PawSox Beat Knights Sunday To Take Three Of Four In The Weekend Series

Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release

(Pawtucket, RI) – Roenis Elias’ outstanding start and another powerful offensive display, led by Marco Hernandez’s three-run home run, boosted the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 6-0, series-clinching victory over the Charlotte Knights on Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.

Pawtucket’s (50-45) third consecutive win pushed its record to five games above .500, matching a season best.

Elias (7-4) followed the great performances of Keith Couch and Henry Owens earlier in the weekend by delivering a terrific outing to extend the brief winning streak.  

He allowed only two hits in 6.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and four walks.

“His effort level was under control and his breaking ball was really good today,” said manager Kevin Boles. “He got those guys swinging early.”

Elias did not allow a hit until two outs in the fourth inning. The only other hit he allowed was to the last batter he faced, Jake Peter.

With one on and one out in the seventh inning, Peter ripped a double over Rusney Castillo in center field. However, Castillo got the ball to shortstop Deven Marrero, who made a fantastic relay throw to gun down the runner at home.

“It was a great play and [Deven] played a great shortstop today,” said Boles.

Relievers Kyle Martin and Noe Ramirez pitched in to make it a three-hit shutout for the PawSox.

Pawtucket jumped on the board early with a first-inning run against Charlotte starter Scott Carroll (2-8).

After Castillo led off with a single, Ryan LaMarre reached first base on an infield single that trickled to second baseman Marcus Lemon. Lemon’s throw to first base sailed out of play, allowing both baserunners to advance a base.

Castillo would score on Hernandez’s RBI groundout that made it 1-0.

After Castillo and LaMarre again reached base in the third inning, this time via an error and a single, respectively, Hernandez delivered again.

Hernandez whacked a three-run home run over the right center field fence to extend the PawSox advantage to 4-0. His first Triple-A big fly of the season gave him a season-high four RBI.

Deven Marrero recorded an RBI single in the fourth inning and then Chris Marrero smacked his second home run in 24 hours in the seventh inning over the left center field wall to make it 6-0.

Chris Marrero, who has hit six home runs in his last 10 games, now has 18 round-trippers on the season, which ranks second in the International League.

LaMarre reached base in his first three plate appearances to extend his on-base streak to 24 games, the longest active such streak in the International League and the longest for a Pawtucket hitter since Travis Shaw also had a 24-game streak in July 2014.

The PawSox finish the season 5-2 against the Knights (43-53), while they improved their record to 15-8 against the IL South.

Pawtucket will fly to Ohio to begin a seven-game road trip tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. against the Toledo Mud Hens. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.

The PawSox return home for a seven-game homestand against the top two teams in the league, the Rochester Red Wings and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, beginning Monday, July 25. Good seats for each game are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.