IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Syracuse Walks off with 6-5 Win

Published on May 12, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Despite building an early lead and pounding out 13 hits, the Pawtucket Red Sox fell to the Syracuse Chiefs, 6-5, in walk-off fashion Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.

After scoring eight runs in the first inning Friday, the PawSox (16-17) grabbed three more runs in Saturday's first inning and eventually constructed a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. But the Chiefs (17-16) stirred offensively in the middle innings, and, eventually, a 5-5 deadlock held until the bottom of the ninth inning. That's when Syracuse shortstop Matt Reynolds worked a game-ending, bases-loaded walk that concluded a game filled with oddities. Pawtucket had appeared primed to surge ahead in the top of the ninth inning, but interference on the basepaths dulled the threat.

Pawtucket shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin (2-for-4, BB), right fielder Aneury Tavarez (2-for-5), center fielder Rusney Castillo (2-for-4, RBI), third baseman Jordan Betts (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), designated hitter Mike Olt (2-for-3, BB) and second baseman Ivan De Jesus Jr. (2-for-3, RBI) all recorded multi-hit nights. The offense has now scored 17 runs in the last two games - after it had been held to 10 runs total in the previous six games.

Pawtucket starter Justin Haley allowed two runs in 3.2 innings in which he scattered six hits, walked one and struck out two. Haley began his evening with three shutout innings but ran into trouble in the fourth, when the Chiefs pushed across a pair of runs to force Pawtucket to turn to its bullpen. Right-handed reliever Kyle Martin gave up a trio of runs across 2.1 innings, while lefty Williams Jerez got the next four outs. Righty Ryan Brasier (L, 2-3) entered into and exited a jam in the eighth but issued the game-ending free pass in the ninth.

Syracuse starter and former first-round pick Erick Fedde ceded five runs on nine hits and a couple walks in five frames, but reliever Justin Miller (W, 2-0) stamped a strong effort from the bullpen.

Pawtucket jumped on Fedde from the get-go, as the first three batters all recorded base hits. With runners at first and second, Castillo served an RBI single down the right-field line to plate Lin and make it 1-0. Later in the frame with the bases loaded, first baseman Sam Travis smacked a sacrifice fly to left to score Tavarez and double the lead to 2-0. The next batter, Betts, drilled an RBI double off the wall in left field.

After Fedde settled in over the second and third innings, the PawSox went back to work in the top of the fourth. After a pair of singles and a double-play, De Jesus stung a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Olt and extend the lead to 4-0.

Syracuse halved the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chiefs catcher Tuffy Gosewich yanked a two-run double to the left-field wall to chase Haley.

Tavarez led off the top of the fifth inning with a single and went first to third on a Castillo single. Tavarez then scored to make it 5-2 on a 6-4-3 double-play ball off the bat of catcher Mike Ohlman.

After Pawtucket failed to turn what could have been an inning-ending double play in the bottom half of the fifth, Syracuse shortstop Matt Reynolds made the PawSox pay by scalding a two-run double to left. Third baseman Jacob Wilson then skied a ball to shallow left field, but a trio of Pawtucket players lost the ball in the twilight sky, and Reynolds scored to tie the game, 5-5.

The PawSox nearly reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning, but Syracuse center fielder Rafael Bautista threw a strike to the plate to nab Pawtucket left fielder Ramon Flores to end the inning - the second time the PawSox had a player thrown out at the plate.

Pawtucket had a ripe opportunity to snatch the lead in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and just one out, but interference called on the PawSox on the basepaths and a pop-out ended the opportunity.

The Chiefs placed runners at the corners with one out in the ninth. Pawtucket intentionally loaded the bases in hopes of a double play, but Brasier walked Reynolds, and Syracuse secured their second win in the four-game series ahead of Sunday's finale.

The PawSox conclude their series against Syracuse on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Marcus Walden (0-1, 9.82 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Chiefs righty Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.94). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 12:35 p.m.

The PawSox then return home to McCoy Stadium May 14-16 (Monday-Wednesday) for a three-game series against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays). 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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