PawSox Use Inside-the-Park Home Run to Help Beat Buffalo at McCoy

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – The Pawtucket Red Sox fell a single shy of the unprecedented twilight-aided cycle in a crazy bottom of the third inning, scoring seven times in support of Roenis Elias’ terrific start to blow past the Buffalo Bisons, 8-2, on Friday night at McCoy Stadium.

With the Bisons (56-58) leading 1-0 entering the bottom of the third, the frame began innocently enough for the PawSox (59-54) with a groundout, single and walk against Buffalo starter Chris Leroux (7-8).

But the next batter, Marco Hernandez, smacked a flyball to left field that Domonic Brown never saw. Brown came in and towards the left field line, while the ball landed on the warning track. Hernandez rounded the bases with a three-run inside-the-park home run. 

“I saw the guy lose the ball so I just kept going hard and saw Rich Gedman send me home and I just kept going,” said Hernandez, who confirmed it was the first inside-the-park homer of his life.

It was Pawtucket’s first inside-the-park home run since Chuck Jeroloman accomplished the feat in Syracuse nearly 10 years ago on September 4, 2006.

“When he was rounding second base, he knew he had a chance because he was flying around second base, so it’s a credit to him,” said manager Kevin Boles.

The next batter, Chris Marrero, stroked a soft line drive into right center field that right fielder Junior Lake had difficulty picking up and it bounced behind him for a triple.

Brennan Boesch then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Marrero with the fourth run of the inning.

After a walk and a single, the twilight derailed the Bisons once again.

Ramos lofted a flyball to right field that Lake could not find. The ball bounded away and both baserunners, who were off on the 3-2 pitch with two outs, scored to give the PawSox a 6-1 advantage.

Mike Miller then lined a ground-rule double into the right field corner that scored Ramos with the seventh and final run of the frame.

The seven runs were the most scored by Pawtucket in a single inning since an eight-run frame at Buffalo on April 13, 2015.

“We were fortunate tonight that some balls fell in but this is definitely a tough place to play some times,” said Boles. “That twilight is tough.”

The runs were more than enough for Elias (8-4) who sailed through his seven-inning outing.

Elias allowed one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. He did not allow a hit in the middle five innings of his start, retiring 15 batters in a row at one point.

“He was inconsistent early on but made some adjustments and I thought his direction towards home plate improved,” said Boles. “His tempo picked up and once he got those seven runs he started to get into a comfort zone and he was terrific.”

Elias improved to 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in his three appearances since the All-Star Break.

The Bisons’ lone run against Elias came on Matt Dominguez’s RBI double in the first inning.

Joe Kelly made his first relief appearance since his most recent three-outing stint with Boston. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one.

Kelly allowed back-to-back groundball singles to lead off the eighth inning, but he limited the damage to a Ryan Goins sacrifice fly.

“[Kelly] had power stuff but he was a little bit inconsistent with the zone,” said Boles.

The PawSox added their eighth run of the game in the seventh inning thanks to a Hernandez triple and a two-out Christian Vazquez RBI single.

Adding to the offense, Jantzen Witte became the second Pawtucket hitter in as many days to put together a 4-4 game at the plate after Rusney Castillo pulled off the feat on Thursday in Rochester.

The PawSox improved to 7-1 in their last eight games at McCoy Stadium. Pawtucket also moved to five games above .500, equaling its season high.

The PawSox continue their weekend series with the Bisons tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Righthander Justin Haley (5-3, 3.62) is scheduled to make the start for Pawtucket. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins with PawSox Insider at 4:35 p.m.

Tomorrow’s game features another post-game fireworks show.