Cup of Coffee: Houck rehabs for Worcester; Jordan goes deep

6/19 Cup of Coffee: Tanner Houck is back on the mound, as he made a rehab start for Worcester. Blaze Jordan continued his great season with a home run. Hayden Mullins and John Holobetz pitched very well for Portland and Greenville, respectively. Salem swept a doubleheader, with Shea Sprague (pictured) dominating on the mound in the second game. 

 

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Tanner Houck opened up this game, making his first rehab start since being placed on the IL on May 14. He pitched the first inning, then walked the first batter of the second inning before being pulled. The righty allowed one run on two hits, throwing 32 pitches. He produced one whiff on a sweeper, and as Ian Cundall notes, his fastball sat 94-96 mph while mixing in a new cutter. Isaac Coffey struggled in relief, allowing four earned runs and getting just two outs. Jose De Leon wasn't much better, surrendering six earned runs in 3 1/3 frames. Hobie Harris and Jose Adames pitched well, each tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts and no walks. It was a quiet night for the Worcester offense with just one hit, no runs, and eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings against a rehabbing Max Scherzer. Blaze Jordan provided the only run, belting a solo home run, his second with the WooSox. Vaughn Grissom also roped his 14th double of the year. 

 

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Hayden Mullins was saddled with the loss despite pitching very well over 4 1/3 innings. The southpaw allowed just one run on one hit, a solo home run, to go along with seven strikeouts and two walks. His ERA drops to 2.38 in six starts with Portland. Christopher Troye and Gabriel Jackson did not fare as well, allowing a combined five earned runs over the next 4 2/3 frames. Ahbram Liendo had the biggest swing of the night for the Sea Dogs, belting a two-run shot in the eighth inning to score Max Ferguson, who singled to begin the frame. Ferguson ended up going 2 for 4. Liendo also swiped his 17th base of the season. James Tibbs III had a nice night at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a walk. His first base hit in the Red Sox organization was a line drive single to left field in the seventh inning. 

 

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John Holobetz continued his hot start to June with his third straight start of at least five innings and three or fewer runs allowed. In this one, he allowed three runs over six innings with eight strikeouts and no free passes. Jovani Moran allowed a run in one inning with two strikeouts and one walk, while Darvin Garcia gave up two runs in two innings of work with two strikeouts. Nelly Taylor had the lone extra-base hit for the Drive, ripping a double, while also scoring the only run. Nazzan Zanetello reached twice, going 1 for 3 with an RBI single and a walk. Will Turner also reached base three times with a pair of walks and a single. 

 

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Andruw Musett led the charge on offense, going 3 for 3 with three singles and two runs driven in. Natanael Yuten had a big night as well with a single, a double, and two runs scored. Justin Gonzales added two singles, two runs, and an RBI. Luis Cohen earned the victory with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball. The 22-year old righty allowed seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Manuel Medina recorded the final two outs, one of which was a strikeout. 

 

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Shea Sprague led Salem to the doubleheader sweep with four terrific innings. The 22-year old lefty did not allow a run on just two hits with six strikeouts and one free pass. Joey Gartrell followed Sprague with 2 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts and three walks. Nathanael Cruz picked up the save, striking out the lone batter he faced to end the game. Starlyn Nunez came through in the clutch, driving an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth for Salem's only run. Karim Ayubi came around to score on the Nunez base hit after singling to open up the sixth. Nunez ended the night going 2 for 3. Yoeilin Cespedes added a two-bagger. 

 

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Player of the Day: Shea Sprague turned in his third outing of the year with at least six strikeouts. He was drafted by Boston in the 13th round of last year's draft out of the University of North Carolina. He has had a nice year in 46 combined innings with Salem and Greenville, posting a 3.27 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 16 walks.