August 25, 2019 at 9:06 AM
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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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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Starter Konner Wade didn't leave the Portland offense much to do Saturday night, as he scattered four hits across seven shut out innings. Wade was backed up by his bullpen who completed the shut out, with Eduard Bazardo and Dedgar Jimenez combining for two scoreless frames and three strikeouts. At the plate, Luke Tendler doubled and scored the Sea Dogs lone run on the night. Joey Curletta also chipped in with a double.
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Salem Red Sox 6, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC) 5 (Continued from 8/23)
Salem was able to finish off the game started Friday evening, as Devlin Granberg scored on a wild pitch to walk off the Pelicans. Joan Martinez picked up where he left off in the suspended game, firing an inning in which he allowed an unearned run to earn the win.
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In the second game of their makeshift doubleheader, Garret Benge was excellent to lead Salem to victory. The third baseman was a one-man wrecking crew, smacking a double as part of a four-hit, three-RBI night. Grant Williams added two singles and a run scored, while Keith Curcio contributed a double and a walk. While Benge did what he had to do at the plate, Enmanuel De Jesus was equally strong on the dish for the Red Sox. The lefty scattered three hits across seven scoreless innings, striking out seven. Yoan Aybar allowed a run in his lone inning out of the pen, and Dominic LoBrutto secured the win with a scoreless ninth.
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The Greenville pitching staff silenced the Asheville bats, as Hunter Haworth put in one of his best performances of 2019. Haworth went a season-high seven frames, striking out two in his shutout performance. Robbie Baker followed with a scoreless eighth, and Yorvin Pantoja finished things off with an immaculate ninth. At the plate, Triston Casas snapped out of a month-long power drought with a home run and was joined in the home run column by Tyler Esplin, who launched his fifth of the year. Alan Marrero also chipped in as he added a double, an RBI and a run scored.
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The Spinners scraped a win against the Lake Monsters thanks to timely offense and gutsy pitching performances. Although remarkably not involved in the scoring, Gilberto Jimenez had an excellent night at the plate by collecting four singles. Nick Northcut led the way at the plate for the Spinners, smacking a double as a part of a three-hit night in which he scored twice. Stephen Scott secured the victory for the Spinners with his home run in the ninth.
Continuing the excellent start to his professional career, Chris Murphy allowed just one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Miguel Suero relieved him and was excellent, firing 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball and striking out four. The Lake Monsters retook the lead in the eighth, but Osvaldo Ramirez buckled down and finished the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.
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An offensive barrage helped the GCL Red Sox overcome the Twins, as six batters collected multiple hits. Dean Miller's strong start to his professional career continued, as he launched his fourth home run of the season and drove in three runs. The rehabbing Roldani Baldwin put in a strong performance with a three-hit night, and not to be outdone Ceddanne Rafaela notched three singles while driving in a trio of runs and scoring twice. Also chipping in were Dominic D'Alessandro, Bramdon Perez, and Karson Simas who smacked two hits apiece, with D'Alessandro adding a double.
On the mound for the Red Sox Brock Bell put in a solid performance, as he allowed an earned run and struck out two in as many innings. Jorge Rodriguez followed him in a piggyback role and struck out seven men across five one-run innings. Closing things out was Devon Roehdahl, who allowed one run in his two innings out of the bullpen.
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The Red Sox1 may have finished out of the playoff race, but they ended the regular season in style. Eduardo Lopez kicked things off in the second inning with an RBI double and would go on to add a single and a run scored. Imanol Contreras chipped in with a lone double, while Albert Feliz and Eddinson Paulino each added a double and a single apiece. Joining in on the doubles barrage, Darel Belen led the Red Sox in the hit column with a three-hit afternoon.
Getting the start for the Red Sox, Nixson Munoz finished his strong summer by striking out five batters in as many scoreless frames. Cristofe Tineo and Johan Martinez followed him with a scoreless inning apiece, while Isaac Pinales closed things out with two shutout innings out of the 'pen.
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Although out of the playoff race, the Red Sox found themselves able to withstand a late-inning surge from the Indians to secure the win. Henry Morales had by far the best performance of his professional career as he smacked three doubles, scored three times, and drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Red Sox. Joining Morales with three hits, Axel James added a double of his own. Bryan Gonzalez and Frank Astacio chipped in with two singles and an RBI apiece. Efren Diaz was on the mound for the Red Sox and got things started off on the right foot, by striking out four across three scoreless innings. The bullpen took over from there and struggled, but held off the Indians with Emerson Ortiz earning the save.
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Player of the Day: In one of his best performances of 2019, Enmanuel De Jesus smothered the Pelicans offense. The lefty is wrapping up what has been a predictably solid campaign that has seen him pitch to a 3.75 ERA. He also eclipsed his career-high in innings pitched with his dominant start.
Photo Credit: Enmanuel De Jesus by Kelly O'Connor