6/13 MiLB Gameday: Lowell Begins, Clay Rehabs...

Cuzittt

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if the weather cooperates...

Today's Games:

IL:Pawtucket (Clay Buchholz) vs. Charlotte (Dylan Axelrod) [7:05pm]
EL: Portland (Miguel Pena) @ Akron (Will Roberts) [7:05pm]
CL:Salem (Pat Light) vs. Lynchburg (Lucas Sims) [7:05pm]
SAL: Greenville (Daniel McGrath/Myles Smith) @ Hagerstown (Hector Silvestre/Nick Pivetta) [5:05pm]
NYPL: Lowell (Jason Garcia) vs. Vermont (Joseph Michaud) [7:05pm]
GCL: GCL Sox - Opening Day - June 20th vs GCL Twins
DSL: DSL Sox @ DSL Mariners [10:30am]

Notes:


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
 

Cuzittt

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Some Lowell Stuff

Roster

Danny Bethea

He may don the tools of ignorance during games, but Danny Bethea's cerebral approach to hitting and handling a pitching staff have served him well over the course of his baseball career.

After being selected out of St. John's University by the Boston Red Sox in the 34th round of the 2013 first year player draft, Bethea is looking to continue navigating his way around the learning curve all catchers go through in the minor leagues.

In first-year Lowell Spinners' manager, Joe Oliver, a former big league catcher, who started on the Cincinnati Reds club that won World Series in 1990, Bethea has the perfect teacher to help him expand his skills.

"I'm really excited to get a chance to play for him," said Bethea. "His accolades speak for themself. I met him down in spring training. He's a great guy, a great coach. He brings a lot of energy, and he's always helping us catchers out.

"He's a great guy to learn from. He always has nothing but positive things to say. He gets behind us and pushes us to be the best players we can."

Bethea, 24, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of La Jolla, California, broke into minor league baseball with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox last summer. In 14 games with the GCL Red Sox he batted only .140 with 2 doubles and 6 RBI.

After being promoted to Lowell, he found his batting stroke. Bethea batted .261 with 1 homer, 5 doubles and 18 RBI in 31 games with the Spinners.
Danny Mars

Danny Mars was born in Atlanta. He moved to Maryland at the age of six, and moved again to Sarasota, Fla. as a sophomore in high school.

He's not one to be bothered by a change of scenery. That's mainly because there is always one key constant -- baseball.

Mars' passion began when he would watch Atlanta Braves games with his grandmother as a five-year-old. It continued when he realized he had natural baseball ability that made all other sports seem irrelevant to him.

It was baseball that brought Mars to Sarasota, knowing he could play year-round and best pursue a college and professional career.

That decision paid off for the 20-year-old earlier this month when he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round (seventh pick, 194th overall) in the First-Year Player Draft. The defending World Series champions took a liking to what they saw out of the speedy and disciplined outfielder who had starred at Sarasota High and then Chipola College -- a junior college in Florida.

"You never can really have an expectation of where you're going to go in the draft," said Mars. "I was committed to Florida State (for next year), but I just went into the draft with an open mind. I got the call from the Red Sox and I was more than happy to sign.

"It was stressful. Every second that goes by during the draft, you're just sweating. Once you hear your name called you feel that pressure go away. It didn't really set in until the next day."

Mars will start the season with the Lowell Spinners, who open the 2014 season on Friday night at LeLacheur Park against the Vermont Lake Monsters.

As is the case for any prospect starting their career in short-season Class A, a steep climb to the Majors lies ahead. The 6-foot, 195-pound Mars is coming of a season in which he batted .380, belted four home runs and stole 25 bases for Chipola.

He's excited to take the next step.

"You can't be nervous. It's baseball," said Mars. "You can say you have a couple of little nerves and stuff like that. But at the same time, when you play college baseball, the bases are still 90 feet apart. You have to come out and let everything happen."
New for 2014

The Lowell Spinners will mark their 19th season as the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox tonight when they host the Vermont Lake Monsters at LeLacheur Park.

The Spinners ended their 2013 season with a 40-33 overall record, recording the most wins for a Lowell team since 2009.

Not only are the Spinners ready to start off the season and put on a show for their fans, but also they are ready to show off some of the new changes that were made around the ballpark during the offseason.

LeLacheur Park now has new HD video boards, along with a new sound system. Along with both of those changes they also now have three new and improved mascots, which the fans can now look forward to meeting on Opening Day.

