PawSox Slug Four More HRs in 13-3 Win vs. Wings
April 18, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
(PAWTUCKET, RI)- A trio of catchers spearheaded an offensive explosion on Saturday afternoon at McCoy Stadium and the Pawtucket Red Sox slammed the Rochester Red Wings 13-3. Led by Humberto Quintero - who blasted two home runs and drove in five - a threesome of Pawtucket backstops led the way in a 17-hit barrage.
Blake Swihart (tabbed as the designated hitter) had four hits and drove in a pair, and Matt Spring (playing first base on Saturday) belted a three-run homer in his 2015 PawSox debut. The three combined to go 8-for-15, drove in 10 runs and scored five to back a strong start from Eduardo Rodriguez and lock up a series win in front of 2,744 in Pawtucket.
Rodriguez was dominant early, though he did surrender a second-inning lead. He would not have to wait long to see that turn around. In the bottom of the second with Rochester leading 1-0, Quintero crushed his first homer to push the PawSox ahead 2-1. Swihart added a run in the third with the first of his four hits, a single to right that scored Quintin Berry, who had doubled.
Brock Peterson got a run back for the Wings in the fourth with a homer to right-center; from there, the PawSox erupted.
In the fifth, Quintero struck again. After Swihart doubled and Sean Coyle singled, the Venezuelan catcher ripped a three-run blast to left to push the PawSox ahead 6-3. An inning later, Berry hit a two-run homer to right, then Bryce Brentz walked and Swihart singled again. With still only one out Spring hit a towering drive deep to left that stayed inside the foul pole and pushed the Sox' lead to nine at 11-2.
Rodriguez came out to start the seventh inning; Danny Ortiz, the last man he faced, reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by James Beresford. Rodriguez struck out five and allowed only four hits over six innings. In their half of the frame, Pawtucket tacked on two more - and Swihart was again involved. Jackie Bradley, Jr. walked to lead off the inning; with two outs, Brentz doubled to score him and then came home himself when Swihart doubled to left.
Noe Ramirez and Heath Hembree each kept a clean sheet out of the bullpen to close down the dominating win.
The finale of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:05pm at McCoy Stadium. Right-hander Matt Barnes (0-0, 9.00) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Red Wings counter with lefty Pat Dean (1-0, 1.50). Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com. Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 12:50 pm.
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