PawSox Comeback Falls Short at Durham

PawSox news release…

DURHAM, N.C. — Dominant relief work allowed the Pawtucket Red Sox to mount a comeback bid, but the Durham Bulls rode their massive first inning to a 6-4 win over the PawSox on Friday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

After Durham (33-20) exploded for a six-run first inning in which it sent 12 batters to the plate and saw a total of 59 pitches, the PawSox (23-26) trimmed the deficit to 6-4 in the sixth inning. Durham, however, hung on to claim the opener of the three-game series. A trio of PawSox relievers — right-handers Austin Maddox, Kyle Martin and Jamie Callahan — combined for 7.1 innings of scoreless work out of the bullpen.

PawSox second baseman Mike Miller (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, RBI) notched his first three-hit game of the season and his first game with multiple extra-base hits.

PawSox starter Henry Owens (L, 4-4) only recorded two outs in the first inning before exiting after allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits and a pair of walks over 40 pitches.

Maddox followed Owens and dealt three shutout frames. In his last four outings since his promotion back to Pawtucket from Double-A Portland, Maddox has logged 7.2 scoreless innings and lowered his overall Triple-A ERA to 0.84. Martin then chipped in with 2.1 innings of shutout ball. Over his last four appearances, Martin has strung together 8.2 straight stanzas of scoreless work. The 22-year old Callahan handled the seventh and eighth innings.

Durham starter and prized prospect Brent Honeywell (W, 4-5), who got tagged for seven runs in three innings Sunday at McCoy Stadium, turned in 5.2 innings of four-run ball with seven strikeouts. Neil Wagner (S, 2) secured the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Durham jumped on Owens in the bottom of the first inning. Bulls left fielder Jake Bauers started the scoring with a two-run double to right field, and catcher Mike Marjama followed with an RBI single to right to make it 3-0. Slugging first baseman Casey Gillaspie then delivered an RBI base knock to center, before center fielder Johnny Field and second baseman Willy Adames each worked bases-loaded walks, extending the lead to 6-0.

The PawSox inched back in the third. After Miller doubled and shortstop Ryan Court singled, right fielder Brian Bogusevic reeled in Miller with an RBI groundout, slicing the deficit to 6-1.

In the sixth, PawSox designated hitter Allen Craig coaxed a one-out walk and scored on an RBI double to left field from first baseman Jantzen Witte — cutting the gap to 6-2. Then, still with two outs, Miller shot a two-run single up the middle to plate catcher Blake Swihart and Witte and make it a two-run game.

Durham pitchers retired the final 10 Pawtucket hitters to cement the victory.

The PawSox continue their three-game series against Durham on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. PawSox left-hander Brian Johnson (2-0, 2.82) is scheduled to start opposite Bulls righty Jose De Leon (0-1, 9.00).