Cup of Coffee: Kavadas records two hits as Worcester falls to Lehigh Valley

9/21 Cup of Coffee: After Greenville took home its second South Atlantic League title on Tuesday, Worcester was the only one of Boston's minor-league affiliates in action on Wednesday night. Niko Kavadas (pictured) drove in his side's lone run as the WooSox fell to Lehigh Valley by a final score of 12-1 at Coca-Cola Park.

-----

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 12, Worcester Red Sox 1

It was a rough night for the pitching staff as Worcester dropped its second straight to Lehigh Valley. Brian Van Belle got the start and allowed four earned runs on three hits, five walks (tying a season-high), and four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of work. Of the 88 pitches the right-hander threw, 46 went for strikes and 10 elicited a swing-and-miss. Oddanier Mosqueda received the first call out of the WooSox bullpen and did not fare much better, surrendering four more runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. The rehabbing Zack Kelly gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth before Brendan Nail recorded the final two outs of the inning. From there, Bryan Mata yielded two runs in his second appearance back from the injured list while Logan Gillaspie scattered three hits and a walk across 1 1/3 scoreless frames.

Niko Kavadas led Worcester offensively, going 2 for 4 with an RBI double out of the six-hole. Narciso Crook, who scored on Kavadas' two-base hit, Tyler McDonough, and Stephen Scott also had doubles. Ronaldo Hernandez went 1 for 3 with two walks out of the three-hole. McDonough, who also drew a walk, was not in the original starting lineup but was slotted in as a result of Enmanuel Valdez being scratched shortly before first pitch. It's likely that Valdez was taken out of the lineup in case the Red Sox need to place infielder Luis Urias -- who left Wednesday's series finale against Texas with left calf tightness -- on the injured list later this week. 

-----

Player of the Day: Niko Kavadas continued to build on a solid September by recording two more hits on Wednesday. In 15 games this month, the 24-year-old first baseman is now batting .255/.333/.588 with two doubles, five home runs, 13 RBIs, eight runs scored, six walks, and 21 strikeouts over 57 plate appearances. 

Photo Credit: Niko Kavadas by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet