PawSox Pull Out Brooms for Four Game Sweep Over Red Wings
PawSox news release…
(Pawtucket, RI) – Rochester shortstop Argenis Diaz committed a fielding error with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to allow the winning run to score and cap a two-run rally as the PawSox earned a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Rochester Red Wings Sunday afternoon in front of 5,445 fans at McCoy Stadium to complete a four-game sweep.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth with one out, Pawtucket’s Jeff Bianchi and Matt Spring collected back-to-back singles against reliever Ryan Pressly (0-2), who was pulled in favor of Red Wings closer Michael Tonkin. Tonkin’s first pitch was a wild one that allowed Bianchi to score the tying run from third base.
Deven Marrero then reached on an infield single that advanced Jemile Weeks, who was pinch-running for Spring, to third. Then after Sean Coyle struck out, Humberto Quintero hit a ground ball to Diaz up the middle. Diaz allowed the ball to bounce off his glove for Rochester’s third error of the day, and Weeks came home with the go-ahead run.
PawSox reliever Zeke Spruill (2-0) had given up an RBI single to Reynaldo Rodriguez in the top of the eighth that put the Red Wings ahead 3-2. Closer Tommy Layne worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his second save in as many chances and finish off the sweep. Pawtucket did not sweep a single series until July 17-20th last season. Kevin Boles’ squad had to come from behind in three of the four victories.
Rochester DH Brock Peterson drilled a two-run home run (3) in the top of the first against Pawtucket starter Matt Barnes, who lasted five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Red Wings starter Pat Dean threw shutout ball for six innings, limiting the PawSox to only two hits and recording seven punchouts.
Pawtucket struck for a pair of runs against Pressly in the seventh, the first coming on an RBI single by Jackie Bradley, Jr. and the second crossing on a throwing error by catcher Josmil Pinto. Pressly lost the first and fourth games in the series.
The Buffalo Bisons, winners of six straight, come to McCoy Stadium next for a three-game series. Game one is scheduled for Monday night with first pitch at 6:15pm. Left-hander Brian Johnson (1-1, 1.00) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Bisons counter with lefty Andrew Albers (1-1, 3.38).
