Cup of Coffee: Salem no-hit in doubleheader split; Kavadas goes yard again

7/14 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough Saturday as the affiliates combined for a 3-5 day, while Salem was no-hit in the second half of its doubleheader with Down East. The pitching was mostly able to keep the offenses in check, as only one team allowed more than five runs. Niko Kavadas (pictured) has loved Rochester pitching, as he had three hits and knocked another home run. Isaac Coffey helped Portland to victory, contributing five shutout innings, while Francis Hernandez threw three shutout frames for Salem in the first half of the twin bill. Givian Sirvania had three hits for DSL Blue, as well.

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Matthew Lugo knocked a two-run home run in the second to open the scoring as part of a 2-for-3 day, but the Red Sox could not hold on to that lead and fell on Saturday. Niko Kavadas followed up his seven-RBI performance on Friday with another strong performance, as he was 3 for 4 with another home run. Chase Shugart was on the mound and two runs scored on his watch, as he handled the first 3 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits and one walk, striking out five. Alex Speas (1 inning) and Lucas Luetge (1 2/3 innings) each did not allow a hit in their appearances.

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Portland scored a pair of runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to secure a win on Saturday. The eight hits registered by the Sea Dogs were evenly distributed, but Tyler McDonough notched a pair. Isaac Coffey contributed five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. Caleb Bolden followed with just one run permitted over three frames. 

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The Drive scored first, snagging a run in the top of the first, but Rome exploded for five runs in the fourth and rode that momentum to victory. Greenville held the Emperors to just five hits, but two errors led to a pair of unearned runs on Connelly Early's tab. Early pitched four innings and permitted three earned runs to come across, as well. He surrendered a trio each of free passes and hits while striking out four. Hayden Mullins performed better over the final four frames, registering five punchouts while scattering a pair of hits. Mikey Romero, Miguel Bleis, and Jhostynxon Garcia each had multiple hits.

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The first half of the second attempt at a doubleheader required extra innings, with Salem coming out on top after stranding the tying run on first. After a short delay to start the evening, the teams each committed a pair of errors. The Red Sox scored each of their runs in regulation on one swing of the bat, as Natanael Yuten knocked a three-run home run in the fourth. Antonio Anderson and Andy Lugo each had two hits. All three Wood Ducks runs went on Luis Cohen's tab, who pitched the first three innings. He surrendered three hits and a walk, striking out a trio of hitters. Francis Hernandez followed with three shutout innings, while Nathanael Cruz allowed the automatic runner to score in the eighth, but nothing else.

The second half of the doubleheader was one to forget for Salem. The Red Sox were no-hit and also committed four errors, including two by Antonio Anderson. Salem worked two walks in the first but didn't get another baserunner on until the sixth when they worked another free pass. Down East pitching faced two batters more than the minimum. The start went to Michael Sansone, who punched out five over 4 1/3 innings and allowed all four runs, though just two were earned. 

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Another crosstown battle, and another loss for the Red Sox on Saturday. They got the tying run to the plate in the seventh after breaking the shutout on a home run by Yosander Asencio but weren't able to complete the comeback. He had the only extra-base hit for his team. Gilberto Batista was on the mound and he got through 3 1/3 innings, with two unearned runs on his tab. He allowed a pair of hits and walks each, with four punchouts. 

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Justin Barry and Edwin Brito each had two hits, the latter of which went yard, leading the way to victory for Red. It was a strong outing for Jeison Payano, who surrendered just one hit over four shutout innings, with a strikeout and zero walks. Oscar Sanchez handled the final two frames, facing the minimum. He struck out a hitter. The only run scored on Juan Henriquez, who pitched the fifth and sixth. He punched out a pair of Royals, with three hits and a walk allowed.

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Givian Sirvania was 3 for 4 and Justin Gonzalez added two more knocks, but the rest of the team combined for just one hit as Blue got blown out on Saturday. It was a tough outing for Yodrian Beltre as six runs came across on his watch, four of which were earned. He struck out five but allowed seven hits and a walk. Gilbel Galvan (1 inning) and Juan Medina (2 innings) each had scoreless outings. 

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Player of the Day: Niko Kavadas has been enjoying his stay in New York. After tallying seven RBIs on Friday, he was 3 for 4 with another home run, as he's up to 16 on the year with a 1.004 OPS. Strikeouts are still a worry, as he's had just two games without one since May 22, but he's been putting up good numbers despite that worrying trend.