Red Hot PawSox Beat Iron Pigs in Return to McCoy Stadium

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – Despite scoring a season-high five runs in the opening frame, the Pawtucket Red Sox needed a go-ahead double in the seventh inning to defeat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 6-5, winning their eighth game in nine days on Friday night in front of 6,145 fans at McCoy Stadium.

After the IronPigs (8-7) rallied for five runs in the middle three innings to tie the game at 5, Pawtucket (10-6) responded in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Colton Murray (0-1). Deven Marrero collected a two-out infield single and then stole second base. Marco Hernandez followed with a double over the head of centerfielder Nick Williams, plating the game-winning run.

Pawtucket righthander Aaron Wilkerson started the game, making his Triple-A debut. He allowed three runs in 4.2 innings of work, striking out five.

After Wilkerson pitched a scoreless top of the first, the PawSox delivered early an early start to “Fireworks Night” in the bottom of the first against Lehigh Valley starter Zach Eflin.

After singles by Deven Marrero and Blake Swihart, Sam Travis stroked an RBI double to left field. Chris Marrero followed with a two-run single. A pair of RBI hits from Ryan LaMarre and Mark Miller capped the five-run frame, which included a season-high six hits.

Following the first inning, Eflin settled down and retired the final 14 batters he faced.

Meawhile, the IronPigs responded with five runs to tie the game. Designated hitter Tommy Joseph smashed a two-run home run to get Lehigh Valley on the board in the fourth inning. Joseph then recorded an RBI single in the fifth.

After rallying for three hits in the sixth inning against Pawtucket reliever Kyle Martin (2-0), Williams drove home a run with a single to right field. However, rightfielder Ryan LaMarre uncorked a cannon to throw out Cam Perkins, who was trying to advance from first to third base on the play. Martin got the final out of the frame to keep the game tied.

Roman Mendez pitched two hitless innings to close out the game and earn his first save of the season.

With the win, Pawtucket remains undefeated against the IronPigs this season (3-0) and retains first place in the International League North standings.

The PawSox will face Lehigh Valley in the second game of the series at McCoy stadium tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 pm. Radio coverage begins on WHJJ and throughout the PawSox radio network at 11:30 am with PawSox Insider.

Tomorrow’s festivities will feature the first ever “PawSox Primary,” which includes an in-game race by the presidential candidates.