenville dropped a decision even with its staff landing a number of punch-outs. 

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Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

The PawSox and their shuffled pitching staff fell in the rubber game off a three-game set in Toledo. Erasmo Ramirez, scheduled to be the starter, was scratched before game time with Tanner Houck getting the call instead. This led to come speculation that Ramirez may have been summed to join a major league squad that is in desperate need of some innings. However, Ramirez ended up pitching the eighth inning, striking out a pair and giving up one hit. Meanwhile, Houck had been working as a traditional reliever since July 6 but was in more of an opener role on Sunday, throwing just the first inning and giving up one run. Colton Brewer took the loss, giving up three runs in two innings.

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Cup of Coffee: Shugart dazzles, Dalbec homers again

8/11 Cup of Coffee: Dominant pitching performances were the theme of the night as four affiliates held their opponents to one run or less. Thaddeus Ward continued to roll in Salem, while Chase Shugart (pictured) was once again dominant to earn Greenville the win. Noah Song was excellent in his abbreviated start as Lowell won their contest, and an offensive outburst from Cedanne Rafaela helped the GCL Red Sox split their doubleheader.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 5

A power surge from the Pawtucket offense was just enough to see the PawSox to victory Saturday night. Rusney Castillo got things started in the first inning with a two run home run, and would also double to round out his four-RBI performance. With his second home run in as many days, Bobby Dalbec continued his hot start to his Triple-A career, while scoring a pair of runs. From the leadoff spot, Tzu-Wei Lin notched three singles, and Josh Ockimey and Cole Sturgeon each added a double apiece. 

Mike Shawaryn started things off well by striking out six in three scoreless innings, but Toledo struck back by reaching Jenrry Mejia for two runs in as many innings. Earning the win, Ryan Brasier fired a scoreless inning with two strike outs, and Trevor Kelley collected his tenth save of the season despite allowing a run in the ninth.  

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Cup of Coffee: Wilson leads Portland to win

8/10 Cup of Coffee: Marcus Wilson (pictured) led the way for Portland, racking up three extra-base hits. Lowell got some tremendous pitching performances, including 2019 draft pick Ryan Zeferjahn. Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, and Gilberto Jimenez continued their solid years with good nights at the plate.

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Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 6

Bobby Dalbec played first base again for the PawSox and went 3 for 4 with a double and his first home run with Pawtucket. Dalbec is now hitting .391 since being promoted to Triple-A. Rusney Castillo also had a good night, going 2 for 4 with a double and his 15th home run of the year. Tzu-Wei Lin grabbed two hits as well. Kyle Hart started and struggled, allowing four runs on six hits in just 1 2/3 innings. Tanner Houck came on in relief and punched out five in 2 1/3 innings of work while giving up a run. Travis Lakins also threw a pair of shutout frames with three strikeouts.

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Cup of Coffee: Duran, Curletta power Sea Dogs rout

8/9 Cup of Coffee: It was a good night down on the farm, with some excellent performances against tough pitching matchups. Joey Curletta (pictured) led the charge for Portland against a recent first-round pick, while Jarren Duran provided insurance with his first homer in over two months. The PawSox jacked a pair against a rehabbing ace on their way to victory, while Salem finished off a long series with a win. Greenville fell despite a big effort by Everlouis Lozada, while Lowell could not get the timely hit it needed. It was a drastic split in the Dominican Summer League, with the Red Sox2 affiliate pulverizing its opponent with a 17-run day, while the Red Sox1 managed just three hits, all singles. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Columbus Clippers (CLE) 3

Chris Owings and Josh Ockimey both took two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber deep to help lead the Red Sox. Owings hit a solo shot in the first off the rehabbing Indians ace, and Ockimey followed in the second. An Owings double and Bobby Dalbec single were the PawSox' only other hits, but it was enough as Josh Smith turned in a quality start. Smith gave up just one run on two hits in six innings of work. Trevor Kelley threw a scoreless ninth to record the save. 

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Minor Notes: Granberg promoted to Salem; progress made in Worcester

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• After a slew of promotions last week there was one more that came through recently, with Devlin Granberg being promoted to Salem. A sixth-round pick in 2018, Granberg hit .286/.386/.434 with eight home runs for Greenville. The 23-year-old was rotating at first base with Triston Casas, and he will now be tested by the pitcher-friendly confines of Salem. 

• Salem also added Nick Sciortino as he was activated from the injured list after suffering a head injury, and to make room they sent Korby Batesole to Lowell and Charlie Madden to Portland. 

• Both Marco Hernandez and Josh Smith reported to Pawtucket after being optioned earlier in the week, while Kevin Lenik was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain. 

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Cup of Coffee: Murphy again dominant for Spinners

8/8 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night on the farm, with stateside affiliates getting just one win in six contests. Lowell dropped a heartbreaker in walk-off fashion despite yet another dominant outing from Chris Murphy (pictured, left). The PawSox also lost after a late comeback, while Portland was snakebitten on balls in play. The GCL Red Sox split its doubleheader, getting some strong pitching performances on both ends, while the two DSL squads were both victorious. 

