PawSox Tally 17 Hits In Wednesday Night Win In Louisville

Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  — Rusney Castillo fell a triple shy of the cycle and powered a well-rounded, 17-hit offensive effort, as the Pawtucket Red Sox thumped the Louisville Bats, 11-5, on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

The PawSox (60-63) scored in each of the first five innings — including a four-run fourth — and snapped their four-game losing skid by topping the Bats (48-74) in the third meeting of the four-game set.

Pawtucket starter Brian Johnson threw a 1-2-3 first inning but didn’t return for the second after he was struck in the left leg with a line drive to end the first; Johnson finished the play by recording the out at first, but left-hander Edgar Olmos (W, 8-2) replaced him to begin the second inning. Between them, Louisville didn’t notch a baserunner until there were two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Olmos piled up six strikeouts in four innings of one-run work in which he only ceded three hits.

All nine PawSox starters recorded at least one hit. Castillo (4-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI) doubled in the first, singled in the second, homered in the fourth and doubled again leading off the eighth — tallying his first four-hit game of the season. The athletic outfielder began the night ranked fourth in the International League in both average and slugging percentage.

Right fielder Bryce Brentz (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) connected on his 28th home run of the season, and third baseman Matt Dominguez (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI), shortstop Deven Marrero (2-for-4) and catcher Dan Butler (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) added multi-hit efforts as well. Designated hitter Blake Swihart, in his third game since returning from the disabled list, reached base three times with a pair of walks and a single.

In four innings of work, Louisville starter Cody Reed (L, 4-9) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks, while also collecting five strikeouts.

Brentz lifted Pawtucket to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when he lifted a high-arcing two-run blast to deep center field.

In the second, Castillo ripped an RBI single through the left side to score Swihart, who had led off the frame with a walk, and make it 3-0.

Pawtucket stretched its lead to 4-0 in the third when first baseman Sam Travis tugged a double to left-center — his first extra-base hit since July 29 — and scored on an RBI single to right-center from Dominguez.

With two outs in the fourth, Castillo smashed an opposite-field home run to the upper deck in right field, extending the margin to 5-0.

In the fifth, Pawtucket greeted Louisville reliever Evan Mitchell with six consecutive hits to begin the frame. On the third, Swihart pulled a base knock into right field, where Reds rehabber Scott Schebler committed an error that allowed two runs to score, making it 7-0. The PawSox added two more on an RBI double from second baseman Heiker Meneses and a single by Butler.

Louisville trimmed the gap to 9-1 in the home half of the fifth on an RBI double by catcher Chad Wallach.

Bats designated hitter Adam Brett Walked blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh inning for a solo homer to right-center field, making it 9-2.

Travis bounced into a double play in the eighth that scored Castillo from third, but in the bottom half of the frame, Louisville shortstop Alex Blandino cut the deficit to 10-4 with a two-run long ball.

Dominguez led off the top of the ninth by lacing a solo rocket over the left-field wall, but Louisville promptly got the run back in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly from center fielder Darnell Sweeney.

The series with Louisville concludes Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Rehabbing left-hander Roenis Elias (1-3, 7.52) is scheduled to oppose Bats righty Jackson Stephens (7-8, 5.00). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the PawSox Pre-Game Show at 6:35 p.m.

The PawSox return home for the final homestand of the season August 21-27 (Monday-Sunday). Good seats are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.