PawSox Pull Out the Broom on Visiting Bulls

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – A pair of eighth-inning two-run home runs from Marco Hernandez and Chris Marrero jolted the Pawtucket Red Sox past the Durham Bulls, 6-5, in the completion of a three-game sweep on a muggy Thursday afternoon at McCoy Stadium

Pawtucket (63-55), which went 5-1 on its homestand, has won 14 of its last 16 home games and all five of its series at McCoy since the All-Star Break.

Overall, the PawSox have won 12 of their last 16 contests, including four separate three-game winning streaks. Pawtucket inproved its record to a season-best eight games over .500.

With the Bulls (53-66) leading, 4-2, entering the bottom of the eighth, reliever Ryne Stanek (1-2) began his second inning of work by walking the leadoff hitter, Deven Marrero.

After a fly out and a line out, Hernandez smacked an opposite-field blast (4) into the PawSox bullpen, tying the game, 4-4.

Henry Ramos, who entered the game two innings earlier as the designated hitter, drew a two-out walk to keep the inning going. The next batter, Chris Marrero, lined his league lead-tying 22nd home run of the season into Pawtucket’s bullpen for a 6-4 lead.

“[Chris Marrero] has been terrific,” said manager Kevin Boles. “He’s been our most consistent hitter.”

Marrero homered for the second time in 24 hours and he scored a run in all six games of the homestand.

Despite surrendering a single and three walks, including a bases-loaded free pass, Heath Hembree managed to escape a jam in the oppressive heat for his seventh save of the season.

Durham left 11 runners on base in the game, including three in the ninth inning. The Bulls went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Chris Young began his rehabilitation assignment for the PawSox. He batted third as the designated hitter, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a lineout to deep left center field. Ramos pinch-hit for Young in the sixth inning.

Boles said Young felt good and after a day off tomorrow, he will meet the team in Buffalo on Saturday.

Robby Scott made a sport start for Pawtucket after scheduled starter Roenis Elias was recalled by Boston.

In his sixth start of the season, Scott scattered two hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked one in the 54-pitch outing.

“That’s what he does, no matter what the role, he’s going to attack the zone and give us what he’s got,” Boles said of his lefthanded starter.

The PawSox collected the first run of the game in the second inning on Dan Butler’s RBI double into the left field corner. Butler is batting .333 since June.

Pawtucket doubled its lead in the next frame when Rusney Castillo tallied his third triple in seven games and scored on Hernandez’s RBI groundout.

Castillo went 1-for-4, but center fielder Johnny Field robbed him of a hit with a diving catch in the first inning, right fielder Eury Perez robbed him of a home run by reaching into the bullpen in the fifth inning and Field tracked down his long fly ball in the eighth inning.

Despite the bad luck, Castillo is batting a league-leading .407 in his last 14 games dating to July 27.

After PawSox reliever Kyle Martin delivered a pair of scoreless frames, he hit trouble in the sixth inning.

After allowing a leadoff single, Martin hit Daniel Robertson in the helmet. Following the hit batter, he issued two walks, including a bases-loaded walk to Curt Casali that brought home Durham’s first run of the game.

The Bulls erased their 2-1 deficit with a three-run rally in the seventh against Chandler Shepherd (1-0).

After two singles, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, Taylor Motter lined a two-run homer (10) over the right field fence that gave Durham its short-lived 4-2 edge.

Pawtucket improved to 18-8 against the International League South division in the club’s final interdivision contest of the season.

The PawSox embark on a season-long 10-game road trip beginning tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bisons. Pawtucket righthander Justin Haley (6-3, 3.18) is scheduled to make the start in a rematch against Buffalo righthander Mike Bolsinger (0-1, 6.75). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.