Cup of Coffee: Fitts strikes out nine; Zanetello goes deep
6/23 Cup of Coffee: Each full-season team played a close game that saw the Boston affiliate come out on top. Richard Fitts (pictured) was dominant for the WooSox, while Tyler McDonough sent the Portland fans home happy. Cutter Coffey had another good game for Greenville, and Nazzan Zanetello went deep for Salem.
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Richard Fitts struck out nine over five innings to lead a shutout victory over the Clippers. The nine strikeouts were a season-high as he improved to 5-2. Brian Van Belle followed and struck out three over 2 2/3. A sacrifice fly from Jamie Westbrook gave the WooSox an early lead, and Mickey Gasper provided an insurance run with a solo home run in the eighth. Nick Yorke went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk to keep his Triple-A OPS above 1.000.
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A walk-off single from Tyler McDonough was the exclamation point on an exciting game in Portland. The game had three ejections, including Blaze Jordan and Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson. Jordan was in the midst of a great game, going 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk, but the umpire took exception to his bat flip after he drew the walk in the eighth. Phillip Sikes went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks, and McDonough went 2 for 4 with a walk while driving in three. While he did not get the win, Jonathan Brand was the key pitcher for Portland. His 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief allowed the Sea Dogs to rally from a 6-1 deficit. Brendan Cellucci got the win after posting a scoreless 10th.
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While he did not go deep, it was another strong day at the office for Cutter Coffey in Greenville's victory. He went 2 for 3 with a walk but did commit his 14th fielding error and his eighth at third base. Eduardo Lopez hit his second home run, a solo shot in the sixth, and Ronald Rosario went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Dalton Rogers did not walk a batter for the first time this year as he improved to 2-3. He allowed three runs and struck out four over five innings. Zach Fogell kept the Emperors off the board in his three innings, and Cade Feeney followed with a scoreless frame to earn his third save.
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With the game tied in the eighth, the Red Sox staged a classic Low-A rally to plate the winning run. A single followed by a hit-by-pitch and two walks brought the go-ahead run home. Nazzan Zanetello hit a two-run home run that left the bat at 106 mph as part of a 2-for-4 night with a walk. Marvin Alcantara went 3 for 4 with two RBI. Ovis Portes was shaky in his third start for Salem, allowing four runs on four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The win went to Trennor O'Donnell who fired the final four innings and allowed one run while striking out six.
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The offense went quiet as they were shut out by the Twins. Yohander Linarez went 2 for 4 with a double and a stolen base, and Franyer Noria went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. Gilberto Batista and Stijn Van Der Schaaf pitched well in the loss. Batista allowed just an unearned run over the first three innings, and Van Der Schaaf fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
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The pitching for the Blue team faltered as they allowed 11 runs on 14 hits and 11 walks. Starter Felix Belisario allowed three runs (one earned) over 2 2/3, and shortstop Moises Semerite came on to get the last two outs. Edwin Darville went 1 for 2 with a walk and two steals, Givian Sirvania went 3 for 4 with two steals, and Emanuel Reyna went 2 for 2 with a walk.
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The Blue Jays hit a two-run walk-off home run to beat the Red squad. It spoiled another strong pitching performance by Jeison Payano who struck out three over four innings of one-run ball. Jose Martinez served up the winning homer as he fell to 3-1.
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Player of the Day: It has been an up-and-down season for Richard Fitts, but he was dominant on Saturday. The 24-year-old struck out nine and walked one over five scoreless innings. Over his last five starts, he has an ERA of 2.59. That includes his great start last night, and the game when he flirted with a no-hitter on May 29. It also includes two starts where he went a combined 7 1/3 innings and allowed six runs and eight walks. While he has been inconsistent, the results have been strong enough to keep him in the system's top 10.
Photo Credit: Richard Fitts by Kelly O'Connor