PawSox Win Late Thriller, 5-3, Over Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buoyed by another strong start from Brian Johnson, the Pawtucket Red Sox scored a pair of go-ahead runs in the ninth and defeated the Buffalo Bisons, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field.
After dropping three games in extra innings in walk-off fashion over the previous five days, the PawSox (16-22) used an RBI double from left fielder Brian Bogusevic to level the series with the Bisons (21-17) and snap their nine-game losing skid. Pawtucket had lost six of the nine games by one or two runs.
Johnson, who has now notched four consecutive quality starts and hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his seven Triple-A starts, ceded two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. After the second inning, the left-hander didn't allow a hit until the seventh. The former Florida Gator set down 12 in a row between the third and seventh. His college teammate, reliever Austin Maddox (W, 1-0), buttoned up the victory despite loading the bases in the ninth.
In the second day of his rehab assignment, Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval (right knee sprain) completed his scheduled five innings at third base. The two-time National League All-Star went 1-for-3 with a hard-hit single up the middle, while handling a pop-up and a double-play ball defensively.
Red Sox INF/OF Brock Holt (vertigo), in the 13th game of his rehab assignment, served as the DH following last night's marathon and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Buffalo starting pitcher Jarrett Grube struck out seven over 6.1 stanzas of three-run ball on 114 pitches. Reliever John Stilson (L, 0-3) surrendered two runs in the ninth.
The Bisons started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single from leadoff man Jake Elmore.
The PawSox stormed ahead, 2-1, in the third when center fielder Rusney Castillo mashed a two-run shot to center - his third long ball in the last four days.
Pawtucket added a run to its lead in the fourth. First baseman Steve Selsky walked, moved to third on a well-executed hit-and-run by shortstop Ryan Court and scored on an RBI groundout from Bogusevic.
After Johnson recorded two quick outs to start the bottom of the seventh, Buffalo responded with a pair of two-out singles. Elmore then dropped an RBI single into right field, and PawSox right fielder Aneury Tavárez overthrew third base, allowing a second run to score to tie the game, 3-3.
But with a runner at first in the top of the ninth, Bogusevic roped an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Court and lifting the PawSox to a 4-3 lead. Bogusevic then moved to third and scored an insurance tally on a wild pitch, making it 5-3.
The PawSox conclude their seven-game road trip against Buffalo on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field. PawSox left-hander Henry Owens (3-2, 3.22) is scheduled to oppose Bisons righty Cesar Valdez (1-0, 3.00). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the PawSox Pre-Game Show at 12:35 p.m.
The PawSox return home May 23-29 (Tuesday-Monday). Good seats are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.