7/13 MiLB Gameday: Spinners at Fenway

[Cuzittt]

Today's Games:

IL:Pawtucket (Brandon Workman) @ Toledo (Robbie Ray) [6:05pm]
EL: Portland (Michael McCarthy) vs. New Hampshire (TBD) [1:05pm]
CL:Salem (Cody Kukuk) @ Wilmington (Miguel Almonte) [5:05pm]
SAL: Greenville (Daniel McGrath) vs. Augusta (Christian Jones) [4:05pm]
NYPL: Lowell (Kevin McAvoy) vs. Mahoning Valley (Kierin Lovegrove) [3:35pm]
GCL: GCL Sox - OFF
DSL: DSL Sox - OFF

Notes:

Spinners will be the only team in action at the Annual Futures at Fenway. Second Half of the Doubleheader will be a showing of Field of Dreams.

Speaking of Futures... The MLB Futures Game will be played today in Minneapolis. Henry Owens will get the start for the US Team... as will Sean Coyle. And... there is a Thread for that


Scoreboard:

Boston Red Sox Minor League Scores

Media:

MiLB TV
MiLB Radio

Local Media:

Pawsox:

Providence Journal
Pawtucket Times

Seadogs: Portland Press Herald

Salem: Roanoke Times

Greenville: Greenville Online

Lowell: Lowell Sun

 

[mabrowndog]

Chandler Shepherd woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed today, pumped about playing at Fenway and excitedly tweeting all sorts of pics.
 
He came on to pitch the 8th with the Spinners leading 1-0, and escaped a 1st & 3rd jam when Sam Travis threw out the runner at the plate on a fielder's choice grounder.
 
Shepherd returned to the mound for the 9th and retired the first two batters on fly-outs.
 
Then the shit hit the fan: Single, BB, BB, BB. Yup, he walked in the tying run with the bases loaded.
 
On came Oscar Perez to try to limit the damage. No such luck. An RBI HBP, a bases-clearing double, and another RBI double made it 6-1 Mahoning Valley.
 
I just hope this doesn't ruin either kid's psyche.

 

[TimScribble]

@MiLB: Make that a career-high six RBIs for #RedSox No. 13 prospect @Dmarrero17, who has first four-hit game for @PawSox. http://t.co/oBIZ68I8PX

 

[Plympton91]

The Pawtucket box score is a thing of beauty. Marrero 4-5, 2 2B's. Hassan continues to be scorching hot. A couple hits for Shaw. And the first 3 hits of his AAA career for reclamation prospect Derrick Gibson, playing CF for the Pawsox.

Nice.

 

[Cuzittt]

Portland scores 4 in the 8th, win 7-6.

Boxscore

Mike McCarthy went 5 innings, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits (2 HRs) and 3 walks; striking out 2. Pete Ruiz went 4 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits; striking out 2.

David Chester went 3/4 with a double and a HR. Shannon Wilkerson went 2/5 with a double and a HR. Peter Hissey went 1/4 with a walk. Blake Swihart went 1/4 with a HR. Heiker Meneses went 1/4. Jonathan Roof went 1/2 with a walk after replacing Keury de la Cruz who went 0/1. Michael Brenly went 0/3 with a walk. Ryan Dent went 0/3 before being replaced by Stefan Welch who walked in his only PA. Michael Almanzar went 0/4.

 

[Cuzittt]

Salem wins 5-1.

Boxscore

Cody Kukuk went 5 innings, giving up 3 hits and 3 walks; striking out 7. William Cuevas went 4 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits and a walk; striking out one.

Jantzen Witte went 3/4 with a double and a SF. Jordan Weems went 2/3 with a walk. Carson Blair went 2/4 with a double and a walk. Jose Vinicio, Aneury Tavarez, and Mike Miller each went 1/4; Miller with a walk, Tavarez with a SB, Vinicio with a CS. Matty Johnson went 1/5. Matt Gedman went 0/3 with a HBP. Kevin Heller went 0/4.

