PawSox Win Seesaw Series Opener in 10 Innings
April 27, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - In a span of barely five minutes, Pawtucket Red Sox catcher Dan Butler helped prolong the game and then proceeded to effectively end the game, as the PawSox defeated the Buffalo Bisons, 9-8, in 10 innings Friday night at Coca-Cola Field.
In a 7-7 game in the bottom of the 9th inning, Buffalo (5-7) had runners at second and third with just one out. But on a lineout to center, Rusney Castillo reared back and threw a strike to Butler, who hung on at the plate through a foot-first slide to complete the inning-ending double play and force extras. Moments later in the top of the 10th, Butler tucked a two-run, opposite-field home run inside the right-field foul pole to lead the PawSox to the victory in the opener of the three-game set.
Castillo turned in a marvelous all-around performance, as well. The leadoff man went 3-for-5 with three doubles (in three straight at-bats between the third and seventh innings), upped his International League-leading hit total to 26 and pinpointed that crucial throw to the plate.
The PawSox (10-8) proved resilient in a seesaw battle and earned their fourth extra-innings win in the last eight days. Pawtucket built a 4-1 lead in the middle innings, re-tied the game 5-5 in the seventh and ceded a two-run lead in the eighth before it eventually shut the door on Buffalo in the 10th. The PawSox pounded out a season-high seven extra-base hits (a season-best three homers plus four doubles)
Red Sox starter and 2016 American League All-Star Steven Wright (knee) made his second rehab outing and logged five-plus innings on 82 pitches (51 strikes) after he left his first appearance last Friday with back stiffness. The right-handed knuckleballer allowed four earned runs (five total) on six hits, a walk and a pair of hit batters, but Wright fanned four and only allowed three baserunners through his first four frames - all scoreless.
PawSox right-hander Marcus Walden relieved Wright and made his season debut with Pawtucket after he initially made his first career Opening Day roster with Boston (followed by his big-league debut). In his first outing in nine days, Walden gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in two innings. Fellow righty Ryan Brasier (W, 2-1) fired two sharp frames with a pair of punchouts and lowered his ERA to 1.38.
Pawtucket third baseman Jordan Betts, meanwhile, was a late addition to the starting lineup and went 2-for-5 with a double and his first Triple-A home run. Right fielder Aneury Tavarez (2-for-5, 2 RBI) delivered a key two-run single in the eighth.
Buffalo starter Sam Gaviglio gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, and reliever Sam Moll (L, 1-1) allowed the Butler long ball in the 10th.
After a pair of 1-2-3 innings against Gaviglio to begin the ballgame, the PawSox struck for a pair of runs in the top of the third. With runners at the corners, Castillo stroked an RBI double toward the left-field line, and left fielder Ramon Flores followed with a sacrifice fly on a line to right field to plate shortstop Mike Miller from third and make it 2-0.
Leading off the top of the fifth, Betts laced his first career Triple-A home run, yanking it to left field and extending the lead to 3-0.
Buffalo jumped onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when it loaded the bases on an error, single to left and infield single and generated a sacrifice fly from left fielder Dwight Smith Jr., trimming the margin to 3-1.
The PawSox, however, quickly grabbed the run back in the sixth inning when first baseman and No. 3 hitter Mike Olt crushed a solo shot to straightaway center just moments after he fouled a pitch off the inside of his front left foot.
Buffalo snatched its first lead in the home half of the sixth. Once again, the Bisons loaded the bases against Wright on a pair of singles and a hit batter. Wright then issues a bases-loaded walk - his only base on balls of the night - and gave way to Walden. Buffalo No. 9 hitter Tim Lopes greeted Walden by rapping the first pitch for a two-run double to tie the game, 4-4. Bisons center fielder Dalton Pompey then reeled in the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout to first.
Yet in the seventh, Miller worked a two-out walk and somehow advanced to second safely after nearly being picked off first. From there, Miller scored to tie the game 5-5 on Castillo's third double, a run-scoring two-bagger to center field.
In the eighth, the PawSox loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter, and Tavarez rolled an RBI single up the middle past Buffalo's drawn-in defense to plate a pair and make it 7-5 Pawtucket.
The next half-inning, Buffalo loaded the bases for the third time in a span of four stanzas and nabbed a run on a 6-4 fielder's choice, slicing the gap to 7-6. The Bisons then tied it, 7-7, on another near double-play ball on the infield - this time hit to third.
Buffalo had a prime opportunity to walk off in the bottom of the ninth, but Castillo and Butler combined on the 8-2 double play.
Butler's two-run homer in the 10th stood up as the difference despite a run for Buffalo in the home half of the inning.
The PawSox continue their three-game series in Buffalo on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. PawSox left-hander Jalen Beeks (1-1, 0.64) is scheduled to oppose Bisons righty Joe Biagini (0-1, 3.48). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with PawSox Insider at 11:35 a.m.
The PawSox return home for a three-game series Monday-Wednesday against the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins). 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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