PawSox Sweep Chiefs with 9-3 Win
(Syracuse, NY) - Pawtucket staked starter Matt Barnes to a big lead by scoring six runs in the first two innings and Barnes responded with 6.1 strong innings as the PawSox earned their seventh-consecutive victory, an 9-3 win over the Syracuse Chiefs Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium that completed a sweep in the two-game series.
The seven-game winning streak is the longest of the season for Pawtucket (57-48), which is now a season-high nine games above .500 and has swept two straight series following the All-Star break. The PawSox kept their half-game lead over Rochester in the IL wild card standings and moved within 3.5 games of North Division-leading Syracuse (60-44).
Will Middlebrooks, playing in the fifth-consecutive game of his most recent injury rehab stint, played the entire game as the DH and went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Middlebrooks, on the DL since May 16th, is attempting to return to Boston from finger and wrist injuries and is now 7-for-18 (.389) with a sacrifice fly over the last five games.
Pawtucket struck early against Chiefs starter Blake Treinen (6-1), who had not lost any of his prior 11 starts with Syracuse this season. Jonathan Herrera's RBI triple in the first plated Mookie Betts just two batters into the contest and highlighted a two-run first inning.
Betts then grounded a bases-clearing, three-run triple against Treinen as part of a four-run second inning that made the score 5-0. Herrera followed with a sacrifice fly as he drove home Betts for the second straight inning. Middlebrooks singled and in the fifth and later scored the PawSox' seventh run on left-fielder Jeff Kobernus's fielding error.
Betts (2-for-5), Herrera (2-for-4, Sac Fly), Rivero (2-for-4, Sac Fly) and Middlebrooks all collected two-hit games for Pawtucket, which had 11 base knocks on the night.
Pawtucket's eight-game road trip continues with a trip to Lehigh Valley for two games against the Iron Pigs. Game one is slated for Wednesday night at 7:05 pm as Pawtucket looks for its eighth-consecutive win. Right-hander Steven Wright (5-1, 2.21) is slated to start for the PawSox against Lehigh Valley righty Sean O'Sullivan (4-7, 4.80). Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 6:50 pm.
Following the eight-game road trip and a subsequent day off, the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium for a seven-game homestand that begins on Wednesday July 30. The stand features three games against Syracuse and four with Columbus.
Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.