Cup of Coffee: Fitts stymies Red Wings; Salem storms to comeback

9/3 Cup of Coffee: The calendar has turned on another season of Complex League Mondays, but two full-season affiliates had rare Monday contests to celebrate Labor Day. It was the appropriate holiday to celebrate an outstanding effort by Richard Fitts (pictured), the organizational leader in innings pitched. Salem worked for its victory, punching in a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth led by Caden Rose and Andy Lugo to walk off with the win. 

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Worcester Red Sox 3, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 1

Richard Fitts was dominant to lead Worcester in the series opener. Fitts turned in his first scoreless effort since June 22, giving up just two hits across six innings. He struck out five, threw 55 of his 77 pitches for strikes, and brought his ERA back down to 4.17. Wyatt Olds went two scoreless innings of relief, striking out four and walking one. Luis Guerrero surrendered one run in the ninth on his way to the save, snapping a stretch of nine appearances without allowing a run. 

At the plate, Jamie Westbrook drove in all three Worcester runs as part of his 2-for-4 effort. He plated a run on a ground out in the third, ripped an RBI double in the fifth, and added an insurance run with a solo homer in the ninth. Kyle Teel was 2 for 3 with a walk and a pair of stolen bases. It was the second straight multi-hit effort for Teel after going just 6 for 51 following his promotion from Portland. Kristian Campbell scored a pair of runs, going 1 for 3 with a walk, while Roman Anthony walked and doubled. 

With the win, Worcester moved within five games of first-place Columbus in the second-half standings. 

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Salem Red Sox 8, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (CWS) 7

It was an improbable comeback for Salem, who scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal the win. Caden Rose delivered the key hit, a two-run double. It was the second double of the day for Rose, who has hit safely in all six games since returning from a hand injury that put him out of action for three months. Andy Lugo capped a 3-for-4 day by driving in the winning run with an RBI single. Lugo added a double and a steal as part of the win. Franklin Arias had a big game out of the leadoff spot, going 3 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI. Starter Eduardo Rivera allowed three runs on four hits in 4 2/3, striking out eight against one walk. The winning decision went to Denis Reguillo, as he gave up two runs on six hits in two innings. Reguillo's strikeout with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth kept the game within four runs, enabling the Sox rally.

Salem trails first-place Fredericksburg by two games in the North Division standings. Fredericksburg and second-place Carolina were both not in action on Monday, and will both play on Tuesday while Salem sits. 

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Player of the Day: Acquired in the deal that jettisoned Alex Verdugo to the Bronx, Richard Fitts seems to have gotten back on track after a mid-season malaise. His ERA ballooned by over a run as he gave up nine home runs in 17 innings in a four-start stretch from late June into mid-July. However, in his last seven outings, Fitts has a 2.54 ERA and 0.923 WHIP over 39 innings, striking out 39 while walking only five. The 24-year-old righty is currently the 15th-ranked prospect in the system.

Photo Credit: Richard Fitts by Kelly O'Connor

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