PawSox Edge IronPigs in Pitcher's Duel

PAWTUCKET, RI - The Pawtucket Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2-0 Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium, marking their first win over Lehigh Valley since April 17, a span of seven games between the two squads.

Pawtucket received a complete game shutout from righty Steven Wright (5-6), who allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Entering the bottom of the eighth frame neither team had scored a run, but the PawSox (58-50) scratched across a pair of runs to take the third game of the four-game set. Will Middlebrooks led off with a walk before advancing to third on a single by Mark Hamilton. After Cesar Jimenez issued an intentional walk to Alex Hassan to load the bases, Jeremy Hazelbaker knocked a sacrifice fly to left field for a 1-0 lead. After a fly out, Brock Holt then lined a two-out single right field, scoring pinch-runner Jonathan Diaz, setting the stage for Wright to complete the contest in the bottom of the ninth.

Right-hander Ethan Martin took the no-decision for the IronPigs (54-55), going six frames while striking out eight and walking three over 104 pitches. Jimenez (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs in two innings on three hits.

Lehigh Valley had their best chance to score in the third inning when Matt Tolbert walked and advanced to third when Tyson Gillies reached on an error. However with one out Tolbert was gunned down at home plate on a grounder to third for out number two, before a ground out ended the threat. Then in the top of the ninth Cody Asche doubled with one away, but a pair of strikeouts preserved the shutout for the Red Sox.

The series and eight-game road trip concludes Monday when RHP Tyler Cloyd (2-8, 6.19) takes the hill for the IronPigs opposite RHP Rubby De La Rosa (3-2, 3.75) for Pawtucket. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from McCoy Stadium.