PawSox Comeback Falls Short, Lose 4-3

Pawtucket, RI - Indianapolis scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings and held off a late Pawtucket rally by stranding the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth en route to a 4-3 victory over the PawSox on a beautiful Saturday night in front of 4,321 fans at McCoy Stadium. 

Indianapolis starter Tyler Waldron combined with three relievers on a five-hitter. Waldron (1-0) allowed only two hits and one hit batsmen in five shutout innings before being lifted before the sixth with an apparent blister on his pitching finger. 

Indianapolis (19-9) improved upon the best record in the International League and has taken two of the first three games in the series. Pawtucket (17-13) fell out of first place in the IL North for the first time in 12 days.

Brandon Snyder slammed his team-leading fifth home run of the season to get Pawtucket on the board in the seventh, then Dan Butler lined a two-out, two-run single in the ninth that made the score 4-3. Indianapolis reliever Duke Welker was then removed from the game due to injury.

Josh Kinney entered to face Mike McCoy, and induced a foul pop out to third base to end the game with runners on first and second base. Kinney, who had allowed a grand slam home run to Daniel Nava on Friday night, earned his second save of the season by retiring one batter.

After starters Rubby De La Rosa (1-2) and Waldron dueled to a scoreless draw through five innings, Indianapolis struck first in the sixth when Andrew Lambo led of with a double and Matt Hague walked to end De La Rosa's evening.

Drake Britton relieved De La Rosa and induced a fielder's choice grounder from Chris McGuiness that left runners on the corners, and Brent Morel then drove a sacrifice fly to center plating Lambo with the game's first run. Two batters later Michael Martinez grounded a two-out RBI single to center making the score 2-0.

Britton allowed a pair of two-out tallies in the seventh when McGuiness grounded a two-run single just past the diving second baseman Justin Henry and into right field. 

Pawtucket, which has not lost a series this season, will try to avoid dropping three of four as they play the the series finale Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm. Right-hander Allen Webster (1-1, 2.78) is scheduled to start for the PawSox, while righty Jay Jackson (1-1, 8.05) is slated to start for the Indians.

Good seats are still 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 12:50 pm.