 

[Cuzittt]

A Genuine winning streak for the Drive, winning their 3rd in a row by a final of 8-5.

Boxscore

Daniel McGrath went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits (1 HR) and 3 walks; striking out 8. German Taveras went 2 1/3 innings, allowing a run on 2 hits and 2 walks; striking out one. Raynel Velette went an inning, allowing a run on 3 hits.

Carlos Asuaje, Manuel Margot and Aneudis Peralta each went 2/4; Asuaje with 2 doubles, Peralta with a double and Margot with a CS. Kevin Mager and Tim Roberson each went 1/3 with a walk. Cole Sturgeon, Wendell Rijo and Jake Romanski each went 1/4; Romanski and Rijo with doubles. Franklin Guzman went 0/2 with a walk and a SF.

 

[Cuzittt]

Lowell loses 6-1.

Boxscore

Kevin McAvoy went 2 innings, giving up a hit and striking out 2. Simon Mercedes went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and a walk; striking out 3. Jake Shepherd went 1 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks; striking out one. Oscar Perez got the final out of the 9th, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and a HBP.

Jordan Betts and Mauricio Dubon each went 2/4. Danny Mars went 2/5 with a double. Mike Meyers went 1/3 with a walk. Shane Victorino went 0/2 with a walk before being replaced by Bryan Hudson who went 0/1 with a walk. Alixon Suarez went 0/1 with a walk before being replaced by Jordan Procyshen who went 0/2. Nick Longhi went 0/3 with a walk. Sam Travis went 0/4 with a walk. Raymel Flores went 0/4.

 

[Cuzittt]

Pawsox outslug Toledo, 13-8.

Boxscore

Brandon Workman went 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 10 hits (1 HR), a WP and 2 walks; striking out 3. Allen Webster went 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk; striking out 4.

Carlos Rivero went 5/6 with 2 doubles. Deven Marrero went 4/5 with 2 doubles. Derrik Gibson went 3/4 with a SF. Alex Hassan went 3/6 with a double and a HR. Matt Spring went 2/4 with a double, walk and HBP. Travis Shaw went 2/4 with a double and a walk before being replaced by Mario Martinez who went 0/1. Andres Torres went 2/6 with a PO/CS. Corey Brown went 1/5. Mike McCoy went 0/4 with 2 walks.

 

[Cuzittt]

STORIES

SPINNERS

Game Story

On what should have been a day to remember for the Lowell Spinners, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers dampened the memories with six runs in the ninth inning after three times being down to their final strike, topping the Spinners, 6-1, in the 9th annual Futures at Fenway at historic Fenway Park.

The loss was the Spinners sixth straight and ninth in the last 10 games.

Lowell (12-18) broke through first in the fourth inning. After Nick Longhi reached on an error by Yonathan Mendoza, Mike Meyers moved him into scoring position with a single. Longhi would come around to score on a single to right by Mauricio Dubon, dislodging the ball from the catcher's glove with his slide on a throw that had him beat, giving the Spinners a 1-0 lead.

Mahoning Valley (10-20) had a chance to tie things up in the top half of the fifth inning, but Shane Victorino, in his last game with the Spinners as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment, gunned down Leo Castillo at the plate on a perfect throw for the innings third out to keep the score at 1-0.

Victorino got things going in the bottom half of the fifth inning for the Spinners, working a one out walk, then going first-to-third on a single to shallow left-centerfield by Danny Mars, showing no signs of injury. A Longhi walk loaded the bases but Jordan Betts flew out to end the inning.


The Scrappers would threaten again in the eighth inning. With Chandler Shepherd on in relief, a one out single by Ordomar Valdez had the potential to turn into a run scoring play, but Dubon alertly called "I got it" as Greg Allen's looper landed in the right field corner. Valdez held at second, despite the fact Dubon was no-where near the base hit, leaving him at third. Steve Patterson followed with a ground ball to first, with Sam Travis coming home and Jordan Procyshen applying the tag on Valdez to keep the Lowell lead intact.

