Swihart Strikes Late again in PawSox Victory
August 13, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
(Lawrenceville, GA) - Catcher Blake Swihart collected a game-winning hit in the ninth inning for the second time in the last four days, as his two-out RBI double snapped a 3-3 tie and propelled the PawSox past the Gwinnett Braves, 4-3, Wednesday night at Coolray Field.
Swihart's hit against reliever Chasen Shreve (0-1) scored pinch-runner Mike McCoy, who replaced Ryan Lavarnway after he drew a leadoff walk. The young backstop had also picked up a two-run go-ahead triple on Sunday against the Charlotte Knights.
The PawSox, who rallied for ninth-inning victories in Charlotte on Saturday and Sunday and again against the Braves Monday, have now scored in the ninth inning in five straight contests. The squad has a total of 14 runs in the final inning over the last five.
With the victory, Pawtucket (70-55) moved a season-high-matching 15 games above .500 and to within a half game of first place behind Syracuse in the North Division, pending the result of the Chiefs game against Norfolk. The squad moved 2.0 games ahead of Rochester in the IL wildcard standings pending the results of the Red Wings doubleheader against Durham.
Ryan Verdugo (2-1), who allowed the tying run to score in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Sean Kazmar, tossed a scoreless ninth inning to finish his own win. After Edward Salcedo reached first on a strikeout wild pitch, Verdugo induced a game-ending double play from Joe Leonard.
Each starter pitched well, with Edwin Escobar tossing seven innings in his third start with Pawtucket and allowing only two runs on five hits. He walked just one batter and struck out six. Aaron Northcraft lasted 7.1 innings for Gwinnett and allowed three runs on just three hits.
With the game tied at 2 after seven innings, the PawSox plated a run against Northcraft in the eighth after walks to Derrik Gibson and Alex Hassan knocked the right-hander from the game after 115 pitches. Bryce Brentz lifted a sacrifice fly against Shreve to make the score 3-2.
Todd Cunningham homered (7) and collected an RBI double in the first three innings for the Braves against Escobar to put Gwinnett in front 2-1. Deven Marrero's RBI groundout in the fourth tied the score for the PawSox.
Pawtucket was held to just four hits in the contest, with no player collecting more than one. Cunningham went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to pace the Braves eight-hit attack.
The finale of the four-game series and of Pawtucket's eight-game road trip is scheduled for Thursday night with first pitch at 6:35 pm. The PawSox are slated to start righty Matt Barnes (5-8, 4.36) while Gwinnett will counter with righty Kanekoa Texeira (3-3, 4.59). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.
Following the eight-game road trip the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium for an eight-game homestand that begins on Friday, August 15th at 7:05pm. The stand features four games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and four with Lehigh Valley. Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.
International League Stories from August 13, 2014
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- Swihart Strikes Late again in PawSox Victory - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Pawtucket Scores Late, Drops Gwinnett 4-3 - Gwinnett Stripers
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