Three Catchers Slug PawSox Past Red Wings

Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release

(PAWTUCKET, RI) – A trio of catchers spearheaded an offensive explosion on Saturday afternoon at McCoy Stadium and the Pawtucket Red Sox slammed the Rochester Red Wings 13-3.  Led by Humberto Quintero – who blasted two home runs and drove in five – a threesome of Pawtucket backstops led the way in a 17-hit barrage. 

Blake Swihart (tabbed as the designated hitter) had four hits and drove in a pair, and Matt Spring (playing first base on Saturday) belted a three-run homer in his 2015 PawSox debut.  The three combined to go 8-for-15, drove in 10 runs and scored five to back a strong start from Eduardo Rodriguez and lock up a series win in front of 2,744 in Pawtucket. 

Rodriguez was dominant early, though he did surrender a second-inning lead.  He would not have to wait long to see that turn around.  In the bottom of the second with Rochester leading 1-0, Quintero crushed his first homer to push the PawSox ahead 2-1.   Swihart added a run in the third with the first of his four hits, a single to right that scored Quintin Berry, who had doubled.

Brock Peterson got a run back for the Wings in the fourth with a homer to right-center; from there, the PawSox erupted.

In the fifth, Quintero struck again.  After Swihart doubled and Sean Coyle singled, the Venezuelan catcher ripped a three-run blast to left to push the PawSox ahead 6-3.  An inning later, Berry hit a two-run homer to right, then Bryce Brentz walked and Swihart singled again.  With still only one out Spring hit a towering drive deep to left that stayed inside the foul pole and pushed the Sox’ lead to nine at 11-2.

Rodriguez came out to start the seventh inning; Danny Ortiz, the last man he faced, reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by James Beresford.  Rodriguez struck out five and allowed only four hits over six innings.  In their half of the frame, Pawtucket tacked on two more – and Swihart was again involved.  Jackie Bradley, Jr. walked to lead off the inning; with two outs, Brentz doubled to score him and then came home himself when Swihart doubled to left. 

Noe Ramirez and Heath Hembree each kept a clean sheet out of the bullpen to close down the dominating win. 

The finale of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:05pm at McCoy Stadium.  Right-hander Matt Barnes (0-0, 9.00) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Red Wings counter with lefty Pat Dean (1-0, 1.50). Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.  Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 12:50 pm.