PawSox Streak Snapped with 3-1 Loss
(Moosic, PA) - Scranton starter Bryan Mitchell tossed seven dominating innings and combined with two relievers on a five-hitter as the RailRiders halted the Pawtucket Red Sox' franchise-record winning streak at 11 games with a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon at PNC Field in the third of a four-game series.
It was the first loss in 15 days for the PawSox, who gained 8.0 games in the standings on first-place Syracuse during the 11-game streak. Mitchell (2-1) allowed no runs and only three baserunners (two singles and one double) while collecting six strikeouts in seven innings. He threw just 82 pitches to earn his second Triple-A win.
Will Middlebrooks, playing in the ninth game of his most recent injury rehab stint, played the entire game as the DH and went 1-for-4. Middlebrooks, on the Boston DL since May 16th, is now 10-for-37 (.270) with three homers over his last nine games played. Mookie Betts collected a home run and an RBI single for the PawSox.
Scranton scored a pair of two-out runs in the fifth against Pawtucket starter Matt Barnes (5-8) to snap a scoreless tie. Jose Pirela's RBI single opened the scoring, then two batters later Zoilo Almonte walked with the bases loaded to double the RailRiders' lead.
Barnes was pulled after five innings having allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. John Ely pitched the final three innings for the PawSox and allowed an insurance run in the eighth when Kyle Roller bounced into a double play to plate Almonte from third.
Scranton reliever Tyler Webb tossed a perfect inning in the eighth, then Edgmer Escalona allowed a two-out RBI single to MLB-rehabbing Ryan Lavarnway in the ninth to end the shutout bid. With the tying runners on base, Escalona got Carlos Rivero to fly out to right to end the game and earn his second save.
Lavarnway went 2-for-4 with a double to pace Pawtucket's five-hit attack. Adonis Garcia went 2-for-4 with a double and was the only RailRider with more than one of the team's six hits.
The finale of the four-game series and of Pawtucket's eight-game road trip is scheduled for Monday night with first pitch at 7:05 pm. Right-hander Steven Wright (5-1, 2.21) is slated to make the start for the PawSox against Scranton righty Chris Leroux (2-2, 5.08). 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.