PawSox Wait Out the Rain and then Beat Bulls in Durham
PawSox news release…
(DURHAM, NC) – The Pawtucket Red Sox lost a bid for a combined no-hitter with two outs in the eighth inning on a night their starter Justin Haley faced only two hitters. Fortunately for the PawSox and Haley – who retired the first two Durham Bulls’ batters before a two-hour rain delay – Chris Marrero and Chris Dominguez each blasted home runs and combined to drive in seven in an 9-1 series-opening win in Durham.
By the time Jake Goebbert blooped a pitch from Noe Ramirez into centerfield for the Bulls’ first hit Pawtucket had 13 hits and led 8-0 – thanks in large part to Marrero and Dominguez. With the PawSox leading 2-0 in the fifth inning, Marrero launched his 16th home run – and fourth in the last five games – over the Blue Monster at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to push the Sox ahead, 4-0.
With one out in the sixth, Dominguez lifted off to left-center; his two-run blast was his fourth round-tripper in a span of seven games. Marrero tacked on another run with a base hit to left later in the inning.
The PawSox’ pair of sluggers was back at it in the eighth and ninth innings. With one out in the penultimate frame, Marrero brought Jose Vinico home with a single to right. Then with two on and one out in the ninth, Dominguez’s single to left gave the PawSox their final tally.
Marrero posted his second four-hit game in three nights.
Haley and three Pawtucket relievers held the Bulls to just four hits and struck out 16. Haley was notified he would start the ballgame for Pawtucket shortly after six o’clock when scheduled starter Aaron Wilkerson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Haley – who had tossed six one-run innings in his first relief appearance on Sunday – took the mound on three days rest and retired the first two Durham hitters before the heavy rain began.
Kyle Martin came on after the long delay and walked Jaff Decker. Decker then tried to steal second and was thrown out by Christian Vasquez. Martin – who earned the win to improve to 3-3 – then sent down nine of the next ten hitters he faced; the only baserunner he allowed in that stretch was a walk of Juniel Querecuto in the third. Martin struck out six in his 3.1 innings of work.
Roman Mendez then overpowered the Bulls for three innings; he fanned five of the nine consecutive hitters he retired.
Ramirez struck out the first two hitters of the eighth before Goebbert’s hit.
The PawSox (46-42) pushed their first two runs across in the second inning. After Marrero and Brennan Boesch singled to open the frame, Rusney Castillo grounded into a double play to give Pawtucket a 1-0 lead. Boesch then scored on a passed ball.
Durham (38-51) got its run in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Daniel Robertson singled home Juniel Querecuto, who had doubled to open the inning.
On the four games of the current road trip, the PawSox offense has scored 30 runs on 56 hits.
Pawtucket will turn to Eduardo Rodriguez (0-3, 3.83) on Friday night in Durham; the lefthander will be opposed by Austin Pruitt (7-5, 2.99) at 7:05 P.M.
The Sox will return to McCoy after the All-Star break on Thursday, July 14 at 7:05. The opening homestand will be highlighted by ‘80s-themed fireworks on Friday the 15th.
