PawSox Halt Eight Game Losing Streak By Beating Tides

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) Brian Johnson hurled six and a third shutout innings to lead the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 6-0 win over the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium.  Johnson – pitching for the first time since he made his Major League debut – struck out six and allowed only four hits.  With the win, the PawSox snapped an eight-game losing streak. 

The Pawtucket offense chipped away against Norfolk knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa, and broke through against the Tides’ bullpen.   The PawSox’ first hit scored their first run; with one out in the fourth and Travis Shaw at first, Humberto Quintero ripped a double off the wall in centerfield to give the Sox (42-61) a 1-0 lead. 

They tacked on a second run in the sixth.  With Jackie Bradley, Jr. – who had singled – at first base, Shaw doubled to deep left-center field to push the lead to two. 

Gamboa was lifted in the seventh after he allowed a pair of infield hits, the second of which came with two outs.  Former PawSox hurler Dana Eveland came on and walked both Quintin Berry and Bradley; the free pass to Berry gave the Sox a 3-0 advantage.  Allen Craig then laced a two-run single before Shaw capped the scoring with a single to right. 

Noe Ramirez relieved Johnson (9-6) in the seventh, got the final two outs of that frame and all three in the eighth.  Ronald Belisario sent down the Tides in the ninth to cap the victory. 

The clubs play game two of the three-game series Wednesday night at 7:05.