Victorino Goes 2 for 4 and Plays Nine as the PawSox Beat the Bisons
PawSox news release…
(Pawtucket, RI) – Pawtucket broke open a tie game by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings during which MLB-rehabbing Shane Victorino singled and scored in each as the PawSox topped the Buffalo Bisons, 5-2, Thursday night in front of 7,042 fans at McCoy Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.
Victorino, playing in the fourth game of his most recent injury rehab assignment, lasted the entire game in right field and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The 33-year-old, on the disabled list since May 25th, is attempting to return to Boston from a hamstring strain and a back injury and is now 2-for-10 since resuming action last week with Lowell.
Victorino scored the go-ahead run in the sixth on a throwing error after going from first to third on Travis Shaw’s hit-and-run single. Left-fielder Brad Glenn’s throw to third hit Victorino and bounded into foul ground allowing each runner to advance. Pawtucket (52-48) has won six of eight to move within 2 ½ games of Rochester in the IL Wild Card standings.
Alex Hassan homered in the second (5), a towering drive to left against Buffalo starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx that gave Pawtucket an early 1-0 lead. It was Hassan’s third straight game with a home run. But the Bisons tied the score in the third on Kevin Pillar’s RBI double against PawSox starter Chris Hernandez.
Reliever Aaron Sanchez (0-3) allowed two runs on three hits in the sixth as Pawtucket recaptured the lead for good. Carlos Rivero’s RBI single capped the rally. Travis Shaw’s two-out, two-run double against Ryan Tepera in the seventh made the score 5-1.
Dalier Hinojosa (1-5) relieved Hernandez to start the sixth and pitched two scoreless and hitless innings to earn his first victory in the United States. The native of Cuba struck out a pair. After Alex Wilson allowed a run in the eighth, Drake Britton fanned two in a perfect ninth to earn his first save since May 11th and fifth of the season.
Game two of the series is slated for a 7:05 pm first pitch on Friday night, as Pawtucket tries to move five games above .500 for the first time since May 18th. Righty Steven Wright (4-1, 2.04), the reigning IL Pitcher of the Week, will get the ball for manager Kevin Boles, while right-hander Esmil Rogers (8-6, 3.92) counters for the Bisons.
