Allen Craig Enjoys McCoy Debut as PawSox Win on Rusney Castillo Walk-Off

PawSox news release…

(PAWTUCKET, RI) – Rusney Castillo ripped a line drive with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth that scored Luke Montz and propelled the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 2-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium. 

Allen Craig made his Pawtucket debut, had two hits and drove in the first run as the PawSox locked up a series win over Indianapolis in front of 5,186.

For most of the night, Keith Couch and Adrian Sampson engaged in a pitchers’ duel.  Couch gave Pawtucket five and a third strong innings, allowing only an unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts.  Sampson pitched seven innings, yielded six hits and one run with eight strikeouts. 

Pawtucket surged to an early lead thanks to Craig’s double in his first at-bat since being optioned from Boston.  Sampson allowed a leadoff, automatic double to Castillo, who scored when Craig hit one to the wall in right-center field.

Couch encountered his only trouble of the night in his sixth and final frame.  After two errors and a stolen base moved Alan Hanson to third, Jose Tabata singled him home to tie the game, 1-1. 

After Dalier Hinojosa was perfect for an inning and a third, Pawtucket (20-13) gave the ball to Dayan Diaz for his Pawtucket and AAA debut.  Diaz flashed an electric fastball and struck out three, though he was chased in the top of the tenth after he walked a pair and allowed a hit to load the bases with one out.  Dana Eveland (2-0) retired Hanson and struck out Elias Diaz to escape the jam.

Montz sparked the rally in the bottom of the tenth with a line drive down the left field line.   Josh Wall – who had pitched two scoreless frames – then hit Garin Cecchini on the foot and was lifted for A.J. Morris.  Morris then hit Humberto Quintero on the helmet; Quintero remained down for a brief time but walked off the field on his own power.  Morris then struck out Sean Coyle, but Castillo drilled a fastball into the gap to win the game and series for Pawtucket. 

The finale of the series is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at 12:05pm.  Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1, 2.73) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Indians counter with lefty Clayton Richard (NR).