IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Two-Run Eighth Pushes PawSox to Series Win

Published on August 2, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


Dayan Diaz of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Dayan Diaz of the Pawtucket Red Sox
(Pawtucket Red Sox)

(Buffalo, NY) - Pawtucket scored a pair of runs charged to Buffalo's Joba Chamberlain in the top of the eighth inning while three PawSox hurlers combined on a four-hitter en route to a second-straight come-from-behind victory over the Bisons, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field to win the three-game series.

Starter Brian Johnson tossed four innings and allowed one run on two hits before being lifted after throwing 60 pitches. Relievers Dayan Diaz (2-1) and Noe Ramirez (save) then limited Buffalo to only two hits over the final five frames of the contest as the PawSox won their first series since June 26-28th.

After Bisons starter Jeff Francis shutout Pawtucket through seven innings, Chamberlain (0-1) entered in the eighth and walked Deven Marrero and Sandy Leon to begin the frame. Allen Craig then grounded a single to right field to load the bases, but at the end of the play right-fielder Caleb Gindl's throw rolled into the third-base dugout allowing Marrero to tie the score at 1.

Humberto Quintero then grounded out to leave runners on second and third base and Buffalo brought in lefty Colt Hynes to face Garin Cecchini. With the infield playing in, Cecchini hit a sharp grounder to second base on which Bisons second-baseman Jon Berti threw home but could not get Leon who slid safely before the tag.

Cecchini was awarded an RBI on the fielder's choice as the PawSox took a 2-1 lead. Diaz, who entered the game in the fifth, pitched around a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth to finish a fourth scoreless inning. Ramirez allowed a leadoff single but nothing further in the ninth, as he was aided by a caught stealing by the catcher Quintero for the second out. He earned his first save of the season.

Diaz allowed one hit and two walks in his season-high four-inning appearance. Craig (2-for-4) and Jeff Bianchi (2-for-3, walk) each had a pair of Pawtucket's eight hits, while Leon singled and walked twice. He has now reached base in 7 of his first 10 plate appearances with the PawSox (three hits, four walks) since joining the team at the beginning of the series.

Buffalo scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth against Johnson on a two-out RBI single by Ty Kelly. Sean Ochinko, Gindl and Berti had the other three hits for the Bisons in the contest.

The PawSox six-game road trip now continues to Syracuse for the next three days. Game one of the series is scheduled for a 7:05pm first pitch on Monday night. Left-hander Henry Owens (3-8, 3.16) is expected to start for the PawSox while the Chiefs counter with Stephen Strasburg on an MLB injury rehab assignment (0-1, 6.75). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 6:50 pm.

The PawSox will return to McCoy Stadium on Thursday, August 6th for the first of a four-game series that will also be against Syracuse. Good seats for all games in the series are available; call 401-724-7300 or visit the PawSox online at www.pawsox.com to get them now.

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Dayan Diaz of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Dayan Diaz of the Pawtucket Red Sox
   



International League Stories from August 2, 2015


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