Hernandez's Bat, Miller's Glove Lead PawSox to 8-7 Shocker
August 1, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Marco Hernandez of the Pawtucket Red Sox
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
(Buffalo, NY) Marco Hernandez's three-run homer capped a five-run, two-out rally in the ninth inning and the Pawtucket Red Sox held off a Buffalo surge in the bottom of the inning - which was stunted by Mike Miller's spectacular diving play that ended the game - to shock the Buffalo Bisons with an 8-7 win on Saturday night at Coca Cola Field.
The Bisons, who led 6-1 going into the eighth inning and 6-3 heading to the ninth, had scored a run and had Alex Hassan at first base with two outs. Ty Kelly hit a groundball up the middle that bounced onto the outfield grass. Miller went into a headlong dive to keep the ball from shooting into the outfield then threw behind Hassan at second. Deven Marrero - who had started the two-out scoring in the ninth with a solo homer - tagged Hassan to end the ballgame.
In the top of the inning, after Marrero homered off of Chad Jenkins, Sandy Leon- playing in his first Pawtucket game - singled and then Allen Craig walked. Garin Cecchini then singled to make it 6-5 and put runners at the corners. Hernandez then launched his second AAA homer into the seats in right field to push Pawtucket ahead, 8-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jonathan Aro gave up a leadoff single to Andy Burns. Matt Hague was then called out on a controversial third strike, which led to the ejection of Hague and Buffalo manager Gary Allenson. Hassan then singled to move Burns to third. Melky Mesa's sacrifice fly made it an 8-7 game.
The PawSox got back in the game in the eighth. Deven Marrero singled before Sandy Leon - playing in his first Pawtucket game - walked. Allen Craig then walked to load the bases. Cecchini grounded into a force-out to score the Sox' second run and Marco Hernandez's sacrifice fly made it 6-3.
Long before the late-inning heroics, it looked as if the PawSox would remember Saturday as an evening they didn't cash in on nine Buffalo walks.
The PawSox had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning but only scored one run on Garin Cecchini's sacrifice fly. Pawtucket starter Keith Couch was strong for three innings but surrendered the lead on three hits in the fourth. Alex Hassan singled to open the inning and Melky Mesa then doubled. Hassan scored on a sacrifice fly from Ty Kelly. With two outs, Josh Thole singled to right field to push Buffalo ahead, 2-1.
Four of the first five Buffalo batters got hits in a three-run fifth. Jonathan Diaz, Dalton Pompey and Andy Burns singled in succession to open the frame. Matt Hague then hit a ground ball to third; Marco Hernandez's throw to second got Burns but Mike Miller - who was tumbled to the ground by a hard slide - sailed a throw wide at first, and the Bisons led 4-1. Alex Hassan then doubled center to make it a 5-1 game.
The Bisons added a run in the seventh inning. A single and consecutive walks by Pat Light began the inning. Hassan then bounced into a double play that made it 6-1.
The PawSox - who had not hit one home run in their previous nine games - rode the two ninth-inning round-trippers to the win that set the table for a rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 P.M. The PawSox will send Brian Johnson (9-6, 2.54) to the mound against Jeff Francis (5-0, 1.58). Radio coverage begins on WHJJ and online at 12:50.
The PawSox will return to McCoy Stadium on Thursday, August 6th for the first of a four-game series. Good seats for all games in the series are available; call 401-724-7300 or visit the PawSox online at www.pawsox.com to get them now.
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 Marco Hernandez of the Pawtucket Red Sox |
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International League Stories from August 1, 2015
- Indians Walk off with 6-5 Win on Saturday - Charlotte Knights
- Glasnow Solid, Bell Clutch as Triple-A Debuts Pace Walkoff - Indianapolis Indians
- PawSox Rally for 8-7 Win over the Herd - Buffalo Bisons
- RailRiders' Rally Falls Short - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Hernandez's Bat, Miller's Glove Lead PawSox to 8-7 Shocker - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Chiefs Beat Wings 10-4 - Rochester Red Wings
- Leroux Shines as Pigs Rally to Top Tides, 8-4 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- G-Braves Hold Off Bulls, 3-2 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Top of the Lineup Slugs Chiefs Past Red Wings - Syracuse Mets
- Durham Comeback Falls Short in Loss to Gwinnett - Durham Bulls
- Offense Struggles to Back Solid Pitching in Loss - Toledo Mud Hens
- Buschmann Pitches Complete-Game Shutout for 1-0 Win - Louisville Bats
- Pigs Try to Snap Skid against Tides - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- White Sox Sign Viciedo, Assigned to Charlotte - Charlotte Knights
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Notes - Pawtucket at Buffalo (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Buffalo's Matt Hague Named International League Player of the Month - IL1
- Bisons Matt Hague Named IL Player of the Month for July - Buffalo Bisons
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