Cup of Coffee: Casas shines in loss; Dearden picks up three hits

5/22 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough Friday night on the farm as the affiliates were unceremoniously swept despite some strong individual efforts. Triston Casas reached base three times on a night Portland was otherwise throttled. Worcester fell despite a strong Ryan Weber start and homer off the bat of Jeter Downs. Tyler Dearden (pictured) had a three-hit night while Gilberto Jimenez kept his hitting streak alive in tight losses by Greenville and Salem.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 6, Worcester Red Sox 4

Worcester drew a tough Friday night assignment with Nate Pearson on the hill for the Bisons. Ryan Weber was up for the challenge, outdueling the top Toronto prospect with a six-inning effort, allowing a run on five hits while striking out six. The bullpen could not hold on, with Seth Blair and Colten Brewer giving up a run apiece before the Bisons touched up Marcus Walden for three in the ninth. At the plate, Jeter Downs blasted his second home run on the season, a seventh-inning solo shot. Jonathan Arauz added a pair of hits for the WooSox.

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats 12, Portland Sea Dogs 4

Top prospect Triston Casas was a rare bright spot in an otherwise rough evening in Manchester. Casas had a pair of hits and a walk, raising his average to .310 on the year. AJ Politi struggled, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits in 1 2/3. Rio Gomez made his Double-A debut, allowing three runs in three innings but striking out seven without issuing a walk. 

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Asheville Tourists (COL) 7, Greenville Drive 6

Things got off to an auspicious start for Greenville when Tyler Dearden delivered a first-inning, bases-clearing double, his first of three hits on the night. Starter Chase Shugart was cruising through three innings with just one run allowed, but Asheville reached the righty for six runs in the fourth. Dylan Spacke pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings after surrendering a pair of inherited runs. Alex Scherff pitched two hitless frames, striking out four and walking one. Tyler Esplin had a solid night at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Cameron Cannon had a single and walk and is 14 for 33 during his seven-game hitting streak. 

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Fredericksburg Nationals (WAS) 2, Salem Red Sox 1

After a pandemic-canceled 2020 season and 0-15 start to 2021, Fredericksburg finally notched the first win in franchise history. Aldo Ramirez did his best to keep Fredericksburg reeling, giving up just two runs (one earned) in four innings. striking out a pair without walking a batter. Robert Kwiatkowski and Ryan Fernandez teamed for four innings of scoreless bullpen work, but Nationals pitching kept Salem in check. Gilberto Jimenez was able to extend his hitting streak to 12 games in his only opportunity to do so. Entering the game in the bottom of the sixth, Jimenez did not get to the batters box until there were two outs in the ninth inning. Undaunted, the 21-year-old outfielder ripped his sixth double of the season and came in to score the Sox' only run when Nick Northcut followed with a double of his own. 

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Player of the Day: The Red Sox gave an over-slot $140,000 bonus to 29th-round pick Tyler Dearden back in 2017, but injuries and the lost season have made it hard to get any momentum. With his three-hit effort on Friday, Dearden raised his 2021 line to .300/.429/.625

Photo Credit: Tyler Dearden by Kelly O'Connor

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