PawSox, Hernandez Shutout Bats 5-0
May 27, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Before he took the mound on Sunday, Pawtucket Red Sox lefty Chris Hernandez was handed a lead he never relinquished while collaborating with reliever Pedro Beato to blank the Louisville Bats, 5-0, in front of 9,873 at Louisville Slugger Field.
As the PawSox second shutout of 2013, the combined six-hitter gives them a three-game winning streak and a record of 30-20. It marks the second time they've climbed 10 wins above the .500 plateau this season.
For Hernandez (W, 3-2), who completed the first 6 2/3 innings, the performance was easily the best of his seven starts, included among 11 outings overall. He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and induced three ground-ball double plays.
All after the top of Pawtucket's order manufactured a lead before Louisville starter Pedro Villarreal recorded an out. Jackie Bradley Jr. walked on five pitches, stole second on Villarreal's sixth offering and scored on an RBI double by Drew Sutton.
An inning later, Ronald Bermudez led off with a triple and came home on Jeremy Hazelbaker's sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Hazelbaker again factored in the scoring after he opened the fourth inning with a double and crossed the plate on a sac fly by ex-Bat Sutton, who drove in five runs the last two days against his former club.
Ahead 3-0, Pawtucket chased Villarreal (L, 1-3) with back-to-back home runs by Ryan Lavarnway, his third, and Bryce Brentz, his team-leading ninth, in the front half of the fifth inning. Villarreal left in a five-run deficit and tied for the International League lead with 12 homers allowed.
Still, the PawSox finished the evening with nine left on base, allowing Louisville to make things interesting twice in the final three innings.
In the seventh, after Hernandez retired the first two batters, the Bats loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. But Pedro Beato induced a groundout to diffuse the threat.
Two innings later, Beato had to pitch his way out of a jam of his own doing. He allowed a leadoff double by Neftali Soto, issued a walk and hit a batter. Following a visit to the mound by pitching coach Rich Sauveur, Beato (S, 1) responded by overpowering the next hitters.
With the last of his three straight strikeouts, Beat secured a series triumph for the Sox, who move on to Indianapolis for the second half of their road trip the next four days.
They do so with two of the IL's hottest hitters.
Bradley singled, doubled and walked, while extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Since returning from the disabled list due to biceps tendinitis, he is 12-for-28 (.429).
Meanwhile, Brock Holt went 3-for-3 with a walk and has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. Sunday's series finale marked Holt's second three-hit performance in the last five contests.
On Monday, Holt and the rest of the Sox are scheduled to confront his former club, Indianapolis, at 6:05 p.m. Rubby De La Rosa (0-1, 3.65) is expected to pitch for Pawtucket against Charlie Morton, who will be making a major league injury rehab appearance for the Indians.
International League Stories from May 27, 2013
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- RailRiders vs. Tides - Game Notes - May 27, 2013 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
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- Corcoran Named International League Pitcher of the Week - Gwinnett Stripers
- International League Names Players of the Week - IL1
- Bats Lose 5-0, Drop Series to the PawSox - Louisville Bats
- PawSox, Hernandez Shutout Bats 5-0 - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Three Blasts Boost Buffalo by Tribe 6-5 - Indianapolis Indians
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