PawSox Lose Pitcher’s Duel on Syracuse Run in the 10th Inning

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – After a pitcher’s duel featuring Roenis Elias and Lucas Giolito sent a scoreless game into extra innings, the Syracuse Chiefs scratched out a 10th-inning run to sneak by the Pawtucket Red Sox, 1-0, on Friday night at McCoy Stadium.

For the second straight start, Elias allowed three hits over six scoreless innings against the Chiefs (61-79). He fanned nine, combining with relievers Noe Ramirez and Chandler Shepherd to strikeout 13 batters in the contest.

After allowing a double and a walk to lead off the fourth inning, Elias buckled down and fanned the side. In fact, he struck out six of the next seven batters he faced and retired nine hitters in a row before he departed with 99 pitches thrown.

Elias has surrendered no more than one run and three hits in five of his six starts since the All-Star Break.

Ramirez retired all six batters he faced, striking out three of them. He has 41 strikeouts over his last 24.0 innings, spanning 16 appearances. The righthander lowered his Triple-A ERA to 1.85.

Meanwhile, Lucas Giolito limited the PawSox (71-68) to two hits and one walk in eight shutout innings. He struck out five batters on 108 pitches in his final Triple-A start of the season.

The eight innings for Giolito, who started for the Washington Nationals on Sunday, set a season high.

With one on and two out in the ninth inning, Jason Martinson lined a hit into right center field against Shepherd (1-2). Center fielder Rusney Castillo raced to cut the ball off and then fired a one-hop strike to second base that gunned down Martinson to end the frame.

Castillo singled against Justin DeFratus (2-2) in the bottom of the ninth and he reached second base with two outs. But Dan Butler flew out to left to send the game to extras.

Collier led off the 10th inning with a walk, stole second base, advanced to third base on a single and scored the only run of the game on Chris Bostick’s soft liner that dropped into shallow right field.

In his first Triple-A appearance, Derek Self set Pawtucket down 1-2-3 in the 10th for the save.

The PawSox have been held to seven total hits in their last two games and they have dropped their first home series since June.

After going nearly six weeks without a three-game losing streak, Pawtucket has now lost four games in a row.

The PawSox conclude their three-game series with the Syracuse Chiefs tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. Pawtucket righthander Sean O’Sullivan (8-6, 4.14) is scheduled to make the start against Syracuse righthander Taylor Hill (6-12, 4.75). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins with PawSox Insider at 4:35 p.m. Tomorrow’s episode features interviews with recent call-ups Joe Kelly, Deven Marrero and Robby Scott.

The final three games of the season feature a PawSox Baseball Card Set giveaway tomorrow a Post-Game Fireworks Show on Sunday and an End of Season Celebration after the season finale on Monday.