August 15, 2019 at 7:00 AM
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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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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Portland Sea Dogs 2, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 1 (7 Innings, Game 1)
In Game 1 of the twin bill, Portland scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning to secure the win. Jerry Downs doubled to tie the contest and scored on a bunt to give his team the lead. Downs was 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles. Jeremy Rivera also added a pair of base knocks. Konner Wade allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Dedgar Jimenez completed the contest with a pair of strikeouts.
Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 2, Portland Sea Dogs 0 (7 Innings, Game 2)
In another pitching duel, it was the home team that came out on top in the second half of the doubleheader. Portland committed three errors, leading to both runs scoring unearned. Kutter Crawford pitched two innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Eduard Bazardo surrendered the other run on one hit in the sixth. Matthew Gorst pitched three innings of shutout ball through the middle innings.
In another pitching duel, it was the home team that came out on top in the second half of the doubleheader. Portland committed three errors, leading to both runs scoring unearned. Kutter Crawford pitched two innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Eduard Bazardo surrendered the other run on one hit in the sixth. Matthew Gorst pitched three innings of shutout ball through the middle innings.
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The Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the seventh to secure the win on a pair of singles from Jagger Rusconi and Elih Marrero. Grant Williams had three hits and scored two runs in his Salem debut. Dylan Thompson pitched the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. Andrew Politi threw 3 2/3 shutout, four-hit frames in relief. Dominic LoBrutto closed the game out with a pair of strikeouts. Victor Acosta hit a home run, while Pedro Castellanos tripled.
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Kevin Biondic gave his team length, pitching seven innings, but he allowed five runs (two runs) on eight hits. Robbie Baker pitched a clean eighth inning to complete the game. On the offensive side, it was not much better, as only four batters recorded a hit, none of which went for extra bases.
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Lowell Spinners vs. Staten Island Yankees, Postponed (Rain)
The game will be made up on Thursday as part of a doubleheader.
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The Red Sox pounded out 14 hits, of which four came from Dean Miller, who also hit a triple. Dominic D'Allesandro was 3 for 5 with two RBI, while Oscar Rangel had a pair of RBI as well. Felix Cepeda surrendered two home runs as part of a six-hit, three-run start across four innings. The bullpen held down the final five frames, including 3 1/3 from Brandon Walter, who did not allow a hit and struck out three. Devin Roedahl pitched a clean ninth inning to earn his third save of 2019.
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The Red Sox committed four errors, but Alex Zapete and Nelfy Abreu each delivered 3-for-5 performances to lead the Red Sox to 13 hits and the win. Gabriel Jackson earned the start, allowing only an unearned run on six hits during his five-inning outing. He walked one and struck out eight. Beiker Pineda, Jesus Rosillo and Isaac Pinales combined to throw four innings of no-hit ball, though Rosillo walked four batters.
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DSL Red Sox2 4, DSL Indians/Brewers 3 (7 Innings, Game 1)
Unlike their DSL counterparts, who went on a hit parade, only five base knocks were enough to give the Red Sox the victory. Two came from Moises Barajas, who added an RBI double and hit a single to walk off with the win. In addition, Bryan Gonzalez drilled a two-run home run. Railin Perez pitched five innings, scattering one run on three hits. He also struck out four batters. Armando Acosta blew the save by allowing two runs in the seventh, but kept the game tied.
Eight of the nine starters in the line up notched a base hit, including an RBI triple from Bryan Gonzalez, who scored the go-ahead run on a Jose Navas single. Danny Diaz also drove in a run on a double. Andres Ortuno earned the start, pitching 3 1/3 shutout innings. He walked two and struck out three. Gregori Segovia pitched the final 2 1/3 frames, allowing only an unearned run on two hits. He also notched three punch outs.
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Player of the Day: It's never easy to move up a level, as the lack of familiarity works both ways. However, Grant Williams made the most of his debut is Salem, going 3 for 4 with two runs and a double. The 2018 10th-round pick was hitting .265/.322/.352 in Greenville before his promotion, with a home run and six triples. Williams does not have a carrying tool, but as minor league depth, he could play a lot of different roles in the system.
Photo Credit: Grant Williams by Kelly O'Connor
Photo Credit: Grant Williams by Kelly O'Connor