After two quick outs to start the ninth, the wheels fell off for the Spinners. Taylor Murphy singled with one out and Shane Rowland walked. After a Mendoza walk loaded the bases it appeared Shepherd had Valdez struck out but a close pitch didn't go his way and he walked Valdez on the next pitch to tie the game. Carlos Pinales then came on in relief, but was not listed on the line-up card and ruled ineligible, bringing Oscar Perez into the game. Perez hit Allen, the first batter he faced, to allow the go-ahead run and the Scrappers added on four additional runs to ruin Lowell's night.

DRIVE

Game Story

The Greenville Drive (6-19, 40-54) capped off an impressive weekend of baseball on Sunday afternoon, as they defeated the Augusta GreenJackets (11-14, 45-48) 8-5 to secure their third straight win and a 3-1 series victory.

The Drive put together a pair of big offensive innings against Augusta starter Christian Jones (4-6), scoring five runs in the third and three more in the fifth. Cole Sturgeon's RBI single to right in the third tied the game at one and scored Kevin Mager, who singled to begin the frame. Wendell Rijo's fielder's choice brought home another run, and Carlos Asuaje followed by doubling home a pair. Two batters later, Manuel Margot singled to left for the fifth run.

Asuaje and Margot were prominently involved in the big fifth inning as well. After Rijo doubled high off the Green Monster to begin the inning, Asuaje doubled him home, and Margot's single plated Asuaje. Franklin Guzman delivered a sacrifice fly later in the inning for the Drive's final run.

Daniel McGrath (4-4) was very appreciative of the run support, taking the victory after striking out a season-high eight batters in five and two-third innings while allowing five hits and three runs.

Ryder Jones began the sixth inning with a solo homer to right against McGrath to trim the Drive's lead to 8-3, and they continued to inch back, eventually loading the bases with two outs and knocking McGrath from the game. German Taveras entered on the mound to make his Drive debut, and he got Rando Moreno to ground out to second to end the threat.

Augusta threatened again in the ninth, cutting the score to 8-5 after an RBI single with nobody out. With two men on and one out, Raynel Velette came up big by getting pinch-hitter Tyler Horan, the tying run, to ground into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Eight of the nine Greenville starters collected hits on the afternoon, with Asuaje leading the charge with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Margot had two hits and two RBI, and Aneudis Peralta chipped in with two hits as well. Ryder Jones and Ty Ross each collected two hits and two RBI for Augusta, and Cristian Paulino added two hits.

SALEM

Game Story

Cody Kukuk posted five scoreless on just five hits to help the Salem Red Sox beat the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-1 at Frawley Stadium Sunday night. Kukuk struck out seven and walked only three in the victory. Miguel Almonte took the loss for the Rocks, surrendering four runs on nine hits in only three and two thirds.



As has been the theme of this whole series, the game was scoreless through three. To start the fourth, Aneury Tavarez laced a single off Almonte and stole second. Jordan Weems followed with a single to right field to advance Tavarez to third. A throwing error by right fielder Cody Stubbs allowed Tavarez to score and Weems to move to second. A batter later, Jose Vinicio singled in Weems to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. Vinicio would eventually score on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, after a Matty Johnson ground out and Mike Miller walk, Jantzen Witte doubled in Miller to give the Sox a 4-0 edge.



William Cuevas relieved Kukuk in the sixth and allowed a one out triple to Michael Antonio. He scored on a sacrifice fly a batter later by Stubbs to get the Rocks on the board.



Salem scratched across an insurance run in the ninth. Matty Johnson led off with a single. He moved to third on a wild pickoff attempt by Yender Caramo. Matty came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Jantzen Witte to give the Sox a 5-1 lead.



