Nava's Grand Slam Sinks Indy, 6-1

Pawtucket, RI - Daniel Nava drilled a grand slam home run as part of a five-run eighth inning rally for Pawtucket that broke open a pitchers' duel as the PawSox defeated the Indianapolis Indians, 6-1, Friday night before 3,578 fans at McCoy Stadium in the second of a four-game series. 

Brandon Workman tossed 5.2 strong innings for the PawSox (17-12), who had four hurlers combine to strike out 13 Indians batters in the contest. Nava's slam was the team's second of the week and followed one hit by Bryce Brentz Tuesday morning at Lehigh Valley.

Pawtucket's first five batters in the eighth all reached base and all came in to score, snapping a 1-1 tie game and giving the PawSox a comfortable victory. In all ten hitters came to the plate in the eighth, giving Pawtucket its fifth bat-around in a single inning over its last nine games.

Daniel Schlereth (1-1) entered in relief of Indianapolis starter Jake Brigham to start the eighth and allowed a walk to Corey Brown, a single to Alex Hassan and then hit Brock Holt with a pitch to load the bases. Josh Kinney replaced Schlereth and gave up a go-ahead RBI single to Ryan Roberts plating Brown.

Nava followed with a drive that just cleared the fence in right field, his second home run in seven games played since being optioned from Boston to Pawtucket. Alex Wilson (1-0) had escaped a bases-loaded, two out jam in the top of the eighth to earn his first victory of the season.

Workman and Brigham dueled for much of the game, with the PawSox right-hander striking out eighth and allowing only four hits. Brigham lasted seven full innings and permitted only two hits and one run while collecting five strikeouts.

Garin Cecchini's RBI double in the second inning against Brigham opened the scoring for Pawtucket, while Brent Morel's two-out RBI double against Workman in the third tied the score at one.

Game three of the series is slated for a 6:05 pm first pitch on Saturday night. Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa (1-1, 2.28) will get the ball for manager Kevin Boles, while righty Tyler Waldron (0-0, 2.25) is expected to start for the Indians.

Limited tickets are available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com. Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 5:50 pm.