PawSox Edge Chiefs on Marco Hernandez Solo Homer in the 7th

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – Behind Marco Hernandez’s go-ahead home run and terrific work on the mound from Brian Johnson, Austin Maddox and Joe Kelly, the Pawtucket Red Sox topped the Syracuse Chiefs, 2-1, on Monday night at McCoy Stadium.

By winning the opener of their four-game homestand, the PawSox (67-61) improved to 15-2 in their last 17 home games.

Johnson allowed one run on five hits in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out five and walked three in his no-decision.

“He worked behind in the count a few times but he was able to make pitches when needed,” said manager Kevin Boles. “He worked a lot of deep counts tonight, but overall I thought his tempo and mound presence was good.”

Johnson has sported a 1.76 ERA over his last five starts dating to July 29.

“I’ve just been keeping it simple,” said Johnson. “I’ve been attacking the glove and going pitch to pitch.”

Johnson retired all six Chiefs (57-72) he faced in the first two innings, while the PawSox opened the scoring in the bottom of the first against Syracuse starter Mat Latos.

Ryan LaMarre smoke a line drive into left center field and hustled it into a double. He then advanced to third base on a groundball to short and scored on a passed ball.

After pitching around two third-inning singles, Johnson faced bigger trouble in the fifth.

A single and two walks loaded the bases and with two outs Neftali Soto floated a game-tying single into center field. Johnson then got Matt Skole to fly out to right field to leave the bases loaded.

“I was rushing to the plate and needed to slow down a little bit and gather myself,” said Johnson.

Maddox (1-0) came on in relief of Johnson with one on and one out in the sixth inning for his second Triple-A appearance of the season. He induced a pop out before Christian Vazquez gunned down Pedro Severino trying to swipe second base to end the frame.

The game remained tied, 1-1, until Hernandez crushed a home run (5) over the visiting bullpen off Erik Davis (7-5) with two outs in the seventh inning.

“He’s got great impact to his pull side,” said Boles of Hernandez. “He’s been a spark plug for us.”

Hernandez went 3-for-4 and he has gone deep in each of his last two home games.  

Joe Kelly fanned four batters in two perfect innings of relief to earn his second save.

“That fastball velocity has had late life to it,” said Boles. “That’s about as good as it gets.”

In 10 Triple-A relief appearances, Kelly has allowed one earned run in 13 innings pitched (0.69 ERA) with 20 strikeouts and one walk.

The PawSox complete their two-game series with the Chiefs tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Roenis Elias (9-4, 3.62) is scheduled to make the start against Syracuse righty Lucas Giolito (1-2, 2.86). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.