PawSox Offense Remains Hot in Win Over Chiefs at McCoy

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – Pawtucket starter Edwin Escobar tossed five scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the season while the PawSox offense continued its recent hot stretch with 11 hits en route to a 6-1 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series before 7,569 fans at McCoy Stadium. 

Escobar (1-2), who was making only his third start of the season, allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out three batters.  Pawtucket scored four runs in the sixth inning including a solo home run by Carlos Rivero (1) to break open a close game as the PawSox won for the fourth time in the last five games.

After an RBI single by Sandy Leon against Chiefs starter Paolo Espino (5-6) opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, Rivero’s blast came with one out in the sixth to make the score 2-0.  Then with two outs in the inning the next five PawSox reached base and three of them scored.

Chris Marrero’s bloop single started the two-out rally, then Leon and Marco Hernandez worked back-to-back walks to chase Espino from the game.  Jemile Weeks greeted reliever P.J. Walters with a bases-loaded walk to increase the lead to three, while Jonathan Roof then lined a two-run single to put Pawtucket in front 5-0.

Jorge Marban pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Escobar and allowed one run on two hits, while Pat Light finished the victory by retiring all five batters he faced.  After Manny Burriss’ RBI double in the top of the seventh against Marban put Syracuse on the board, Allen Craig’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning finished the scoring for the night.

Rivero, Craig, Marrero, Leon and Roof each had two of the PawSox’ 11 hits on the night.  Burriss and Caleb Ramsey had a pair of the Chiefs’ six knocks in the contest.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday night with first pitch at 7:05pm.  Right-hander Shawn Haviland (4-7, 4.32) is expected to activated off the paternity leave list and get the start for Pawtucket while the Chiefs counter with lefty Richard Bleier (4-1, 2.53).