Olt's Grand Slam Headlines Doubleheader Split
April 23, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
PAWTUCKET, R.I. - More heroics from Pawtucket Red Sox third baseman Mike Olt highlighted Monday's doubleheader, as Olt's extra-innings grand slam propelled the PawSox to a 6-4 win in the nightcap and earned a split of the twin bill with the Toledo Mud Hens at McCoy Stadium.
In the afternoon lidlifter, the PawSox (9-7) were held to one hit and just two total baserunners in a 3-0 loss to the Mud Hens (12-5). In the second matchup, the PawSox served as the road team after their scheduled meeting with the Mud Hens from April 15 in Toledo was rained out. Toledo climbed out to a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning of the seven-inning affair, but the PawSox tied the game in the sixth inning and surged ahead in the eighth when Olt hammered a grand slam to left field. On Friday, Olt had supplied a walk-off RBI double in the 11th inning against Gwinnett, the first of two walk-off victories in the weekend sweep of the Stripers.
The PawSox have now won four of their last five games.
Game One
Pawtucket starter Chandler Shepherd (L, 0-1), in his third start of the season after transitioning in the offseason from a relief role, logged a career-high six innings and yielded three runs on five hits and a pair of walks to go along with six strikeouts. Shepherd didn't surrender a hit until the top of the fifth inning when Toledo first baseman Edwin Espinal reached low and away for an 0-2 breaking ball and somehow flicked it into shallow right-center field.
Toledo starter Blaine Hardy (W, 2-0), meanwhile, allowed a leadoff double to Pawtucket center fielder Rusney Castillo in the bottom of the first, then didn't allow another hit over his six shutout innings in which he walked just one. The southpaw retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced. Right-handed reliever Louis Coleman (S, 4) handled the seventh and buttoned up the save with a 1-2-3 frame.
Toledo loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with two singles and two walks, the second of which forced in a run for the Mud Hens to make it 1-0.
Mud Hens second baseman Dawel Lugo skied the first pitch he saw in the top of the sixth inning to left-center field for a wind-aided solo long ball, doubling the lead to 2-0. Three batters later, Toledo right fielder Jim Adduci lasered a solo homer to the right-center bleachers.
Game Two
Pawtucket left-hander Josh Smith made his first professional start and continued his sterling start to the season with four shutout innings. Right-hander Brandon Workman (W, 1-1) followed and fanned five in three innings, including seven straight outs to finish his outing. Lefty Bobby Poyner ceded a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning but finished off the victory.
Toledo knuckleballer Josh Turley gave up two runs in 5.2 innings in which he punched out nine. Right-hander Paul Voelker (L, 0-1) struggled in the eighth inning and served up the grand slam (three earned runs).
The PawSox struck first in the top of the third inning when second baseman Chad De La Guerra scalded a solo home run - his first Triple-A big fly - to right field.
Toledo responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer from catcher Grayson Greiner and an RBI single from Dawel Lugo to jump ahead 2-1.
Pawtucket, however, leveled the score in the sixth inning when Olt dropped an RBI double into the left-field corner to reel in Castillo from third.
Castillo started the eighth inning as the automatic baserunner at second, and left fielder Ramon Flores (walk) and first baseman Sam Travis (hit by pitch) joined him to load the bases for Olt, who drilled Pawtucket's first grand slam of the season.
The Mud Hens threatened when Adduci connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to cut the gap to 6-4.
The PawSox continue their four-game, three-day series with the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Justin Haley (0-2, 3.21) is scheduled to start opposite Mud Hens lefty Chad Bell (0-0, 2.70). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 5:45 p.m.
The seven-game homestand runs through Wednesday. Good seats 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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