PawSox Snap Scoreless Streak, Beat Bisons 3-2
PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox broke a three game scoreless streak, coming from behind to beat the Buffalo Bisons 3-2 tonight at McCoy. The PawSox had gone 39 1/3 consecutive innings without scoring a run.
Pawtucket trailed 2-0 before tallying three times in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Jonathan Van Every and Chip Ambres reached with a pair of singles. Chris Carter then drove a 1-0 pitch off the enter field fence for a two run double tying the game at 2-2. Two batters later DH Paul McAnulty drove in Carter with a single to center to break the tie.
“It’s fitting” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, “Carter came up with a big hit, (McAnulty) drove him in. I could see how our guys reacted. They were very relieved. We all were.”
“When you’re shut out three in a row, it gets a little edgy.” said Johnson, “Hopefully this will relax everybody and we can get back to business as usual.”
Buffalo had a chance to tie the game in the top of the eighth. LF Fernando Martinez led off with a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and an error by PawSox catcher Dusty Brown. Martinez was then cut down at home trying to score on a fly ball to left on a great throw by Chip Ambres and a great block of the plate by Brown.
PawSox starter Charlie Zink (2-4) picked up the win. He worked six innings, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out four. He threw 91 pitches, 59 for strikes.
The only trouble inning for Zink came in the top of the third. With one out, Fernando Martinez singled to the mound and advanced to third on a throwing error by Zink. Former Red Sox outfielder Wily Mo Pena drove in Martinez with a double to the gap in right center. After Zink threw a wild pitch sending Pena to third, 1B Javier Valentin drove him in with a single to left.
“Charlie did a real nice job.” said Johnson,
Billy Traber, Marcus McBeth, and Fernando Cabrera (6th save) pitched scoreless relief behind Zink to close the game
Buffalo starter and former PawSox pitcher Kyle Snyder (0-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up three runs on seven hits in taking the loss. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Every member of the Pawtucket line-up had one hit.
Pena led the Bisons with three hits on a single and two doubles.
Game two of the four game set with the Bisons is set for tomorrow afternoon (1:05pm) . RHP Dillon Gee (1-3, 4.26 ERA) pitches for Buffalo. He’ll be opposed by Michael Bowden (2-1, 1.06 ERA) for the PawSox.