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Columbus Clippers (CLE) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

Bobby Dalbec turned in his second multi-hit game in four games since his promotion, but it wasn't enough to lift the PawSox. Dalbec singled twice, bringing him to 5 for 16 since coming up from the Sea Dogs. Marco Hernandez and Josh Ockimey both doubled for Pawtucket. Teddy Stankiewicz got the start, allowing two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Columbus picked up a run apiece off Travis Lakins and Bobby Poyner to complete the comeback.

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Cup of Coffee: McGrath dazzles again; Lin homers twice

8/7 Cup of Coffee: Another spectacular start from Daniel McGrath (pictured, right) and two home runs from Tzu-Wei Lin highlighted an otherwise quiet night on the farm. After his scoreless streak ended at 46 1/3 innings in his last start, McGrath is already working on another streak as he fired seven scoreless innings on Tuesday.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Columbus Clippers (CLE) 4
Two home runs from Tzu-Wei Lin and a strong start from Erasmo Ramirez led Pawtucket to a win over the second best team in the International League. Lin hit both of his home runs in the first two innings, with a solo home run in the first followed by a two-run shot in the second. Chris Owings also hit a home run in the first, his 10th over the last 33 games. Lin's home runs were his first two of the season over 56 games between Boston and Pawtucket.

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Minor Notes: Dalbec highlights post-deadline promotions

Here are Tuesday's Minor League Notes:

• The SoxProspects.com donation drive continues through the month of August. We are thrilled to have reached our initial goal of $7,000 to help cover basic site expenses. Any additional money we raise helps with the costs of scouting trips that allow us to continue to provide the best coverage available of the Red Sox minor league system. 

• As is often the case, some promotions were announced in the days following the July 31 trade deadline. Third baseman Bobby Dalbec (pictured) was the most notable of the early-August promotions for a second consecutive season, moving up from Double-A Portland to the Pawtucket Red Sox. Dalbec was leading the Eastern League in both home runs and walks at the time of his promotion. Perhaps more importantly, the former Arizona Wildcat has cut down on the strikeouts, with only 21 in 122 July plate appearances. He made a quick impression, going 2 for 4 against Rochester in his PawSox debut. 

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Cup of Coffee: Song and Padron-Artiles dominate as Lowell falls

8/6 Cup of Coffee: It was a quiet night in the Red Sox system as just one full season affiliate was in action. In Greenville, the Drive staved off the Grasshoppers thanks to a home run from Cole Brannen and a strong performance from the bullpen. Lowell found themselves on the wrong side of a pitchers' duel as they fell despite excellent performances from Noah Song, Yusniel Padron-Artiles (pictured), and Cameron Cannon. 

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Greenville Drive 4, Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT) 3

The Drive overcame an early deficit thanks to Cole Brannen's first home run of 2019 and were able to hold off the Grasshoppers to earn the win. Devlin Granberg and Everlouis Lozada each laced a double. Brayan Bello had an up and down start, as he allowed two runs in four innings and struck out three. Coming out of the pen Yorvin Pantoja earned the win with two innings of one-run ball, while Yoan Aybar followed him with a pair of shutout frames. Alex Demchak slammed the door in the ninth, striking out the side en route to his third save of the year in the process.  

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Cup of Coffee: Duran doubles twice; Ockimey powers PawSox

8/5 Cup of Coffee: It was an exciting slate of pitchers going on Sunday, with four hurlers in the top 22 and a fifth in strong contention for the system's pitcher of the year. Kyle Hart and the PawSox were the only affiliate to emerge victorious with big assists from Josh Ockimey and the defense. A big night by Jarren Duran (pictured) couldn't overcome a very tough day for Bryan Mata as the Sea Dogs fell. Thaddeus Ward fell in a pitchers' duel in Salem, while a two double effort by Tyler Esplin wasn't enough for Greenville. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 3

A pair of second-inning homers and the presence of SoxProspects.com Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews helped the PawSox snap a four-game skid. Rusney Castillo ripped a line drive solo shot to lead off the second, his 14th of the season. Moments later, Josh Ockimey blasted his organization-leading 21st, a three-run blast that would prove decisive. Andrews pointed out a pair of key defensive plays that didn't show in the box score that preserved the win: Cole Sturgeon robbing a potential grand slam in the sixth inning, and a heads-up throw by Bobby Dalbec to force out a run at the plate. Kyle Hart earned the win, giving up two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3, striking out seven against one walk.

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Cup of Coffee: Reyes dominates as Dalbec debuts for Pawtucket

8/4 Cup of Coffee: Making his long-awaited Triple-A debut, Bobbly Dalbec was solid despite the PawSox loss. Elsewhere Denyi Reyes (pictured) spun a gem in a Portland victory, and Pedro Castellanos's recent power surge helped Salem overcome the Hillcats. 

