PawSox, Rivero Bury Bats 7-2
(Pawtucket, RI) - Pawtucket shortstop Carlos Rivero drove home five runs and starter Matt Barnes pitched 6.2 strong innings as the PawSox opened an eight-game homestand with a 7-2 victory over the Louisville Bats in front of a season-high crowd of 10,793 fans on Saturday night at McCoy Stadium.
Pawtucket (31-33) has won consecutive games for the first time since May 11th and 12th when the team took the final two games of a series at Louisville. Rivero hit RBI singles in the second and eighth innings while also delivering a three-run triple during a four-run rally in the third.
Barnes (2-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in earning his first victory since April 25th. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter. Tommy Layne pitched the final two innings without allowing a run and earned his first save of the season.
Rivero's first RBI single came against Louisville starter Jair Jurrjens (1-1) to open the scoring. Then in the third, Jurrjens loaded the bases with one out on a walk and two singles. Dan Butler lined an RBI hit to left to double the Pawtucket lead and leave the bags packed for Rivero.
The utilityman followed with an opposite field liner into the right-field corner that scored all three baserunners and made the score 5-0. Jurrjens was charged with five runs on six hits in six innings of work.
Louisville's Argenis Diaz collected a pair of two-out RBI hits against Barnes to plate each of the Bats runs. Justin Henry's double play grounder capped a two-run rally in the eighth inning to provide the final margin.
Game two of the series is slated for a 1:05 pm first pitch on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Chris Hernandez (2-6, 3.48) will get the ball for manager Kevin Boles, while righty Chien-Ming Wang (6-4, 3.96) is expected to start for the Bats.
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.