Cup of Coffee: Franklin Arias makes Triple-A debut

7/26 Cup of Coffee: It was a mixed bag in the minors, providing no silver linings as the big league club was one-hit. The newest Triple-A player in the system, top prospect Franklin Arias, got to make his debut not as a member of the Worcester Red Sox, but instead as a Pawtucket Hot Weiner. He was 0 for 4 but got his first RBI in a 5-0 victory. Meanwhile, Portland matched that scoreline, but not in the result, as the Sea Dogs had just two singles in a defeat. The DSL squads also earned a split, though Greenville coughed up a three-run lead in the ninth and lost in extra innings, wasting a three-hit day from Franklin Primera (pictured). 

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Worcester Red Sox 5, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 0

The Pawtucket Hot Weiners, as the WooSox were known for the day, were definitely hot, as the pitching staff, in a true bullpen game, surrendered just three hits in a shutout, though they only notched six strikeouts. Tyler Samaniego handled the third and fourth, going six up, six down, and earned the win, while Noah Song also didn't surrender a hit across the fifth and sixth. Devin Sweet, who started, as well as Angel Bastardo, who finished the contest, scattered one hit across their two-inning outings.

The Hot Weiners scored four in the first, all coming with two outs. Nate Eaton got the rally started with a solo home run, while Vinny Capra added a two-run single and Kristian Campbell also added an RBI knock. Campbell had a pair of singles on Saturday, as did Brett Harris. Franklin Arias also made his Triple-A debut and was 0 for 4 in the leadoff spot, but plated a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

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Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) 5, Portland Sea Dogs 0

It was matching scores for the upper minors affiliates, but the Sea Dogs were on the wrong end of this one. They had just two hits, as Miguel Bleis and Matt Frazier had a single each. It was an effective, albeit dangerous, outing for Anthony Eyansson, as he walked three hitters over his three-inning start, though he departed without having allowed a run and with five punchouts on his ledger. Jedixzon Paez also struck out five, but he got hit around, surrendering seven hits. Four runs came across on his watch, three of which were earned, and he took the loss. 

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Hub City Spartanburgers (TEX) 6, Greenville Drive, 2

The Spartanburgers and Drive were tied 2-2 after two innings, but Greenville was held scoreless the rest of the contest, while Hub City added a pair each in the seventh and ninth to take the victory. Yoellin Cespedes got the scoring started with an RBI single in the first after an Enddy Azocar three-bagger. The Drive got another run in the second courtesy of Ronny Hernandez, who delivered a solo home run, though the home team would record just three more hits the rest of the way. Greenville wasted a strong start by Dylan Brown, as he struck out seven and scatted four hits and two runs over six innings pitched. Two of the final runs, as well as the loss, were charged to Shea Sprague, who handled the seventh and eighth.

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Augusta GreenJackets (ATL) 6, Salem RidgeYaks 4 (10 Innings)

Salem took a 3-0 lead into the ninth inning, but the GreenJackets scored a trio in each of the ninth and the 10th to force extra innings and then take the lead. The RidgeYaks added one in the bottom half of the frame, but the tying run never made it on base. Jose Bello pitched five shutout innings, scattering three hits. He walked a pair, but registered four strikeouts. Ethan Walker held serve, pitching around two hits and walks each over the sixth and seventh, but all three runs in the ninth were charged to Luis Cohen, who was hit with a blown save. Franklin Primera and Skylar King each recorded three hits, including a double and two RBI for the former, while Andrews Opata was 2 for 5 with two more runs driven in.

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DSL Red Sox Blue 2, DSL Astros Blue 1

It was a quiet offensive day for the Blues, as the teams combined for just seven hits and all three runs came in the third inning. Garielvin Silverio delivered both RBI for the Red Sox with a two-run single, while Isaac Velasquez added a triple. Pedro Meza got the win, pitching three innings with just one hit allowed. Michale Manjarres slammed the door, getting his first save of the season with two hitless frames, adding four strikeouts.

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DSL Padres Gold 8, DSL Red Sox Red 5

The top of the lineup was hot for Red, as Anderber Urbina and Dawvris Brito each had two knocks as the first hitters in the order, including a pair of doubles for Urbina, but the rest of the lineup couldn't find a way to outscore the Padres. Andruw Zambrano has struggled this season, with a batting average below .100, but he did hit his first home run of the season and the second of his professional career. Isabel Fis contributed the most outs, pitching 2 1/3 innings, and allowed one run on two hits. However, his replacement, Ranfi Vargas, walked four hitters in the sixth and all of them eventually came around to score, which proved to be the difference. He was only able to finish 2/3 of an inning.

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Player of the Day: Despite the loss, Greenville had by far the most prolific offensive day, and Franklin Primera was a big part of that. He was one of two players system-wide with a three-hit day, going 3 for 4 with a double, contributing two RBI, as he drove in a run each on his two singles. The Venezuelan product was promoted to Salem at the end of June from the FCL and has fared well in his first handful of games, with a .283/.403/.417 slash line in 17 games.

Photo Credit: Franklin Primera by Kelly O'Connor

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