The Spinners are also under new management, Joe Oliver.

Oliver enters his first season as a manager of the Lowell Spinners. Oliver was a member of the 1990 World Series Champion Reds. After retiring in 2001, Oliver began his coaching career, where he continued to demonstrate his love for the game of baseball.

"I feel very lucky to be a part of this phenomenal organization and more than excited for the season to start," said Oliver.

Pitching coach Walter Miranda, who started coaching early in his career, expressed how much he truly loves what he does and how lucky he feels to continue being a part of a great organization. Walter enters his fourth season with the Spinners, but has been with the Red Sox organization for 15 years now.

"I've been here for a long time. We have so many young players. First time facing 5,000 people, first time pitching under these lights. It's a big challenge, but that's baseball. There will always be fear, but as a coach it's my job to comfort them and help them in this transition," said Miranda.

The Spinners have five new players, who are making their very first professional experience: LHP Jalen Beeks from Arizona, RHP Chandler Shepherd from Kentucky, INF Jordan Betts from North Carolina, OF Danny Mars and RHP Karsten Whitson from Florida.

The 2014 roster currently consists of 28 active players.

RHP Jason Garcia started his professional career at a very young age, signing at the age of 17, straight out of high school, making him one of the youngest pitchers in the NYPL. Garcia has now been with the Spinners for four seasons.
Joe Oliver

Joe Oliver played his rookie ball in Billings, Mont., back in 1983. Living conditions were unglamorous.

Oliver was selected in the second round of the 1983 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of Boone High School in Orlando. That summer, he arrived in Billings as a nervous 17-year-old and moved into a dorm room with a 23-year-old teammate. The room had two twin beds, no television and no phone.

Dining options were limited.

"I lived for McDonald's. I couldn't tell you where anything in the city was except for McDonald's, my dorm room and the ballpark," said Oliver. "I was sitting there wondering if I made the right choice."

Yes, it was the right choice.

The 48-year-old enjoyed a 13-year playing career as a catcher and utility man in Major League Baseball. He was the starting catcher on the Reds' 1990 World Series championship team. He was named the Reds' team MVP in 1993 after having tallied 14 home runs and 75 RBI. He played 1,076 career games, and had 831 hits and 102 home runs during stints with seven Major League clubs.

Oliver played briefly with the Boston Red Sox in 2001 before retiring after that season.

"I always wanted to play professional baseball. I think it finally clicked when I got to Double-A, which at the time was in Burlington, Vt.," said Oliver.
 

mabrowndog

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The Lowell roster listed on MiLB isn't complete. In addition to Danny Mars (6th rd), other 2014 draftees assigned to the Spinners include RHPs Karsten Whitson (11th) & Chandler Shepherd (13th), LHP Jalen Beeks (12th), SS Jeremy Rivera (17th) and 3B Jordan Betts (18th).
 

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Vermont gets an unearned run in the t-2nd. An ROE (by 2b Raymel Flores), a double and a Garcia WP.
 
Lowell responds with a pair in the bottom half on doubles by Deiner Lopez & Alixon Suarez, and an RBI single by David Sopilka.
 
2-1 Spinners heading to the b-4th. Garcia's rehab appears to be going smoothly (4 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K).
 

mabrowndog

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Rough night for Miguel Pena so far. Akron gets a run in the b-1st on three straight singles, then add three more in the b-3rd (dbl, sgl, dbl, sgl to lead off the frame). His line: 5 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 3 K.
 
The Sea Dogs get one in the t-3rd on singles by Derrek Gibson & Deven Marrero and a Blake Swihart sac fly. And speaking of the stud catcher:
 
Mike Antonellis ‏@seadogsradio
Blake Swihart throws out Ollie Linton to end the second inning…now 18-for-35 (51%) throwing out runners.
 
4-1 Akron, b-6th.
 

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* Greenville wins their opener 8-2 with an 11-hit, 4-walk attack and a decent outing from Daniel McGrath (5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K) and 2 perfect relief innings from Jonathan Aro (2 K). Forrest Allday & Jantzen Witte each 3-for-4, with Allday scoring 3 times and Witte with 4 RBI including a 2-run tater.
 
* Greenville-Hagerstown Game 2 just started with the Drive going in order in the t-1st.
 
* Salem is back underway, and they add another in the b-2nd (Tim Roberson lead-off triple, Ryan Dent RBI grounder) to lead 2-0.
 
