Bell Throws Out First Pitch as PawSox Drop Series Opener 7-3

July 20, 2017 10:42 pm

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — After Jalen Beeks began his night with five no-hit innings, the Norfolk Tides broke out the bats and hit three home runs in a 7-3 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox on Thursday night at McCoy Stadium.

The Tides (41-57) scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to take the opener of the four-game set with the PawSox (50-46), who’ve dropped consecutive games following an eight-game winning streak.

Beeks (L, 3-4) cruised through his first five innings in just 58 minutes and used merely 53 pitches to face and retire 15 batters. He issued a one-out walk in the fourth but promptly induced a 6-4-3 double play to continue buzzing through the Norfolk order. Beeks, who endured trouble in the sixth and seventh innings, ended up allowing three earned runs (six total) in 6.1 innings on six hits and a pair of walks. Left-handed All-Star Edgar Olmos worked out of the bullpen and allowed a run in 2.2 frames.

Norfolk starter Jayson Aquino (W, 3-7) logged six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts, scattering seven hits.

PawSox right fielder Aneury Tavarez (2-for-5, RBI), center fielder Tzu-Wei Lin (3-for-5, RBI) and left fielder Bryce Brentz (2-for-4, R) steered a Pawtucket offense that mounted a late threat with a pair of runs in the ninth.

Norfolk designated hitter Drew Dosch broke up Beeks’ no-hit bid in the sixth with a leadoff home run to right-center. Later in the inning, third baseman Chris Johnson powered a two-run blast to left field to make it 3-0.

After Brentz singled and Rutledge double in the bottom of the sixth, the PawSox got on the board when Brentz scored from third on a Norfolk error.

Tides cleanup man Pedro Alvarez started the seventh with a solo shot. Shortstop Paul Janish later supplied an RBI single down the left-field line, and a second run scored on a Brentz error, extending the gap to 7-1.

PawSox first baseman Matt Dominguez scored on an RBI fielder’s choice in the ninth inning, and Lin dumped an RBI base knock into center to trim the margin to 7-3.

The PawSox continue their four-game weekend series with the Norfolk Tides on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at McCoy Stadium. PawSox right-hander Marcus Walden (8-3, 3.20) is scheduled to oppose Tides righty Tyler Wilson (2-6, 5.09). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the PawSox Pre-Game Show at 6:35 p.m.