Brown's HR Gives PawSox 3-2 Win

Louisville, KY - Corey Brown's ninth-inning solo home run snapped a 2-2 tie and propelled the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the Louisville Bats in a matinee on Mother's Day Sunday at Louisville Slugger Field. 

Brown, who also collected an RBI single, drove home two of Pawtucket's three runs as the PawSox (22-16) took their second win in the first three games of the series. Matt Barnes started for Pawtucket and allowed only two runs in seven innings pitched in his longest outing of the season.

Bats closer Jumbo Diaz (1-1), who had allowed only one run in 14.2 innings pitched this season entering Sunday, came in to pitch the ninth with the score tied at 2. Brown clobbered his home run to right field with one out, a no-doubter for his fourth long ball of the season and second in the last four days.

Drake Britton tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to pick up his fourth save in as many opportunities. Rich Hill (1-1) pitched around a two-out single in the eighth to record a scoreless inning and earn his first victory of the season.

Pawtucket scored single runs in the second and fourth innings against Louisville starter Josh Smith. Brown's RBI hit opened the scoring, while Mike McCoy's two-out RBI double made the score 2-0.

Barnes retired the first ten batters he faced, but later allowed two runs with two outs in the fourth. Felix Perez's RBI double plated Ruben Gotay with the first tally, then Thomas Neal dropped a perfect bunt base hit to score Perez from third with the tying run.

Barnes and Smith each lasted seven innings and each allowed two runs. Barnes permitted five hits and issued only one walk, while Smith worked around eight hits and a walk to earn the quality start.

The final game of the series is slated for an 11:05 am first pitch on Monday morning. Right-hander Brandon Workman (1-1, 5.00) will get the ball for manager Kevin Boles, while southpaw David Holmberg (0-3, 14.46) is expected to start for the Bats. Radio coverage on 920 AM (WHJJ) and also streaming online begins at 10:50 am.

Following the road trip the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium for a four-game series against Scranton from May 17th through May 20th. Good seats are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.