IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Lind Slam, Wren Catch Bookend PawSox' 6-5 Win

Published on July 28, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Adam Lind's first-inning grand slam got the Pawtucket Red Sox' offense off to a roaring start on Saturday night, but the Sox needed a breathtaking, home-run-saving catch from Kyle Wren in the eighth to secure a 6-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights in front of a sellout crowd of 10,094 at McCoy Stadium.

Asher Wojciechowski - making his first Charlotte start - allowed the first three hitters in the PawSox' half of the first inning to reach base. Tzu-Wei Lin and Rusney Castillo singled before Brandon Phillips was hit by a pitch to load the bases (Phillips would depart the game one pitch later after being plunked on the left hand).

Lind rocketed Pawtucket's second slam of the year to straightaway center field, and Sox starter Josh D. Smith was sent to the mound in the second with a 4-0 lead.

Smith, however, yielded four runs in that next half frame. After Jose Rondon and Seby Zavala singled, Trayce Thompson doubled to get the Knights on the board and back within three. Patrick Leonard followed with a three-run blast to left that knotted the game, 4-4.

The PawSox seized the lead right back. Dan Butler singled and moved to third on Rusney Castillo's 26th double of the season and scored on a sacrifice fly from Tony Renda (who had replaced the injured Phillips in the first).

Smith then settled in and left the ballgame in line for the win. The southpaw Smith (6-5) struck out three and allowed only three hits after the first while striking out three.

Brandon Workman relieved Smith and struck out a pair during a scoreless sixth in his return to Pawtucket.

Trevor Kelley then took over; the right-handed submariner worked around a walk and a double in the seventh, retiring the slugger Jimenez to end the inning.

In the eighth with two outs and the bases empty, Knights catcher Zavala rocketed a deep fly ball toward the bullpen in left. Wren sprinted back, leapt, and with his belt above the short wall, made a fully extended grab and managed to bring the ball - and his body - into the field of play.

The PawSox scored what would prove to be the winning run in the bottom half of that inning. With two outs, Mike Miller ripped a double down the right field line - his second hit of the night and Minor-League-baseball-best 26th since June 29th.

Williams Jerez locked down the save in the ninth - but not without some drama. Thompson doubled to open the inning and scored on a one-out hit by Jake Elmore. Ryan Lamarre flied out to deep center, Ryan Cordell hit a far more routine fly to Wren in left to seal the PawSox' second straight win.

The PawSox look to sweep their three-game series with Charlotte at McCoy Stadium on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander William Cuevas (7-5, 3.28) is scheduled to oppose Charlotte lefty Jordan Guerrero (2-0, 3.25). The game will be televised on myRITV, and radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins at 1:05 p.m.

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.

Check out the Pawtucket Red Sox Statistics

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



International League Stories from July 28, 2018


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