PawSox Beat Braves as Carlos Peguero Gets Third Homer in Last Two Games
PawSox news release…
(Lawrenceville, GA) – Luke Montz and Mike Miller hit RBI doubles during a decisive three-run eighth inning and Pawtucket reliever Dayan Diaz pitched two innings and thwarted a late Gwinnett rally as the PawSox topped the Braves, 5-4, on Saturday night at Coolray Field for their second straight victory in the series.
Diaz inherited a two-on, no outs jam in the bottom of the eighth, and after allowing a walk and a two-run single he retired the next six batters he faced to earn his first Triple-A save. Pawtucket had taken the lead in the top of the eighth by scoring three times against Braves closer Ryan Kelly.
Pawtucket (34-35), which also received its third home run of the series from newcomer Carlos Peguero, clinched a road series victory for the first time since May 18-20 at Indianapolis. The PawSox have now won 15 of the last 16 games they have played at Coolray Field dating back to August 2011.
With the score tied a 2 through seven innings, Kelly (1-1) entered for Gwinnett and allowed a one-out walk to Garin Cecchini. Deven Marrero then blooped a single to right to put two runners on base for Montz, who lined a go-ahead RBI double to left. Matt Spring followed with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Marrero to make the score 4-2.
Miller followed with a two-out RBI double to right that scored Montz with the third run of the inning. Matt Barnes (1-0), who had recorded the final two outs in the seventh, allowed a walk and a single to begin the bottom of the eighth and was lifted in favor of Diaz.
After Diaz walked Joey Terdoslavich to load the bases, Adonis Garcia grounded a two-run single to left that cut Pawtucket’s lead to 5-4 and left runners on the corners. The next batter Christian Bethancourt hit a check-swing comebacker to Diaz who retired Terdoslavich in a rundown between third base and home plate to cut down the potential tying run.
Diaz then retired Todd Cunningham on a flyout and Cedric Hunter on a pop up to strand two runners. The righty retired Gwinnett in order in the ninth to finish the victory, including strikeouts of Daniel Castro and Eric Young, Jr.
Garcia opened the scoring in the third with a two-out, two-run double against Pawtucket starter Henry Owens. Owens would then settle in and work 6.1 total innings and allow only four hits and two walks. He left with the score tied at 2 thanks to Peguero’s solo homer in the fourth (3) and a Marrero sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Gwinnett starter Cody Martin issued six walks and two runs in his six innings of work. The Braves four pitchers combined to walk ten PawSox hitters in the game. Peguero went 2-for-4 with a home run, double and a walk to pace Pawtucket’s seven-hit attack.
The PawSox conclude the six-game road trip and go for a three-game sweep of Gwinnett on Sunday afternoon at 2:05pm. Right-hander Jess Todd (2-2, 5.22) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Braves counter with righty Alex White (0-0, 0.00). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 1:50 pm.
The PawSox return home on Monday, June 22nd to welcome Rochester at the beginning of a seven-game homestand.
