PawSox Offense Explodes in Nightcap to Split Twin Bill
May 14, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
(Pawtucket, RI) - The Pawtucket Red Sox used 10 hits in the first four innings to win the nightcap of a doubleheader, 8-6, after they dropped game one, 3-2, to the Gwinnett Braves on Saturday evening in front of 7,209 fans at McCoy Stadium.
Back-to-back home runs in addition to Rusney Castillo's three hits, two runs and two RBI in game two helped the PawSox (17-19) claim victory in the second of two seven-inning affairs. Despite three hits for Bryce Brentz in game one, Gwinnett (18-19) used a pair of solo home runs against Eduardo Rodriguez to narrowly pull out the one-run win.
Game two got off to an inauspicious start for the PawSox, as starter Brian Johnson (2-3) walked the first three Gwinnett hitters of the game. All three baserunners came around to score on a one-out double from Ronnier Mustelier. Johnson has allowed 10 of his 18 earned runs in the first inning this season.
The Pawtucket offense chipped away with a run in each of the first three innings against Braves starter Ryan Weber to tie the game up.
After loading the bases with no outs in the first, the PawSox scratched out a run on Chris Marrero's fielder's choice. Brentz lined a double to left field to lead off the second inning and scored on Castillo's two-out infield single.
Pawtucket tied the game, 3-3, in the third inning thanks to Ryan LaMarre's baserunning. He legged out an infield single, stole second base, advanced to third as the catcher Blake Lalli's throw sailed into center field, and scored on an error by shortstop Ozzie Albies. Albies tried to backhand a groundball in the hole from Jantzen Witte but the ball glanced off his glove.
After Sean Kazmar doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning to give the G-Braves a brief 4-3 lead, the PawSox unleashed a season high-tying five runs in the bottom of the frame against Gwinnett reliever Joel De La Cruz (0-1).
After Miller and Coyle singled, they advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. The next batter, Castillo, drove them both home on an RBI double up the right center field gap. Castillo has gone 9-for-19 in five games this week for Pawtucket.
Two batters later, Sam Travis ripped a line drive off the left field foul pole for a two-run home run (3). The next batter, Chris Marrero, stroked a high flyball that stayed just inside the same foul pole for his fourth home run (6) this month, building an 8-4 lead. The pair of blasts were the first back-to-back shots for the PawSox this season.
Adonis Garcia (3) hammered his second home run of the doubleheader in the fifth inning to cut Pawtucket's lead to 8-6.
Brian Johnson was able to complete the fifth inning, ending his outing with six earned runs, four hits and five walks allowed on 100 pitches.
The G-Braves got a runner to second base in the sixth inning, but Brentz made a spectacular running grab down the left field line, flipping over the short wall and holding on to the ball for the final out of the frame.
"I initially thought it was going to be more of a sliding catch," he said. "But luckily we have that padding so the only thought I had when I realized I wasn't going to be sliding, was giving a good attempt and looking the ball into the glove."
After the first two Gwinnett batters reached base in the seventh inning, reliever Kyle Martin came into the game and recorded the final three outs for his first save of the season.
The G-Braves took game one thanks to a solid effort from starter John Gant (3-0) and two solo home runs against Pawtucket starter Eduardo Rodriguez (0-3).
Rodriguez, making his fourth rehabilitation start for Pawtucket, allowed three runs, two earned, in 5.2 innings pitched. He recorded three strikeouts and no walks on his 100 pitches.
Rodriguez pitched around a leadoff double by Albies in the first inning after Albies was caught stealing at third base by PawSox catcher Sandy Leon.
However, the Gwinnett leadoff man struck again in the second inning. Adonis Garcia lofted a ball into right center field and the wind helped carry it into the stands.
Pawtucket would answer Garcia's home run in the bottom of the second with a run against Gant. After a pair of walks with nobody out, Brentz drove a single into center field that scored Chris Marrero.
The G-Braves claimed the lead right back with an unearned run in the third inning. Kazmar knocked a leadoff single off the glove of PawSox third baseman Marco Hernandez. With two outs, Jace Peterson hit a ball that snuck through the legs of Hernandez and scored Kazmar. The error gave Gwinnett a 2-1 lead.
After Pawtucket went down in order in the third and fourth innings, Brentz came through again with a double to lead off the fifth. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly, as Brentz tested the arm of center fielder Emilio Bonifacio and dove into the plate head first, just ahead of catcher Anthony Recker's tag.
"When [Bonifacio] caught the ball, he was on his heels, so I thought I'd at least get a good jump," Brentz said. "Luckily I was able to get in there.
The G-Braves once again quickly broke the tie in the following frame. Mustelier launced his first home run of the season over the wall in left center field.
Despite, 1.1 scoreless innings of relief from Noe Ramirez, the PawSox were unable to erase the 3-2 deficit.
Brentz led off the seventh and final inning with his third hit of the game-a single to center. The 3-for-3 performance was his first multi-hit game (at any level) this season and his first three-hit contest since April 16, 2015.
"It was a good day," Brentz said. "It's just about sticking to your approach and being able to hit."
Brentz was 1-for-12 at the plate entering the day.
Brentz advanced to second base on a passed ball, but was left stranded there to end the game after Gwinnett reliever Chris Withrow retired the final three batters for his second save of the season.
Pawtucket fell to 0-4 in Rodriguez's starts this season and has split all three of its doubleheaders this season.
The PawSox wrap up their three-game series with Gwinnett tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Henry Owens (2-1, 0.72) is scheduled to take the mound against Braves righty Lucas Sims (0-2, 4.91). Radio coverage begins on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network at 12:35 p.m.
Good seats for all remaining games on the homestand against the G-Braves and the Norfolk Tides are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.
Images from this story
 Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez |
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