PawSox Split Doubleheader with Bisons

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – Justin Haley’s seven-inning shutout led the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 6-0 game-one win, while the Buffalo Bisons claimed a 6-3 victory in game two for a split of Sunday’s doubleheader at McCoy Stadium.

The PawSox (60-55) improved their record to a season-best six games over .500 after game one, but settled for their fifth split in five doubleheaders this season following the loss in game two.

Haley (6-3) allowed just five hits and one walk in his effort. He struck out four in Pawtucket’s fourth complete game and second complete-game shutout of the season.

“I was attacking zone, trying to stay ahead and just be aggressive,” said Haley.

Haley used two double play grounders and has induced 11 double plays in his last four starts.

“He was aggressive, worked ahead in the count and he was very efficient,” said manager Kevin Boles. “He showed that sneaky fastball and he set the tone for us today.”

The righthander has not allowed a run in 13 innings pitched over the last two Sundays at McCoy.

The PawSox jumped out to the lead with a two-out third-inning rally against Buffalo starter Mike Bolsinger (0-1) in his Blue Jays’ organizational debut.

Ryan LaMarre reached first base after a ball scraped his jersey. The next batter, Marco Hernandez, hit a hard groundball down the right field line for his second triple in as many games, driving home LaMarre with the game’s first run.

After two walks, Christian Vazquez smoked a three-run double up the right center field gap to extend Pawtucket’s lead to 4-0.

LaMarre delivered a home run (7) into the right field corner in the fifth inning and Henry Ramos added an RBI single in the sixth to put the finishing touches on the 6-0 win.

In addition to a 3-for-3 game with three RBI at the plate, Vazquez made a fine defensive recovery at catcher in the second inning to keep the shutout in tact. With Domonic Brown on third base and two outs, Haley’s pitch scooted under Vazquez and to the backstop, but Vazquez played the carom well and fed the covering Haley for an out at home.

With the victory in game one, the PawSox had won 11 of their last 12 home games.

Sean O’Sullivan (6-5) made the third start on his rehabilitation assignment for Pawtucket in game two.

O’Sullivan had surrendered all 10 of his runs over his first two rehab starts in the second inning, but he allowed only one run over the first two frames on Sunday.

Darrell Ceciliani launched his ninth home run of the season over the Bisons’ bullpen in right field for the first run of the game.

The first three Buffalo batters in the third inning all recorded hits.

Jio Mier doubled to left field, Dalton Pompey singled him home and Andy Burns knocked a ground-rule double off the warning track and into the PawSox bullpen, placing two runners in scoring position.

After a wild pitch scored Pompey, Matt Dominguez brought home Burns with a sacrifice fly, propelling the Bisons (57-59) to a 4-0 lead.

O’Sullivan then surrendered a leadoff walk in the fourth inning that came around to score when reliever Noe Ramirez entered the game with two outs and threw a wild pitch.

In total, O’Sullivan allowed five runs on six hits.

William Cuevas tossed three innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits.

The lone run he allowed came on Chris Colabello’s opposite field blast (3) that led off the sixth inning.

Pawtucket scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning.

The frame began with two singles and a walk against Buffalo starter Casey Lawrence (3-4).

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Deven Marrero lined a two-run single into left center field. Rusney Castillo would add an RBI groundball single into right field later in the inning, but the PawSox were unable to mount any other threats at the plate.

After its final off day of the season tomorrow, Pawtucket opens a three game series with the Durham Bulls on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. PawSox lefthander Henry Ownes (6-6, 4.06) is scheduled to make the start against Durham righty Austin Pruitt (8-7, 3.28). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.