Solid Pitching, Timely Hitting Leads PawSox Past Louisville Bats

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – On Free Brady Friday, the Pawtucket Red Sox honored the revered quarterback by continuing their recent winning ways, using another outstanding start from Roenis Elias to defeat the Louisville Bats, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game series at McCoy Stadium.

The PawSox (32-29) used a three-run first and a two-run fifth to support their pitching, setting the New England End Zone Militia’s muskets off five times on Friday night. Eight players in the starting lineup recorded hits and five doubled.

Pawtucket has won eight of its last 10 contests and improved to 4-1 on a homestand in which the team has allowed only seven runs the five games.

Elias (4-3) tossed seven shutout, five-hit innings, striking out seven and walking none. The Bats (31-30) went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position against the lefthander.

“He’s doing everything right at this point,” said manager Kevin Boles of his starting pitcher. “He’s been more consistent with his delivery, his work habits, attacking the zone and maintaining his stuff from the stretch.”

Elias has thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings dating to his last start, a complete-game effort on Sunday in Norfolk. In the two outings combined, he allowed one run in 16 innings with 15 strikeouts and two walks.

“My fastball was working for me tonight and I was able to stay aggressive the whole game,” said Elias through his teammate Jose Vinicio.

In fact, Elias is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA, 40 strikeouts and eight walks in his last five outings dating to May 18.

The PawSox quickly gave Elias the lead in the first inning against Louisville starter Jon Moscot (1-3).

Moscot hit Ryan LaMarre with a pitch and then surrendered a single to Chris Marrero that placed runners on first and second with one out for Bryce Brentz.

Brentz drilled a double into right field that brought home LaMarre with the first run of the game. Marrero scored on Jantzen Witte’s RBI double to first base and a two-out single for Henry Ramos drove Brentz home with the third run of the opening frame for Pawtucket.

The PawSox struck again in the fifth with a pair of one-out RBI knocks, including a Deven Marrero single and a Mike Miller double that extended the lead to 5-0.

Pawtucket had other opportunities to pull out even further in front over the first five innings, but the offense left 10 runners on base over that span.

Roman Mendez allowed one run in the eighth and Pat Light tossed a scoreless ninth to seal the game. Light has not allowed a run in the ninth inning this season (in 10.1 innings pitched).

The PawSox continue their three-game series with the Louisville Bats tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. on an evening that will feature a spectacular postgame Fireworks Show and the 8th Annual Star Wars Night. Pawtucket lefthander Henry Owens (4-2, 3.60) is scheduled to take the mound against Louisville righthander Robert Stephenson (3-3, 3.47).