Swihart Homer Lifts PawSox Over RailRiders

PawSox news release…

(Moosic, PA) – Blake Swihart’s fourth-inning home run proved to be all the offense the Pawtucket Red Sox would need thanks to solid efforts from Joe Kelly, Anthony Varvaro and Pat Light, as the PawSox clipped the Scranton RailRiders, 2-1, on Wednesday evening at PNC Field.

Kelly (1-0), making the second start of his rehabilitation assignment, allowed only one run in the 77-pitch outing. He allowed five hits in five innings. In Kelly’s two starts combined, he has allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings.

After surrendering two first-inning singles, Kelly induced a groundball and fanned Nick Swisher to keep the RailRiders (17-17) off the board and begin a stretch in which he retired 13 of 15 Scranton hitters. 

After Sam Travis led off the fourth inning with a double for Pawtucket (16-17), Swihart blasted his first long-ball of the season over the left field fence. It was the only blemish in seven innings for Scranton starter Richard Bleier (1-1).

The PawSox held a 2-0 lead until two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, when the RailRiders collected a pair of extra-base hits off the center field wall. Jake Cave tripled and Aaron Judge doubled him home to cut Pawtucket’s lead in half.

But Joe Kelly fired his two fastest pitches of the night—97 and 98 mile-per-hour fastballs—to blow away Gary Sanchez and hold the lead.

After allowing a Rob Refsnyder leadoff double in the sixth, reliever Anthony Varvaro struck out four of the next six batters he faced for a pair of scoreless innings.

The PawSox loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, but Bryce Brentz struck out and Mike Miller grounded out.

Thus, Pat Light, who fired a scoreless eighth inning, attempted to protect a one-run lead in the ninth.  With a runner on first and two outs, Pete Kozma hit a slow ground all to the third-base side of the mound. Light’s throw to first base was wild, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position.

But the next batter, Jake Cave, grounded out to first base, sealing the two-out save for Light, his first save since June 13, 2015.

Pawtucket has allowed just one total run in its last two games, winning consecutive contests for the first time since April 19-20.

The PawSox conclude their four-game series in Scranton on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Roenis Elias (0-2, 4.71) is take the mound against RailRiders righty Brady Lail (0-0, 9.82). Radio coverage begins on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network at 6:05 p.m.

The PawSox will return to McCoy Stadium on Friday for the first contest of a six-game homestand that brings Gwinnett and Norfolk to town.