PawSox Hit Back to Back to Back HRs in loss

PawSox Release

PAWTUCKET,
R.I. — By the time the Pawtucket Red Sox produced their first base
runner Sunday afternoon, the Columbus Clippers pulled away to a big
lead, only to barely hold on with a 6-5 victory before 6,969 at McCoy
Stadium.

The Clippers, who failed to protect a four-run advantage while falling
to the Sox a night earlier, started ex-Red Sox right-hander Daisuke
Matsuzaka against Pawtucket's Terry Doyle. Before Sunday, the former was
winless, the latter unbeaten.

But Doyle (L, 2-1) struggled from the outset, walking five and allowing
five runs in 3 1/3 innings, and Matsuzaka opened by retiring the first
nine batters.

In the 2nd, Columbus scored twice on RBI singles by Omir Santos and Matt
Lawson. The Clippers added three in the 4th, including Lawson's two-run
double, before reliever Jose De La Torre closed the inning.

When Matsuzaka returned to the mound for the bottom of the 4th, he
delivered his first pitch to Justin Henry and immediately grabbed his
left side. After a visit by the trainer, a grimacing Matsuzaka walked
off, hunched over.

Lefty David Huff (W, 2-1) picked up for him and set down the first four
he faced. Finally, Bryce Brentz singled with one out in the 5th inning
as the PawSox first base runner.

An inning later, Columbus made it 6-0, capitalizing on two walks by
Craig Breslow. Breslow, making his second injury-rehab appearance in as
many games, left after an RBI single by Adam Abraham off his 26th pitch.

In the bottom half of the 6th, it appeared Drew Sutton's two-out fly
ball to deep right would put Pawtucket on the board, but another ex-Red
Sox Jeremy Hermida slammed into the wall and made a sensational catch to
preserve the shutout.

However, there was no denying the long ball in the last of the 7th, when
the PawSox produced the unprecedented. After Huff walked the leadoff
batter, Mark Hamilton launched his second homer. Rob Bryson entered in
relief for Columbus, only to give up two more
home runs, Brentz's third and Dan Butler's second.

It marked the first time since at least 1977 (records don't predate that
season) that Pawtucket went deep in back-to-back-to-back at-bats.

Ahead 6-4, Bryson started the 8th inning, but allowed a double by Justin
Henry and a one-out walk of Ryan Lavarnway. The Clippers then summoned
the International League co-leader with seven saves, Preston Guilmet.
Hamilton promptly singled, giving him a third
RBI and paring the difference to 6-5.

But Guilmet (S, 8) recovered to retire the next five PawSox, helping Columbus split the first two contests of the series.

Game 3 is set for 6:15 p.m. on Monday, when Steven Wright (1-0, 2.70)
pitches against Trevor Bauer (1-0, 2.50). It's Wright's first outing
since returning from Boston.