PawSox Rally to Tie, But Chiefs Score Two in the 9th to Win at McCoy Stadium
PawSox news release…
(Pawtucket, RI) – The Pawtucket Red Sox used a pair of RBI from both Henry Ramos and Jantzen Witte to claw their way back from a pair of three-run deficits, but Trea Turner’s two-run single in the ninth inning lifted the Syracuse Chiefs to a series-tying, 6-4 victory on Wednesday night at McCoy Stadium.
With the PawSox (38-35) trailing 4-2, Rusney Castillo and Jantzen Witte led off the eighth inning with back-to-back doubles against reliever Juan Gutierrez, cutting the deficit in half.
Chris Marrero followed with a single that advanced Witte to third base. After a strikeout, reliever Bryan Harper (1-0) induced a groundball to short from Ramos. Ramos beat out the return throw on the double play, tying the game at 4-4.
However, the Chiefs (33-38) responded in the ninth inning against Roman Mendez (3-2), who had already tossed 1.2 scoreless innings entering the frame.
Matt den Dekker led off the ninth by lofting a flyball into shallow left field that Bryce Brentz nearly overran and dropped as he tried to field it with one hand.
Following a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, a strikeout and a stolen base, Turner delivered the go-ahead, two-run double to left center field.
Rafael Martin shut the door in the bottom of the ninth for his 14th save. He walked Dan Butler with two outs but ultimately fanned Rusney Castillo in a long game-ending battle.
Pawtucket first scratched the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Henry Ramos pulled his first Triple-A home run against Syracuse starter Taylor Hill.
The PawSox also created a run in the fifth inning thanks to three singles from Ryan Court, Mike Miller and Witte.
Pawtucket starter Aaron Wilkerson tossed 79 pitches in a three-inning outing, but the righthander limited the damage to one run.
Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Chiefs in the second. With two outs, Turner drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the first run of the game.
Wilkerson pitched around a walk, single and hit batter in the third inning but Syracuse rallied for two in the fourth.
Turner led off the frame with a triple to center, and after a walk, Brian Goodwin lined an RBI single to center.
The next batter, Matt Skole, grounded a ball to first base that Chris Marrero threw wide of second base. The error allowed the second run of the inning to score for the Chiefs, extending their lead to 3-0.
Still, Syracuse would leave the bases loaded for the third straight inning, stranding 10 runners in total over the first four frames.
The Chiefs loaded the bases for the fourth straight inning in the fifth, squeezing out one more run for a 4-1 advantage.
Wright surrendered a season-high three runs in a season-high 3.1 innings of relief.
Court went 2-for-4, improving his batting average to .462 in his first four Triple-A games.
The PawSox play the rubber match of their five-game series against the Chiefs tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket righthander Justin Haley (1-0, 1.13) is scheduled make his second Triple-A start, while righty Austin Voth (3-3, 3.11) will take the mound for Syracuse.+*
