Seven-Run Third Inning Pushes Syracuse Past PawSox
Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release
(Syracuse, NY) – A seven-run third inning catapulted the Syracuse Chiefs to an 11-4 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The Chiefs snapped a 12-game losing streak in spite of the PawSox’ second three-home-run game in their last five games.
Mike Miller staked Pawtucket to a 1-0 lead with his first AAA homer in the top of the third inning. Miller hooked a line drive inside the left-field foul pole against Chiefs’ starter P.J. Walters with two outs in the frame.
PawSox starter Jess Todd allowed the first three hitters of bottom of the third to reach base; he walked two and hit Darin Mastroianni. Emmanuel Burriss then tied the game with a groundout to second. The next batter Mario Lisson hit a sharp grounder to third; Travis Shaw threw home but the PawSox could not retire Mastroianni, and the Chiefs led 2-1.
An RBI single by Matt Den Dekker, a Josh Johnson sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Steve Lerud pushed the lead to 6-1. Lerud’s double chased Todd in favor of Dalier Hinojosa. In his second at-bat of the inning, Mastroianni singled Lerud home to complete the seven-run outburst.
The PawSox (27-29) used the long ball to claw back into the game. Bryce Brentz’s seventh round-tripper plated a pair and trimmed the lead to four at 7-3. In the fifth, Garin Cecchini ripped a solo blast to get the Sox as close as they would get.
The Chiefs (18-38) scored two more in the fifth on a Tony Gwynn, Jr. single to right. Johnson’s second sacrifice fly of the night made it 10-4; the Chiefs scored their 11th and final run when Emmanuel Burriss stroked a single to center in the seventh.
The finale of the series and road-trip is scheduled for a 1:05 P.M. first pitch on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Keith Couch (2-6, 5.15) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Chiefs counter with Major-League rehabber Doug Fister (NR). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 12:50 P.M.
The PawSox return home on Monday, June 8th to welcome Charlotte at the beginning of a seven-game homestand. Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.