* Pena has a 1-2-3 sixth for Portland. He's only at 81 pitches thanks to the early-count contact by opposing hitters.
 

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* Three more for the Spinners: One in the b-4th (Nick Longhi leadoff triple, Sopilka RBI groundout) and two in the b-5th on a Mauricio Dubon 2-run homer scoring Flores ahead of him. Lowell up 5-1, t-6th.
 
* Great pic from Akron, and an impressive crowd:
 
Accent Images ‏@AIPphoto 36m
Picture-perfect night at Canal Park! @AkronRubberDuck hold 4-1 lead over @PortlandSeaDogs
 
 

Cuzittt

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Drive win 8-2 in the first of 2.

Boxscore

Daniel McGrath went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks; striking out 4. Jonathan Aro went 2 innings, striking out 2.

Forrestt Allday went 3/4 with a triple. Jantzen Witte went 3/4 with a HR. Zach Kapstein went 2/3 with a double and a SF. Carlos Asuaje went 2/4 with a PO/CS. Manuel Margot went 1/3 with a triple, a walk and a SB. Jordan Weems went 0/3 with a walk and a SB. Jimmy Rider went 0/3 with a walk. Wendell Rijo went 0/3 with a walk. Aneudis Peralta went 0/4.
 

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The rain delay forced Pat Light from the Salem game after 2 shutout innings (2 H, 0 BB, 0 K). Kyle Kraus took the hill in his stead and has kept Lynchburg off the scoreboard (2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K).
 
Salem batting b-4th, still up 2-0.
 

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Seadogs lose 6-1.

Boxscore

Miguel Pena went 6 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 11 hits, 2 walks, a WP and a HBP; striking out 4. Wilfredo Boscan went 2/3rds of an inning, giving up a hit. Robby Scott went an inning, giving up a hit.

Sean Coyle went 2/4. Blake Swihart went 1/3 with a SF. Jonathan Roof and Bo Greenwell each went 1/3. Derrik Gibson and Deven Marrero each went 1/4. Stefan Welch went 0/3 with a HBP. Keury de la Cruz went 0/3. David Chester went 0/4.
 

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Vermont scratches out a run in the t-6th as Willie Ethington issues a pair of 1-out walks and an RBI single. He's bailed out on Suarez's gun to 2nd nailing Ryan Huck on a steal attempt.
 
In the b-6th, Lowell gets Longhi to 3B with no outs (double, WP) but they strand him there as Suarez & Sopilka whiff and Nick Moore flies out. They also strand Dubon at 2nd (single, SB) as Mike Meyers goes down swinging.
 
5-2 Spinners, t-8th.
 

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DSL Sox win 16-7.

Boxscore

Jhonathan Diaz went 4 innings, giving up 4 hits, a HBP and a walk; striking out 5. Samir El Halaby went 2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and a walk; striking out 3. Yeferson Ardiles went 2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, 2 walks, a HBP and a Balk; striking out 4.

Luis Alexander Basabe went 4/6 with a triple, SB and 7 RBI. Yoan Aybar went 3/5 with 2 doubles before being replaced by Luis Yovera who went 0/1. Juan Perez went 2/4 with a walk. Isaias Lucena went 2/6 with 2 doubles. Luis Benoit went 1/1 with 3 walks and a HBP. Jose Lozado went 1/3 with 3 walks. Carlos Tovar went 1/4 with a double and 2 walks. Juan Barriento went 1/6. Rafael Devers went 0/3 with a walk and a SF before being replaced by Fabian Nieva who went 0/1.
 

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Salem wins 6-1.

Boxscore

Pat Light went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits. Kyle Kraus went 4 2/3 innings (after the rain), allowing a run on 3 hits, a walk and a HBP; striking out 3. Kyle Martin went 2 1/3 innings, giving up 3 hits and striking out 2.

Tim Roberson went 2/4 with a double and a triple. Mike Miller went 2/5. Aneury Tavarez went 1/3 with a HBP, SB and CS. Ryan Dent went 1/4. Mario Martinez went 1/5. Kevin Heller went 0/1 with 2 walks, a HBP and a SB. Carson Blair went 0/2 with 2 walks. Matty Johnson went 0/3 with a walk and a SF. Dreily Guerrero went 0/3 with a sacrifice.
 

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Drive win 2-0 in game 2.

Boxscore

Myles Smith went 6 innings, giving up 2 hits and a walk; striking out 2. Pete Ruiz went an inning, striking out 2.

