Betts, Back to Back Homers Help PawSox Beat Rochester, Thornburg Makes Second Rehab Appearance

Following a quiet start to the series, the Pawtucket Red Sox resuscitated their bats Wednesday afternoon and used a four-run fifth inning to down the Rochester Red Wings, 7-6, at McCoy Stadium.

On a cloudless, 90-degree day with the wind briskly blowing out, the PawSox (12-11) pounded out 13 hits, salvaged the finale of the three-game series with the Red Wings (10-11) and snapped a three-game losing streak during which they’d only scored one total run.

Rehabbing Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg made his second appearance in three days for the PawSox as he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery that he underwent in mid-June to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. The 29-year old from Atlanta threw 20 pitches (10 strikes) – 14 fastballs that consistently sat 93-94 MPH and six curveballs that all ranged from 76-78 MPH – recorded two outs, didn’t allow a hit, walked two, struck out one and yielded an unearned run.

Thornburg, who struck out the side Monday, took over Wednesday for the seventh inning. After falling behind the first batter 3-0, he worked the count back full before issuing a leadoff walk. Thornburg then induced a hard lineout to second for his first out before generating a ground ball to short that likely would’ve been an inning-ending double play. However, a Pawtucket error prolonged the inning. Thornburg then reached another 3-1 count, and his wild pitch on ball four sailed to the backstop, allowing a run to score from third. Thornburg responded nicely by striking out Rochester’s No. 3 hitter on a 78 MPH curveball to end his day.

"He peeled out of his delivery a few times, said he felt fine," Pawtucket manager Kevin Boles said. "So it wasn’t a health issue. Just looked like the effort level as far as the delivery, he was peeling out a little bit, command was a little bit suspect today. We did see some [pitches] where his delivery had synced up and it was on time, and you saw what you saw the first outing that he had here. But today you could tell there was definitely an uptick in his effort level.

"It’s just good to see him health-wise, the arm is looking pretty clean, it’s working well. But we didn’t make a play behind him."

PawSox first baseman Jordan Betts (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and center fielder Aneury Tavarez (4-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI) drilled Pawtucket’s first back-to-back home runs of the season in that explosive fifth inning and combined for a majority of the team’s hits.  

With Wednesday’s scheduled starter, Marcus Walden, rejoining the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Pawtucket turned to left-hander Josh Smith to make his second spot start of the season (and just his second professional start overall in his 194th appearance). Unfazed, Smith spun four shutout innings in which he only allowed three baserunners to reach (two hits and a hit batter). In six appearances now with Pawtucket, the deceptive 28-year old has given up just one run in 15.1 innings (0.59 ERA) with 16 strikeouts, one walk and only 10 hits.

"He pitched well, and he’s done this," Boles said. "He’s kind of our swing man here a little bit. He can do a variety of roles. To do that on short notice, he’s just always ready to pitch. He doesn’t care what the innings are."

PawSox reliever Brandon Workman (W, 2-1) allowed three runs in two innings, while Rochester starter Miles Jaye (L, 0-2) was roughed up for five runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings. Pawtucket righty Kyle Martin (S, 1) entered and exited a jam unscathed in the eighth and followed with a 1-2-3 ninth, lowering his ERA to 2.35.

"He’s done a terrific job for us; this has been a great start for him," Boles said of Martin. "Because there’s been times where he looks a little bit uncomfortable on the mound in years past, and now it looks like he’s starting to fit in. I think he trusts himself, and he’s executing."

The PawSox loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second inning, and shortstop Chad De La Guerra scorched a line drive to right, where Rochester right fielder James Ramsey made a diving catch to prevent serious damage, though Betts did score from third to make it 1-0 Pawtucket.

Smith gave way to Workman in the top of the fifth inning, and the Red Wings placed their first two aboard. With one out, leadoff man Jermaine Curtis then roped a three-run homer, boosted by the wind, on a line to the right-field bullpen, making it 3-1 Rochester.

In the home half of the fifth, Pawtucket had runners at first and second with two outs. That’s when Betts jumped on a first-pitch breaking ball and mashed it to the left-center field berm to push the PawSox in front, 4-3. Five pitches later, Tavarez laced a solo homer to right field to make it 5-3.

Rochester trimmed the deficit to one in the seventh on Thornburg’s wild pitch, but Pawtucket promptly answered in the bottom of the inning. The PawSox loaded the bases with one out, and Tavarez hooked a two-run double behind the first-base bag to hand Pawtucket insurance, 7-4.

In the eighth, Rochester catcher Willians Astudillo stung a solo, leadoff homer to the left-field bullpen to cut the deficit to 7-5. Curtis later rolled a two-out single through the right side to make it a one-run game.

With the brief three-game homestand in the books, the PawSox now head to Moosic, Pennsylvania to crack open the first half of a four-game, home-and-home series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, beginning Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Pawtucket left-hander Jalen Beeks (2-1, 1.37 ERA) is scheduled to oppose RailRiders southpaw Nestor Cortes (0-1, 9.64 ERA). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:05 p.m.