PawSox Edged by Buffalo 2-1
PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- The Pawtucket Red Sox narrowly averted being no-hit at home for the second time this season on Saturday, but nonetheless suffered a 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Bisons before 7,766 at McCoy Stadium.
On May 5, the PawSox were held hitless by Durham's Jake Ordorizzi and three relievers in a 2-1 defeat. More than a month later, their lone hit off was Alex Hassan's two-out home run in the eighth inning off Buddy Carlyle, the second of Buffalo's four pitchers.
Starter Thad Weber, pitching for his fourth club in 2013, including the Bisons' parent Toronto Blue Jays, yielded a single base runner and struck out eight in seven innings. Making his second start in five appearances for Buffalo, Weber (W, 1-1) totaled 71 pitches, including 45 strikes.
After retiring the first 11 Pawtucket hitters, Weber walked Ryan Lavarnway. He continued by disposing of the next 10 PawSox.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Brandon Workman (L, 1-1) fanned nine in 6 1/3 innings of his Triple-A home debut, only to suffer the loss. Workman, who went 5-1 for Double-A Portland, was coming off a victory at Syracuse.
With one out in the second inning Eugenio Velez lifted his seventh home run to right-field for a 1-0 lead. Velez later manufactured Buffalo's second run after reaching on a fielder's choice in the fourth. He stole second, before swiping third and forcing a throwing error by Lavarnway.
Ryan Rowland-Smith, making his second appearance in as many nights, and Brock Huntzinger, just promoted from Portland, combined to hold the Bisons scoreless the final 2 2/3 innings.
But after Hassan went deep off Carlyle, ex-PawSox lefty Tommy Hottovy retired three straight and Brad Lincoln (S, 1) took care of his lone batter faced to preserve the final margin.
The two International League rivals conclude their four-day series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Steven Wright (2-4, 5.10) takes the hill for Pawtucket, opposed by Todd Redmond (1-1, 10.24).
The Sox have won two of the first in the set and lead the Bisons by four games in the North Division standings.
On May 5, the PawSox were held hitless by Durham's Jake Ordorizzi and three relievers in a 2-1 defeat. More than a month later, their lone hit off was Alex Hassan's two-out home run in the eighth inning off Buddy Carlyle, the second of Buffalo's four pitchers.
Starter Thad Weber, pitching for his fourth club in 2013, including the Bisons' parent Toronto Blue Jays, yielded a single base runner and struck out eight in seven innings. Making his second start in five appearances for Buffalo, Weber (W, 1-1) totaled 71 pitches, including 45 strikes.
After retiring the first 11 Pawtucket hitters, Weber walked Ryan Lavarnway. He continued by disposing of the next 10 PawSox.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Brandon Workman (L, 1-1) fanned nine in 6 1/3 innings of his Triple-A home debut, only to suffer the loss. Workman, who went 5-1 for Double-A Portland, was coming off a victory at Syracuse.
With one out in the second inning Eugenio Velez lifted his seventh home run to right-field for a 1-0 lead. Velez later manufactured Buffalo's second run after reaching on a fielder's choice in the fourth. He stole second, before swiping third and forcing a throwing error by Lavarnway.
Ryan Rowland-Smith, making his second appearance in as many nights, and Brock Huntzinger, just promoted from Portland, combined to hold the Bisons scoreless the final 2 2/3 innings.
But after Hassan went deep off Carlyle, ex-PawSox lefty Tommy Hottovy retired three straight and Brad Lincoln (S, 1) took care of his lone batter faced to preserve the final margin.
The two International League rivals conclude their four-day series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Steven Wright (2-4, 5.10) takes the hill for Pawtucket, opposed by Todd Redmond (1-1, 10.24).
The Sox have won two of the first in the set and lead the Bisons by four games in the North Division standings.