PawSox Mount Comeback But Fall to G-Braves
May 30, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Justin Maxwell of the Pawtucket Red Sox
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
(Lawrenceville, GA) - Despite countering the Gwinnett Braves' five-run fourth with another comeback on the road, the Pawtucket Red Sox fell by a run, 6-5, in the opener of a seven-game road trip on Memorial Day at Coolray Field.
The PawSox (24-27) tallied 14 hits, including four from Justin Maxwell and three from Bryce Brentz, but Rio Ruiz's home run (3) on the first pitch of the bottom of the eighth inning against Roman Mendez (1-1) just cleared the right field fence to win the game for Gwinnett (25-27).
Nine of Pawtucket's 12 road losses this season have come in one-run or two-run decisions, as have 13 of their 16 defeats in May.
The PawSox jumped out to an early lead against Braves starter John Gant on Brentz's two-out RBI double in the first inning.
Brentz has five doubles in his last five games.
Pawtucket had an opportunity to tack on a run in the second inning when Deven Marrero lined a ball down the third base line with a runner on first. However, the ball hit the third base umpire and Marrero was held to a single. Gant used a fly out and a strikeout to get out of the inning unscathed.
The PawSox took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Chris Dominguez and Jantzen Witte singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Deven Marrero then beat out a potential double play ball to collect an RBI.
Coming off a pair of outings in which he struck out 21 total batters, PawSox starter Roenis Elias continued to excel over the first three innings, holding the G-Braves to no runs and one hit.
But Elias hit a large bump in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Gwinnett rallied for five runs to take the lead. All the damage came with one out, as seven straight Braves batters reached base.
Matt Tuiasosopo singled and took off for third base when the next batter Brandon Snyder grounded a single into left field. Tuiasosopo beat Dominguez's throw to third and Snyder took second on the play. Ronnier Mustelier then lined a ball off Elias that deflected half way towards first base for an RBI infield single that put the G-Braves on the board.
Snyder scored to tie the game on a wild pitch. Following two walks that loaded the bases, Emerson Landoni delivered an RBi single and Oscar Albies added a flare to center field for a two-run single that built the lead to 5-2.
Elias surrendered five runs, four earned, on six hits and four walks in five innings of work.
Pawtucket began its comeback in the sixth when Sandy Leon pulled his second home run of the season over the right field fence.
With two outs in the seventh, Chris Marrero lined an RBI double to left and Bryce Brentz singled him home with a line drive into right field to tie the game at 5-5.
Gwinnett reliever Matt Marksberry (1-2) entered the game and despite allowing a single to Dominguez, he retired Leon on a fly ball in foul territory to end the inning.
Marksberry tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and after Ruiz's blast led off the bottom of the frame, Jose Ramirez scattered a pair of PawSox singles to record the save in the ninth.
The home run was the only run Mendez allowed in three innings of relief for Pawtucket.
The PawSox continue their three-game series with Gwinnett tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Henry Owens (3-2, 3.52) is scheduled to face off with G-Braves righty Lucas Sims (1-3, 5.19). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.
Pawtucket returns to McCoy stadium next Monday for a seven-game homestand against Toledo and Louisville. Good seats for all the games are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.
Images from this story
 Justin Maxwell of the Pawtucket Red Sox |
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