Early Onslaught Lifts PawSox Past Bulls

DURHAM, NC - The Pawtucket Red Sox scored seven runs over the game's first three innings en route to a 13-4 victory over the Durham Bulls Friday night at the DBAP in the second game of a four-game series.

Pawtucket (40-53) got in front early, as just two batters into the game Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run home run to centerfield. In the second inning the visitors plated two more when Luis Martinez singled to centerfield to score a pair and make it a four-run game. The early onslaught continued in the next frame, when Marco Hernandez cranked a three-run homer over the rightfield wall as Pawtucket led 7-0 through three.

Durham (48-44) came back with a pair of runs in the fourth, as Ryan Brett was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and two batters later JP Arencibia crushed a two-run dinger over the Blue Monster to cut the deficit to five.

After a scoreless fifth, the PawSox struck again in the sixth inning with four runs, highlighted by another two-run homer by Bradley Jr. The home side did get two runs back immediately though, as Arencibia launched a solo homer over the Blue Monster to lead off the bottom the sixth, and Richie Shaffer doubled and later scored on a Corey Brown single to make it an 11-4 contest.

Pawtucket tacked on a single run in the seventh and another run in the ninth to close the scoring at 13-4.

Righty Joe Kelly (1-1) earned the victory by tossing five innings of two-run ball, walking one and striking out seven. Right-hander Bradin Hagens (1-1) suffered the loss for Durham, surrendering seven runs on six hits over five innings while striking out five.

Arencibia led Durham's 10-hit attack with a 2-for-5 night, driving in three. Shaffer chipped in two hits, while Hak-Ju Lee finished 2-for-3 with a walk.

The third game of the four-game set takes place Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Durham sends RHP Matt Andriese (1-0, 2.32) to the mound opposite LHP Henry Owens (2-7, 3.36) for Pawtucket.