Former URI Pitcher Nick Greenwood Throws For Rochester, PawSox Win Snaps Five-Game Losing Streak
Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release
(Pawtucket, RI) – After the Rochester Red Wings grabbed the lead with a three-run top of the sixth, the Pawtucket Red Sox delivered a counterpunch with a four-run rally in the bottom of the frame en route to a 7-5 win in the opener of a seven-game homestand on Monday night at McCoy Stadium.
The victory snapped Pawtucket’s (52-51) season-high five-game losing streak, while it extended its home winning streak to four games.
The PawSox offense tallied 12 hits and the 4-7 hitters in the lineup–Chris Marrero, Christian Vazquez, Brennan Boesch and Jantzen Witte–went a combined 9-for-16 at the plate.
The first two runs of the game were both driven home by Chris Marrero against Rochester starter Nick Greenwood.
Marrero followed a Rusney Castillo double in the first inning with a two-out RBI single into center field.
Marrero then roped a two-out RBI double to left center field in the third inning. The next batter, Christian Vazquez, lined a single into right field that scored Marrero to put Pawtucket in front, 3-0.
Greenwood, the Connecticut native and University of Rhode Island graduate, limited the damage to three runs in five innings.
The Red Wings (60-44) first broke through against PawSox starter Justin Haley (4-1) in the fourth inning when Adam Walker stroked an RBI double into center field.
Haley induced his second double play of the night and the ninth in his last three starts in the fifth inning to keep the lead for Pawtucket.
But the game shifted with two outs in the sixth inning. Walker lined a two-run home run, his league-leading 20th blast of the season, into the PawSox bullpen. Byungho Park made it back-to-back dingers when he lofted a ball into a wind gust that sailed over the right field fence.
However, the 4-3 Rochester lead was short-lived thanks to Pawtucket’s rally in the bottom of the frame. Reliever D.J. Baxendale (2-1) did not retire any of the four batters he faced.
Vazquez grounded a double down the left field line and advanced to third base on Boesch’s single into right field. Witte followed by lining a game-tying single into right field.
The fourth batter of the frame, Deven Marrero grounded a ball to shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, who threw it past second base and into shallow right field. Boesch scored the go-ahead run on the play, while Marrero and Witte advanced into scoring postion.
A wild pitch and a Castillo sacrifice fly later in the inning made it a four-run frame and gave the PawSox a 7-4 advantage.
“To answer back, that showed a lot of guts by our guys,” said manager Kevin Boles.
Chandler Shepherd pitched 2.1 innings of relief for Pawtucket, tossing perfect seventh and eighth innings before allowing a run in the ninth.
Pat Light sealed the victory by fanning both batters he faced for his seventh save of the season.
The PawSox continue their four-game series against the Red Wings tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtuket lefthander Henry Owens (6-5, 4.20) is scheduled to make the start against Rochester lefty Andrew Albers (9-3, 3.14). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.
Good seats for each of the six remaining games on the homestand, including Friday’s PawSox Hall of Fame Induction and Saturday’s Xander Bogaerts Bobblehead Giveaway, are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.