Forrestt Allday went 2/3 with a double and a sacrifice. Aneudis Peralta went 1/2 with a walk and a CS. Carlos Asuaje and Tzu-Wei Lin each went 1/3 with a double and a walk; Lin with a SB. Jake Romanski and Zach Kapstein each went 1/3; Romanski with a CS. Wendell Rijo went 0/2 with a sacrifice. Jimmy Rider went 0/2 with a HBP. Jantzen Witte went 0/3 with a walk.
 

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Lowell wins 7-2.

Boxscore

Jason Garcia went 4 innings, allowing an unearned run on 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 HBPs and a WP; striking out 5. Willie Ethington went 3 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits and 2 walks; striking out 4. Carlos Pinales went 2 innings, giving up a hit and striking out 3.

Nick Longhi went 3/4 with a double and a triple. Mauricio Dubon went 2/4 with a HR and a SB. Deiner Lopez went 2/4 with a double. David Sopilka and Raymel Flores each went 1/3 with a HBP. Alixon Suarez and Nick Moore each went 1/4 with a double. Mike Meyers went 0/4. Bryan Hudson went 0/5.
 

mabrowndog

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Two more for Salem in the b-4th. After singles by Aneury Tavarez & Dent, a balk scored Aneury while moving Ryan to 2nd. Dreily Guerrero bunted Dent over and Matty Johnson plated him on a sac fly.
 
Kraus with another scoreless inning, and it's 4-0 with Salem coming up in the b-5th.
 

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Two more for Lowell in the b-8th. After Deiner Lopez bunts for a single, Longhi followed with a base hit. Another Vermont WP moved them up, and Sopilka was hit to load the bases. Up came Nick Moore to smack a double, scoring Lopez & Longhi.
 
7-2 Spinners, on to the t-9th.
 

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Myles Smith hasn't been dominant, but he's a gem so far tonight for Greenville in Game Two: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
 
EDIT - Make it 6 shutout innings (2 H, 1 BB, 2 K). Drive lead 2-0.
 

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With 2 scoreless innings (1 H, 0 BB, 3 K), Carlos Pinales nails down the save for the Spinners & Willie Ethington.
 
A 3-for-4 night for Longhi (a HR short of the cycle) with 2 R. Deiner Lopez (2 R) & Mauricio Dubon (HR, 2 RBI) were each 2-for-4, and David Sopilka & Nick Moore each drove in a pair. Leadoff hitter Bryan Hudson (0/5) and #3 man Mike Meyers (0/4) were the only Spinners to go hitless.
 
Lowell wins their season opener, 7-2
 

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Salem makes it 6-0 with two more in the b-5th. A Kevin Heller BB, a WP, a Tim Roberson double and a Tavarez grounder plated one. As Aneury stole 2nd, Roberson scored on a throwing error by Lynchburg catcher Tyler Tewell.
 
Kraus has now gone 4 scoreless (2 H, 0 BB, 2 K) in relief of Pat Light as they head to the t-7th.
 

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mabrowndog said:
Kraus has now gone 4 scoreless (2 H, 0 BB, 2 K) in relief of Pat Light as they head to the t-7th in Salem.
 
He finally yielded a run in that frame (walk, 2-out RBI double) before giving way to Kyle Martin, who got an inning ending groundout and then scattered 2 singles in a scoreless 8th.
 
6-1 Salem, b-8th.
 

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mabrowndog said:
Myles Smith hasn't been dominant, but he's a gem so far tonight for Greenville in Game Two: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
 
EDIT - Make it 6 shutout innings (2 H, 1 BB, 2 K). Drive lead 2-0.
 
Pete Ruiz works a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of whiffs in the 7th for the save.
 
Drive win it, 2-0, as they sweep the twinbill on the road and improve to 34-35.
 

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mabrowndog said:
Kraus finally yielded a run in that frame (walk, 2-out RBI double) before giving way to Kyle Martin, who got an inning ending groundout and then scattered 2 singles in a scoreless 8th.
 
6-1 Salem, b-8th.
 
Martin gives up a 2-out double, but gets a game-ending ground out to finish 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for the 6-1 win.
 
The six runs came on just 7 hits, but they took advantage of numerous generous gifts from the Hillcats: 5 walks, 3 fielding errors, 3 wild pitches, 2 hit by pitch, and a balk in a pear tree.
 
Two more with Lynchburg over the weekend before the all-star break.