IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Chavis, Ockimey Headline 8-3 Victory

August 26, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. - The two youngest players on the Pawtucket Red Sox - Michael Chavis and Josh Ockimey - continued their big weekends and propelled the PawSox to an 8-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field.

Following an 8-5 win Saturday in the second matchup in the four-game series, the PawSox scored two runs in the first inning, four in the fifth and two more in the seventh to ensure at least a split in the series. The PawSox have pounded out 13 hits in each of the three games against Buffalo.

Headlining that offensive effort, Chavis (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI) continued his torrid first weekend in Triple-A. The 23-year-old former first-round pick is now 8-for-14 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs since he was promoted from Double-A Portland on Friday afternoon. Not to be outdone, Ockimey (2-for-3, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB) blasted his third homer of the road trip and upped his Triple-A OPS to .836. The slugging first baseman has five homers in his first three-plus weeks with Pawtucket and ranks second among all Red Sox minor leaguers with 20 total long balls. Veteran second baseman Iván De Jesús Jr. came through with a pair of RBI singles in a 2-for-4 afternoon.

Pitching a day after his 26th birthday, Pawtucket starter Chandler Shepherd (W, 7-9) fired six strong innings in which he only gave up two unearned runs on four hits and two walks to go along with six strikeouts. Southpaw Robby Scott (S, 2) entered into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth and promptly escaped.

Buffalo starter Brandon Cumpton (L, 2-4) got roughed up to the tune of six runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings.

Chavis continued his stellar first weekend in the bottom of the first inning by stroking an RBI single into center field to score designated hitter Brandon Phillips and make it 1-0. Two batters later, De Jesús added an RBI base knock of his own to double the lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Chavis delivered an RBI single to left field to reel in left fielder Tony Renda. Moments later, Ockimey pulled an RBI single into right field, and two runs scores when Buffalo committed an error on the play, swelling Pawtucket's lead to 5-0. Then Ockimey scored on De Jesús' second RBI single.

Buffalo got on the board and capitalized on a Pawtucket error in the bottom of the sixth inning when Darnell Sweeney lifted a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer to left field to trim the margin to 6-2.

In the top of the seventh, Ockimey answered back with a two-run big fly to right to make it 8-2.

The PawSox conclude their four-game weekend series against Buffalo on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander William Cuevas (9-7, 3.44) is scheduled to start opposite Bisons righty Murphy Smith (3-4, 3.59). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:35 p.m.

After the eight-game road trip, the PawSox are back home August 28-30 (Tuesday-Thursday) for the penultimate homestand of the season. Good tickets are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.

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International League Stories from August 26, 2018


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