Butler's Blast Gives PawSox 5-4 Win
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 5, 2013
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Dan Butler's two-out, two-run home run in the top of the 8th inning provided just enough cushion for the PawSox to hold on to a 5-4 victory over Buffalo in front of 6,590 fans at Coca Cola Field Monday night.
Pawtucket struck first in game three of the four-game set against Buffalo in the 2nd inning against Bisons starter Chien-Ming Wang. Dan Butler led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI groundout by Justin Henry to give the PawSox a 1-0 lead.
The PawSox added to their lead in the 3rd as Jeremy Hazelbaker singled, stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Middlebrooks to increase their lead to 2-0. They would load the bases on a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, but left them loaded to end the inning.
Allen Webster made the start for Pawtucket coming off a career high 12 strikeout performance on July 31st against Norfolk. He had retired the last 10 batters he faced in that outing and set down the first six against the Bisons Monday, but Clint Robinson led off the 3rd with a double snapping the stretch at 16 straight. Webster would get a line out and a ground out before Anthony Gose doubled down the left field line to cut the PawSox lead to 2-1.
In the 4th, Buffalo got a lead-off single before a fielder's choice and a stolen base put a runner at second with two out. Clint Robinson then singled to center with two strikes to tie the game 2-2. Webster would strand the go-ahead run at third base.
Pawtucket answered right back in the 5th as Will Middlebrooks blasted a solo homer to center field (#9) to give the PawSox a 3-2 advantage.
Buffalo responded quickly in the bottom half of the 5th getting a two-out solo homer by Ricardo Nanita (#2) to tie the score 3-3. Allen Webster would exit the game after five frames allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four and walking just one. All of Buffalo's runs scored with two outs against Webster.
Alex Wilson came in out of the PawSox bullpen and allowed a two out double in the 6th, but got out of the inning unscathed. He would not be as fortunate in the 7th as ninth-place hitter Mike McCoy hit a solo homer to left, his 4th, to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead, their first of the game. Lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith would get out of a bases loaded jam to keep the contest at 4-3 into the 8th.
Wang retired nine straight batters into the 8th, but Alex Hassan poked a single to right on a two-strike pitch to knock the Buffalo starter from the game. Closer John Stilson came in and the first pitch he threw was deposited over the left field wall by Dan Butler, his career high 12th home run of the season, to give the PawSox a 5-4 lead.
Rowland-Smith got the first out of the bottom of the 8th before allowing a hit and send Pedro Beato into the contest. Beato retired the next two batters keeping the PawSox in front.
Beato stayed in for the 9th and struck out the first batter he faced. After a double and a ground out had the tying run at third with two outs, the right hander retired Jim Negrych on a fly ball to left to end the game with the PawSox taking two of the first three in the series against the Bisons.
The PawSox will conclude their four-game set with Buffalo Tuesday night at 7:05pm. Pawtucket will send righty Keith Couch in his Triple-A Debut to the hill against Ricky Romero (3-5, 5.67) of the Bisons.
Pawtucket will return to McCoy Stadium Tuesday, August 13th for an eight-game homestand against Louisville and Buffalo.
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