Syracuse Holds on Late and Tops PawSox, 4-3
Published on August 8, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Shawn Haviland
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
(Pawtucket, RI) - Syracuse starter Bruce Billings limited Pawtucket to one run in 5.1 innings and the Chiefs held off a late rally to defeat the PawSox for a sixth time this week, 4-3, on Saturday night in the third of a four-game series before 11,295 fans at McCoy Stadium.
Billings (7-4) allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out six batters and left the mound with a 4-1 lead. Pawtucket scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one, but Chiefs closer Rafael Martin stranded a runner on first base in the ninth to finish the victory and earn his sixth save.
Shawn Haviland (4-6) started for the PawSox on the day he was added to the team's roster, having just been acquired in a trade by Boston earlier in the week. Haviland allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings, including three tallies in the fifth to provide Syracuse all the offense it would eventually need.
Matt Skole's two-run double highlighted the fifth-inning rally for the Chiefs, while Caleb Ramsey later lifted a sacrifice fly that put Syracuse in front 4-1. Pawtucket, which had been shut out for the first 21 innings of the series, scored on an RBI double by catcher Sandy Leon in the bottom of the fourth to knot the score at 1.
The PawSox rallied against reliever Sammy Solis for a pair of runs in the eighth, beginning with another RBI hit from Leon, this time a single to left-center. Allen Craig followed with a sacrifice fly that made the score 4-3, but Solis then induced a fly out from Garin Cecchini to end the frame.
Syracuse scored a run in the first against Haviland on an RBI single by Kevin Keyes. Pawtucket's bullpen combined for four scoreless innings of relief - one each from Tommy Layne and Ryan Cook and two from Jonathan Aro.
Marco Hernandez (2-for-4, two runs) and Leon (2-for-4, two RBI) each collected a pair of the PawSox' six hits. Jason Martinson went 3-for-5 with a run scored to pace the Chiefs' 11-hit attack.
The finale of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:05pm. Right-hander Zeke Spruill (4-8, 4.54) will get the start for Pawtucket while the Chiefs counter with righty A.J. Cole (2-5, 4.11).
Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com. Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 12:50 pm.
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 Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Shawn Haviland |
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