IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Castillo's 14th-Inning, Walk-Off Hit Wins Back-And-Forth Affair

Published on May 17, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


Rusney Castillo of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Rusney Castillo of the Pawtucket Red Sox
(Pawtucket Red Sox)

(Pawtucket, RI) - Rusney Castillo's walk-off single in the 14th inning capped the Pawtucket Red Sox' longest game by innings in a year, a 5-4, back-and-forth victory over the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday evening at McCoy Stadium.

Deven Marrero led off the bottom of the 14th with a walk, advanced to second on Mike Miller's sacrifice bunt and scored on Castillo's line-drive single into right field.

It was Pawtucket's (19-20) first game of more than 10 innings this season and its longest contest since another 14-inning affair on May 16, 2015.

The Tides (14-26) used seven pitchers, but it was only the starter Joe Gunkel and the final pitcher of the night, Nick Addition (1-4), who allowed any earned runs.

The intensity ramped up in the ninth inning when Norfolk threatened to take the lead.

Kyle Martin entered the game in relief of Pawtucket starter William Cuevas and tossed perfect seventh and eighth innings before running into trouble in the ninth. With nobody out, Trey Mancini singled, Dariel Alvarez doubled and Audry Perez walked to load the bases.

But Martin pulled a rabbit out of his hat and struck out the next three batters-all swinging-to keep the game tied, 3-3. Martin continued his terrific month of May. Even though his hitless-innings streak halted at 8.1 innings, he has now tossed 9.1 scoreless frames in a row.

He recorded a career high-tying six strikeouts in his outing, the most by a PawSox reliever since last August.

Despite Martin's heroics, the PawSox went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth against Norfolk reliever Zach Phillips and the Tides took the lead in the 10th against Pat Light.

L.J. Hoes walked to lead off the frame and Christian Walker replaced him at first base after a fielder's choice. Yastrzemski struck out swinging, but on strike three, Walker swiped second base uncontested. Trey Mancini drove him home on a ground-ball single into center field.

But Pawtucket battled back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Chris Marrero singled and Justin Maxwell pulled a double. After the pinch-runner Jantzen Witte was thrown out at home on a groundball to the first baseman Mancini, the PawSox were down to their final out. But Maxwell scurried home on a passed ball to tie the game at 4.

After trading runs in the 10th, two hurlers traded zeros on the mound.

Robby Scott (2-0) tossed three scoreless innings for the victory, allowing just two baserunners-both singles.

Maxwell helped Pawtucket's cause in the 11th inning with a tremendous diving catch in right field to hold a runner at second base and preserve the tie.

Addition hurled three scoreless innings before allowing the winning run in the 14th.

13 innings earlier, the PawSox took an early first-inning lead after they tallied three consecutive singles to load the bases before Norfolk starter Joe Gunkel recorded an out. Chris Marrero then grounded into a double play to put Pawtucket on the board.

The Tides responded against PawSox starter William Cuevas in the third when Walker blasted his eighth home run over the center field fence, a go-ahead, two-run shot that gave Norfolk its first lead.

The damage could have been worse in the inning, but catcher Blake Swihart threw out both Sharlon Schoop and Mike Yastrzemski attempting to steal second base for the final two outs of the frame.

In the fourth inning, Allen Craig and Chris Dominguez, playing in their first games after approximately month-long stints on the disabled list, strung together back-to-back hits. Craig blooped a single into right and Dominguez doubled down the left field line to place two runners in scoring position with two outs. However, Gunkel fanned Deven Marrero to end the threat and keep the 2-1 lead.

The PawSox finally regained the lead in the fifth when Ryan LaMarre struck a two-run home run (2) over the right center field wall.

The Tides responded with the tying run in the very next half inning. Mike Yastrzemski smashed his first Triple-A home run to right field. Yastrzemski, who made his debut for Norfolk last night, has gone 4-for-9 with a game-tying triple and game-tying long-ball in his first two career Triple-A games.

Cuevas' night was complete after the sixth inning. He allowed all three of his runs on home runs, taking a no-decision, which snapped a string of four consecutive starts with a win. Nonetheless, he recorded the eighth quality start in his last 10 outings.

The PawSox play finish their three-game set with the Tides tomorrow morning at 11:05 a.m. Pawtucket lefthander Roenis Elias (0-3, 5.76) is scheduled take the mound against Norfolk righty David Hale (0-0, 3.97). Radio coverage begins on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network at 10:35 a.m. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE table.MsoNormalTable

Good seats for the series finale are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.

Check out the Pawtucket Red Sox Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Images from this story

Rusney Castillo of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Rusney Castillo of the Pawtucket Red Sox
   



International League Stories from May 17, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central