PawSox Split a Day-Night Doubleheader at Lehigh Valley

PawSox news release…

(Allentown, PA) Rich Hill returned to the Pawtucket Red Sox with six and a third scoreless innings to lead the PawSox to a 5-2 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Coca Cola Park.  Hill – making his first start for an affiliated club since 2010 – allowed only four hits and pitched Pawtucket to its second straight win.

Quintin Berry’s home run in the bottom of the first inning against IronPigs’ starter Jerad Eickhoff got Pawtucket on the board.    The Sox tacked on a second run in the fifth on Matt Spring’s single that plated Jemile Weeks, who had singled and stolen second base.

Hill (1-0), who made two starts for the Long Island Ducks before signing with the Red Sox, allowed single hits in the first, fourth, six and seventh innings, the last of which put two on with nobody out.  Hill then fielded a bunt attempt from Jordan Danks and retired the lead runner at third before he was lifted from the game.  Jonathan Aro got the last two outs of the inning to stem the Pigs’ threat. 

Immediately thereafter, the PawSox (46-75) got what proved to be three critical insurance runs.  With two outs and the bases empty, Deven Marrero singled to spark the rally.  Berry – who has now hit three homers in the last five games – walked before Carlos River’s automatic double made it a 3-0 game.  Allen Craig then doubled to right-center to push the Sox’ lead to five. 

The ‘Pigs got to Aro for a pair of runs in the ninth inning.  After Kelly Dugan singled to right field, Tommy Joseph fouled out to first.  Jordan Danks then homered to centerfield to make it 5-2.  Tyler Henson hit a pop-up in foul territory at first that was dropped before he was hit by a pitch, which brought Heath Hembree to the mound.  Hembree got the last two outs to earn his eighth save.

(Allentown, PA) – Lehigh Valley scored all six of its runs in the first three innings against Pawtucket newcomer Mike McCarthy while closer Dustin McGowan extinguished a late comeback attempt as the IronPigs held off the PawSox, 6-5, on Saturday night in the backend of a day-night doubleheader at Coca-Cola Park. 

Brian Bogusevic and Tommy Joseph each connected on two-run home runs for the ‘Pigs (54-68), who snapped a five-game losing skid.  Pawtucket (46-76), which had its two-game winning streak snapped, scored four times in the ninth inning but stranded the bases loaded in the frame when McGowan struck out Carlos Rivero to end the contest.

The PawSox got an RBI single from newly-acquired Chris Marrero to begin the scoring in the ninth, chasing reliever Jason Berken with no outs and making the score 6-2.  Marco Hernandez then greeted McGowan with a drive into right-center that went for a two-run triple to cut the deficit to 6-4.

After Matt Spring walked, Jonathan Roof drove a deep sacrifice fly to center that plated Hernandez with the fifth Pawtucket run.  Mike Miller then flew out but Deven Marrero singled and Quintin Berry walked to load the bases for Rivero.  Rivero chased a 2-2 breaking pitch to end the game with the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Gonzalez (2-5), activated off the Lehigh Valley disabled list earlier in the day, limited the PawSox to one run on four hits while striking out three and throwing just 67 pitches.  Berken tossed three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth to keep a 6-1 advantage before being charged with three runs in the ninth.

McCarthy (0-1), who was promoted from Double-A Portland mid-day on Saturday to make the first Triple-A start of his career allowed the two-run shot to Bogusevic (10) to put the IronPigs in front 2-1.  Tyler Henson’s RBI double in the second made the score 3-1, then Joseph’s two run homer (1) in the third highlighted a three-run rally.

Allen Craig opened the scoring in the first with an RBI double against Gonzalez.  It was one of three hits on the night for Craig, who paced the Pawtucket offense by going 3-for-4.  Chris Marrero, who joined the team just before game time, went 2-for-4 in his debut with an RBI.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:35pm, as the PawSox look to win three out of four.  Right-hander William Cuevas (0-2, 3.00) will get the start for Pawtucket while Lehigh Valley counters with righty David Buchanan (3-0, 3.16). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 1:20 pm. 

The PawSox return to McCoy Stadium on Monday, August 17th for the first of a nine-game homestand at 7:05pm, as they welcome the Syracuse Chiefs.