Ellsbury Shines, PawSox Bullpen Comes Undone
August 1, 2010 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
The PawSox kept Sunday's tilt with Durham close for much of the game, but an eighth-inning undoing sent them to their second straight loss. Fernando Cabrera gave up seven runs without recording an out to turn a 3-2 lead into a 9-3 deficit and give the Bulls their 11th win in a row.
Jacoby Ellsbury started in center field again and added another two hits after picking up a pair on Saturday. Leading off the third, he singled, went to second on Niuman Romero's ground out, and then scored the first PawSox run on a double to left by Daniel Nava. He also added a single in the ninth. In his other three at-bats, he was robbed of a hit on a diving stop by Joe Dillon at first and flew out twice.
Though Dan Johnson and his 30 home runs watched this one from the bench, the other Bulls hitters made sure he wasn't missed in the power department. Justin Ruggiano hit a solo shot after two were out in the first, and Chris Richard slugged one in the fourth despite Ellsbury's best efforts to climb the wall to stop it. Then, in the eighth, Desmond Jennings hit a grand slam to blow the game open.
The PawSox had no trouble getting base runners early against Durham starter Heath Phillips, but continued initially with Saturday night's struggles to bring them home. A walk to Lars Anderson and singles by Josh Reddick and Jack Hannahan loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but Gil Velazquez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Ellsbury scored in the third to knot the game briefly at one, but Nava reached second with one out only to be stranded. In the fourth, Dusty Brown singled to lead off the inning, but Reddick and Hannahan each flew out to center and then Velazquez grounded into a fielder's choice.
Fortunes shifted in the fifth, though, as Nava, Ryan Shealy, and Anderson walked, doubled, and singled respectively to plate two runs and give the PawSox a 3-2 lead. That was all they could muster, however, as Durham relievers Darren Downs, Dale Thayer, and Joe Bateman held the offense to just one hit and two walks the rest of the game.
For a time, the one-run lead looked like it might be enough, as starter Ramon Ramirez and reliever Chad Paronto held on despite putting allowing two men aboard in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the eighth, though, Cabrera gave up a walk, then a single, then another walk, then three straight RBI singles to make it 5-3, and then the grand slam as the game got away.
The PawSox look to get on the board in this four-game series Monday night at 7:05 as Robert Coello (2-5, 5.23) takes the hill against Brian Baker (7-1, 2.56).
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International League Stories from August 1, 2010
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- Reimold's Homer Propels Tides to Comeback Win - Norfolk Tides
- Chiefs Outduel Yankees in 3-1 Win - Syracuse Mets
- Knights Pull Ahead Late to Get the Win - Charlotte Knights
- Ellsbury Shines, PawSox Bullpen Comes Undone - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Bulls Win 11th Straight - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
- Orioles Recall LHP Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk - Norfolk Tides
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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