Cup of Coffee: Criswell shuts down the Mets; Romero wins it for Greenville
7/7 Cup of Coffee: The full-season affiliates are off on Sunday and Monday, but fans were treated to some extra baseball on Saturday. Cooper Criswell (pictured) was excellent in Worcester, while Mikey Romero came through in the clutch for the Drive. Kleyver Salazar hit two home runs in the FCL, and Moises Bolivar filled up the box score in the DSL.
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Cooper Criswell dominated a strong Syracuse lineup in a shutout victory. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight, allowing one hit over six innings. Alex Speas made his system debut and worked around a hit and a walk to post a scoreless seventh. He was claimed off waivers from Houston last week. Bryan Mata went the final two innings and allowed a hit and a walk while notching a strikeout. Home runs from Eddy Alvarez and Mickey Gasper provided all the offense they would need. Alvarez finished 2 for 4 with a steal, and Chase Meidroth went 1 for 2 with two more walks to raise his on-base percentage to .447.
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Zach Bryant got two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a single followed by a double broke a 2-2 tie as the Fisher Cats walked off with the win. This was the resumption of Friday's suspended game, and the originally scheduled game for Saturday got postponed. Caleb Bolden started on Friday, but the game was called with the bases loaded and two outs in the first. Wyatt Olds started things off on Saturday with a strikeout to get out of the jam and then threw another two scoreless frames. Isaac Coffey struck out six and allowed one run over three innings. Kyle Teel and Eddinson Paulino each went 2 for 4 with a double on a night where Portland managed only six hits.
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A walk-off single from Mikey Romero sent the fans home happy. Romero was 0 for 5 entering that at-bat but came through when it mattered most. Jhostynxon Garcia once again led the offense as he went 2 for 4 with a three-run home run and a walk to raise his OPS to 1.062. Eduardo Lopez added a solo shot for his fourth home run of the year.
Connelly Early had another strong start, striking out eight and walking two over five shutout innings. He has posted an ERA of 1.29 over his last three starts with 21 strikeouts and six walks. Hayden Mullins allowed four runs (two earned) over the next three innings. Clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, Reidis Sena served up a leadoff home run to tie the game. Sena would bear down and keep the Toursists off the board through the 11th, and Zach Fogell got the win after posting a scoreless 12th.
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Salem held on to earn a split in its series with the Hillcats. Elmer Rodriguez struggled with his control but was able to limit the damage. He allowed two runs over 5 2/3 while walking four and striking out five. Conor Steinbaugh brought it home by allowing one run over the final 3 1/3 innings to earn his first save. Albert Feliz drove in three of Salem's five runs as he went 2 for 4 with a double. Nelly Taylor drew three walks and added a single, and Brooks Brannon went 2 for 5.
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In the completion of Friday's suspended game, the Twins won on a walk-off passed ball. Kleyver Salazar was the story, launching two home runs that drove home all the team's runs. Two other players had multi-hit games, with Starlyn Nunez going 2 for 4 with a double and Franklin Arias going 2 for 4. All four runs the Red Sox gave up were unearned, as the defense could not help out some stellar pitching. Gilberto Batista allowed one of the runs while striking out three over four innings.
The Red Sox defense did not improve in game two, as they committed four more errors in their second loss of the day. Stijn Van Der Schaaf allowed four runs over his two innings. Andruw Musett went 2 for 4 with his first home run of the year. Three players tripled, with Frederik Jimenez, Yosander Asencio, and Armando Sierra collecting a three-bagger. Jimenez also added a single and stole a base.
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The Red squad has been the stronger team all season, but they were blown out by the Blue team on Saturday. The shutout was led by Yodrian Beltre who struck out three and allowed two hits over four innings. Moises Bolivar had his best game of his season, going 3 for 3 with a home run, double, and a stolen base. Tavano Baker also went deep, while Yoiber Ruiz went 3 for 4 with a stolen base.
Jeison Payano had a rare poor start for the Red team as he allowed four runs over four innings. It is the first time in five appearances where has allowed more than one run. A double from Avinson Pinto was the only offensive performance of note.
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Player of the Day: Six shutout innings with eight strikeouts from Cooper Criswell highlighted a busy Saturday. Criswell was a key piece of Boston's pitching staff but was optioned to Worcester in late June. In three starts since rejoining the WooSox, he has an ERA of 1.76 and 14 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings. It is likely not a coincidence that Criswell is lined up with Josh Winckowski, and it will be interesting to see how long of a leash the Red Sox will have with that final rotation spot.
Photo Credit: Cooper Criswell by Kelly O'Connor