PawSox Held to Two Hits in 3-0 Loss
Published on May 9, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
ALLENTOWN, Penn. - Two of the best young pitchers in the International League dueled Wednesday morning at Coca-Cola Park, but the Lehigh Valley IronPigs two-hit the Pawtucket Red Sox, 3-0, in the series finale.
Lehigh Valley starter Enyel De Los Santos, a 22-year old acquired from the Padres in December for Freddy Galvis, began the day second in the International League in ERA, two spots ahead of Pawtucket starter Jalen Beeks. Those two tangled into the middle innings, and the IronPigs (17-14) used three pitchers to two-hit the PawSox (15-15), who were swept for the first time this season. Pawtucket's offense, which has scored just six runs in the last five games and two runs in the last 34 innings, only got hits in the first and ninth innings, producing a total of four baserunners.
Beeks (L, 2-2) entered Tuesday night's action tied for first in all of Minor League Baseball in strikeouts. And on Wednesday morning in his sixth start of the season, the 24-year old southpaw dealt five innings of one-run work with six strikeouts, four hits and a walk. Beeks allowed a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the second inning but then proceeded to set down the next eight batters he faced to get through four frames. In the fifth, however, Beeks ran into trouble in what ended up being a 40-pitch but somehow scoreless inning. The IronPigs loaded the bases after a trio of at-bats (single, double, walk) that used up 27 pitches, including 12 foul balls. But on an ensuing ball in the dirt, Beeks raced to the bouncing ball up the first-base line and tossed it home to nab the runner from third. The lefty then got a strikeout and a flyout to escape the jam and end his morning.
Beeks has now stacked up 52 strikeouts in his 31.1 innings this season, good for a 14.94 strikeouts per nine innings ratio that leads all qualifying Minor Leaguers.
De Los Santos (W, 4-0), however, one-upped Beeks and continued his own excellent start to the season by spinning seven shutout innings with a half-dozen strikeouts and only one hit - a two-out, first-inning single from Pawtucket third baseman Jordan Betts. De Los Santos walked the first two batters he faced in the fourth, only to retire the final 12 batters in a brilliant outing.
Lehigh Valley reliever Hoby Milner threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and the rubber-armed Pedro Beato (S, 10) worked around a one-out single in the ninth en route to his third save of the series.
For the third time in as many days, Lehigh Valley generated some early offense, as catcher Nick Rickles cracked a solo homer in the bottom of the second inning.
In the sixth, the IronPigs loaded the bases against Pawtucket reliever Kyle Martin, who then issued a free pass to Lehigh Valley left fielder Andrew Pullin to make it 2-0.
Two innings later, Rickles - who had led off that 40-pitch fifth inning with a tone-setting, 11-pitch at-bat - skied another solo homer to left to widen the gap to 3-0.
The PawSox continue their road trip and head to Syracuse for a four-game series against the Chiefs, beginning Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander William Cuevas (1-1, 2.93 ERA) is scheduled to oppose IronPigs lefty Tommy Milone (1-2, 5.34). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:05 p.m.
The PawSox return home to McCoy Stadium May 14-16 (Monday-Wednesday) for a three-game series against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays). 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.
International League Stories from May 9, 2018
- Resiliency Prevails: RailRiders win seesaw affair 8-7 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Stewart's Home Run Lifts Hens over Columbus - Toledo Mud Hens
- Chiefs Clipped by RailRiders, 8-7, in Series Finale - Syracuse Mets
- Casali Homer Clinches 5-2 Win - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Blank Wings Wednesday Afternoon - Rochester Red Wings
- McGuire Deals the Bisons to 7-0 Victory - Buffalo Bisons
- Bats Bullpen Shines in 4-3 Win over Indians - Louisville Bats
- Seventh-Inning Error Spells Doom for Tribe - Indianapolis Indians
- Covey Shuts Down Stripers in 4-1 Loss - Gwinnett Stripers
- Knights Sail Past Stripers 4-1 Wednesday - Charlotte Knights
- De Los Santos, Rickles Power Pigs to Sweep - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- PawSox Held to Two Hits in 3-0 Loss - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Louisville Bats Notes: May 9 - Louisville Bats
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (15-14) at Louisville Bats (10-18) - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons Game Notes - Rochester at Buffalo (1:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- The Setup: Pigs Go for Sweep vs. Pawtucket - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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.