Terrance Gore would triple off Cuevas in the ninth, but that was as far as he would get. Cuevas picked up his first save of the year, going three innings, allowing just a run on two hits.

SEADOGS

Game Story

The Portland Sea Dogs (62-34) smacked three homers and used a four-run eighth to come back and down the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (44-51) 7-6, in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368, Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The win clinched the series in favor of the Sea Dogs and upped the season series to 10-4 in their favor.

Portland headed into the eighth inning trailing 6-3, but plated four runs and took the lead for good against the Fisher Cats' bullpen. Catcher Blake Swihart fired up the scoring machine with a solo shot to left-center against lefty Tyler Ybarra, his 10th of the season and brought Portland to within two at 6-4.

Michael Almanzar reached on an error by the first baseman KC Hobson and moved to second before David Chester plated him with an RBI single to center and pulled the 'Dogs to a 6-5 deficit.

Ybarra's (4-4) night came to a close after he allowed the fourth-straight man to reach on a walk to Jonathan Roof. Randy Boone came on and got one out before he walked pinch-hitter Stefan Welch and loaded the bases for Heiker Meneses.

The shortstop swung at the first pitch and connected for a single to center, which drove home two and gave Portland the lead, 7-6, for the first time since the fourth.

Pete Ruiz (1-0) finished off the Fisher Cats and earned the win with a perfect ninth inning.

Portland jumped out to a 1-0 lead, against Richard Bleier, two batters into the bottom of the first inning. Peter Hissey began the game with a single and was driven home on Shannon Wilkerson's double to left-center.

Down 1-0 in the fourth, the 'Cats stormed back with two big flies and took a 5-1 lead against Mike McCarthy and the Sea Dogs. Andy Burns began the inning with an infield single and KC Hobson followed with a line drive, two-run shot, into the U.S. Cellular Pavilion, putting the 'Cats in front 2-1.

The inning continued when Derrick Chung doubled and was moved to third on a one-out single by Andy Fermin before Jon Berti stepped in and delivered a three-run homer over the video board in left-center and put New Hampshire in front 5-1.

 

[sittingstill]

but Dubon alertly called "I got it" as Greg Allen's looper landed in the right field corner

I'd like to note for the record that he deked me, too. 
 

 
"Hey... I don't see a ball..."

 

[mabrowndog]

 
After two quick outs to start the ninth, the wheels fell off for the Spinners. Taylor Murphy singled with one out and Shane Rowland walked. After a Mendoza walk loaded the bases it appeared Shepherd had Valdez struck out but a close pitch didn't go his way and he walked Valdez on the next pitch to tie the game. Carlos Pinales then came on in relief, but was not listed on the line-up card and ruled ineligible, bringing Oscar Perez into the game. Perez hit Allen, the first batter he faced, to allow the go-ahead run and the Scrappers added on four additional runs to ruin Lowell's night.

 
I'm curious as to how something like this happens at the professional level of this sport. What a clusterfuck. I assume Perez wasn't allowed anything beyond the standard 10 warm-up pitches, which might explain his struggles on such short notice.

 

[LondonSox]

If Marrero mashes the rest of the year how does that change next year?
If he can even JBJ level hit while he goes through an adjustment year then he's likely a long term answer at ss. Which means X is at 3b long term and wmb is depth.

If he is not ready does X go back to ss only to potentially mess him around again if 3b options suck

 

[Stan Papi Was Framed]

If Marrero mashes the rest of the year how does that change next year?
If he can even JBJ level hit while he goes through an adjustment year then he's likely a long term answer at ss. Which means X is at 3b long term and wmb is depth.

If he is not ready does X go back to ss only to potentially mess him around again if 3b options suck

Marrero seems like the logical choice at SS, assuming he can hit at least reasonably (not sure how to define that--say above a .670 OPS?  not sure, just making that up as a standard). so, if Marrero's bat is ok enough, then X would seem to be slotted in at 3B