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

Making his Triple-A debut, Bobby Dalbec put in a solid shift for the PawSox, singling twice in the Saturday night defeat. Batting in front of him, Chad De La Guerra singled and launched his 13th home run of the campaign, while Josh Ockimey launched his 20th home run of the season batting behind Dalbec. Chris Owings continued his red-hot form as he notched three hits (including a double), while Rusney Castillo drove in two with a double of his own. 

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July Players of the Month: Daniel McGrath and Chris Owings

With the minor league season entering its final month, two older players in the high minors came away with Player and Pitcher of the Month honors for July. Pawtucket infielder (and occasional outfielder) Chris Owings (pictured, right) was the easy choice for Player of the Month in his first full month with the organization, while left-hander Daniel McGrath (pictured, below) of the Sea Dogs earned his first Pitcher of the Month honor in his seventh year in the system. Both are unranked, but both ran away with the honor as they put together special July performances.

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Cup of Coffee: Wilson's go-ahead home run propels Portland

8/3 Cup of Coffee: Marcus Wilson's heroics for the Sea Dogs and Teddy Stankiewicz's (pictured, right) eight strikeouts were the performances of the night, with Wilson launching a go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning. Chris Murphy continued to impress over his first few professional starts, and Blake Loubier bounced back from a rough debut.

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Rochester Red Wings 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
It was a tie game in the eighth, but Domingo Tapia gave up five runs that put the game out of reach. Teddy Stankiewicz had a very strong start, striking out eight while allowing only two runs over seven innings. The right-hander was coming off a tough July that saw him pitch to a 6.18 ERA. There was not much offense to speak of, with the highlights being Gorkys Hernandez going 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Cole Sturgeon going 2 for 3 with a double and an outfield assist.

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Cup of Coffee: Dean Miller single short of cycle; quality start for Kent

Cup of Coffee 8/2: Only Portland and the GCL team were able to come home with wins, while both Salem and DSL Red Sox1 were swept in doubleheaders. The GCL team provided enough offense for the whole system, as Dean Miller was a single short of the cycle and had five RBI. Daniel Bakst also had three hits, while Bramdon Perez was 2 for 5. Matthew Kent turned in a quality start for Portland, while Jarren Duran (pictured) extended his hitting streak to 10 games and has seemed to have adjusted to Double-A after a challenging start after his promotion, while Gilberto Jimenez' hitting streak reached 11 games.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
The PawSox scored a run in the first and a run in the ninth, but it was not enough to top Syracuse. Chad De La Guerra drilled a home run in the final frame and Rusney Castillo earned an RBI on a fielder's choice during the first. Erasmo Ramirez pitched six innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits. He struggled with control, walking four batters against five strikeouts. Tanner Houck and Ryan Brasier each delivered a no-hit inning. Marco Hernandez also had two hits.

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Minor Notes: Lugo and Duran excel as Trade Deadline passes

Here are Thursday's Minor League Notes:

• Thanks to your generous contributions the SoxProspects.com donation drive reached its goal more than a month ahead of schedule! However, if you missed your chance to contribute, the drive will be running through the end of August. Any donation is greatly appreciated by our team, as we strive to bring you the best free prospect content on the internet.

• It's been a good week for the Red Sox system, as three players took home silverware in their respective leagues. Chris Owings and Pedro Castellanos took home the International League and Carolina League Player of the Week awards, respectively, thanks to power surges, while Daniel McGrath secured Pitcher of the Week honors in the Eastern League thanks to his remarkable scoreless streak.

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Cup of Coffee: 3 hits for Lugo, Chatham; McGrath shutout streak broken in strong start

Cup of Coffee 8/1: The Red Sox system had an uneven evening. Pawtucket seemed to have a win in hand with a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, but Syracuse came back to win. The two DSL squads struggled offensively and Greenville was shutout. However, Daniel McGrath and Ryan Weber (pictured) each turned in strong starts and C.J. Chatham was a triple short of the cycle. In addition, Matthew Lugo turned in a three-hit night and Jarren Duran extended his hitting streak to nine games. Danny Diaz drilled a three-run home run and Cameron Cannon went deep as well.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

Pawtucket seemed to have a stranglehold on the game with a 3-0 lead headed into the bottom of the eighth, but Hector Velazquez gave up a two-run home run and after a pitching change, a Travis Lakins wild pitch allowed the game-tying run to score. The Mets completed the comeback when a leadoff walk came around to score in the ninth. That erased a strong start from Ryan Weber, who pitched six innings of shutout, five-hit ball with seven strikeouts. Mike Shawaryn pitched a scoreless seventh. The Pawtucket offense came from Josh Ockimey, who was 2 for 3 with a three-run home run. Chris Owings and Cole Sturgeon each had two hits.

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