August 8, 2019 at 7:00 AM
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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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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The Lords of BABIP were not on the Sea Dogs side, as Erie managed to go 18 for 27 on balls in play on their way to a 20-hit parade. Matt Kent bore the brunt, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits in 4 1/3, striking out five and walking two. Durbin Feltman had perhaps the most cursed outing as he recorded all three outs via strikeout but gave up four singles, surrendering two runs. The SeaWolves barrage overshadowed a big offensive night for CJ Chatham. The shortstop blasted a two-run homer in the sixth and added his organization-leading 24th double of the season. It was Chatham's first round-tripper since June 26th.
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Salem managed only three runs despite a 12-hit attack in which every player in the lineup got at least one base hit. Devlin Granberg, promoted from Greenville earlier in the day, drove in two of the three Salem runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. Edgar Corcino had a three-hit evening while Victor Acosta had his first triple of the year. Enmanuel De Jesus took the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3, striking out seven and walking three. Zach Schellenger (pictured, right) had a strong outing in relief, striking out three and givng up one hit in his 1 2/3 innings. Schellenger has been unscored upon in seven of his last 10 outings, getting back on track in a season that saw him struggle mightily in the first three months.
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It was a devestating loss by the Spinners, surrendering two runs in the bottom of the ninth, failing to capitalize on another dominant start by Chris Murphy. The lefty gave up just one hit in four shutout innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Murphy needed only 47 pitches to complete the four innings, throwing an incredible 36 of them (76.6%) for strikes. Brandon Cellucci followed with two shutout innings. Yasel Santana was charged with all three runs despite not giving up a hit as his control abandoned him. He walked four, uncorked two wild pitches, and committed a balk in his 2 1/3 innings. Jaxx Groshans had given the Spinners the lead with a two-run single in the eighth. Gilberto Jimenez singled, stole a base, and scored a run.
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The two teams finally got in a game originally postponed on July 11th and then again on July 24th and a third time on June 25th. The Braves were apparently antsy to get this one in, as they jumped on Felix Cepeda early, scoring five runs (two earned) in 2/3 of an inning off the right-hander. The bullpen settled things down, with Mason Duke giving up just one run in 3 1/3, then Alexander Montero following with three scoreless frames. At the plate, Danny Diaz doubled, walked, and drove in a pair. Ceddane Rafaela was 1 for 4 with a triple.
The Sox earned the split as Brock Bell and Brandon Walter teamed up on the two-hitter. Bell went the first two frames, giving up one hit, striking out two, and walking one. Walter followed with five shutout innings, striking out seven and walking two. Rafaela blasted a solo homer in the third inning, his fourth of the season. Diaz added another double, while Daniel Bakst and Fabian Andrade had two hits apiece.
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A trio of Sox hurlers gave up a single apiece, combining for a three-hit shutout to keep pace in the Northwest Division. Gabriel Jackson went five innings, striking out and walking three apiece. Cristofe Tineo and Isaac Pinales went two innings each to lock down the victory. They were supported by an offensive attack highlighted by Alberto Feliz, who blasted his eighth homer of the year. That matches the 2013 output of Victor Acosta for the most home runs by a Red Sox player in the Dominican Summer League.
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Every starter reached base as the Sox held on to win. Bryan Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to five games with a double. He also walked and stole a base. Denny Daza was a catalyst, picking up a double as part of a 2-for-5 effort. Starter Frailyn Sanchez allowed two runs on six hits in four innings. Emerson Ortiz gave up just one hit in four scoreless innings to collect the win. He struck out five and walked three.
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Player of the Day: Boston's sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Chris Murphy has had an extremely impressive introduction to professional baseball. He turned in another scoreless effort on Wednesday, pounding the strike zone and giving up just one hit. Murphy has allowed a run in just one of his six outings, with only two runs surrendered across 18 innings for a clean 1.00 ERA. With his six strikeouts yesterday the left-hander has 23 on the year, compared with just three walks.
Photo Credit: Chris Murphy, Zach Schellenger by Kelly O'Connor