Early Offense Guides Pawtucket to Series-Opening Win

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - The Pawtucket Red Sox (53-69) snapped their four-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens (55-68) in front of the largest Friday night crowd of the season at McCoy Stadium.
After an early first inning Mud Hens threat was put to rest when Toledo shortstop Willi Castro was thrown out by Rusney Castillo attempting to stretch a single into a double, the PawSox bats took advantage quickly in the bottom half of the inning.
Tzu-Wei Lin led off the inning with a double down the first-base line. The next batter, C.J. Chatham, bounced a single through the left side. On the next pitch, Jantzen Witte lifted a three-run home run on to the berm in left field to put Pawtucket up 3-0.
The PawSox plated a pair in the third as well. Chatham led off the inning with his second hit of the game, which was a 398-foot shot to deep left-center field. A Witte single and a Bobby Dalbec double later gave Pawtucket a 5-0 lead.
The PawSox went on to score again in the fourth inning on Chatham's third hit in as many at-bats, as he doubled home Juan Centeno from first base to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Mud Hens finally got to Hart in the sixth inning. Pete Kozma took a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall for his fifth homer and 44th and 45th RBIs on the season, cutting the deficit to four.
Bobby Poyner tossed a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out a batter.
Toledo scored twice off Hector Velázquez in the eighth inning. Frank Schwindel hit his fifth home run with the Mud Hens to lead off the inning. Kade Scivique brought home a run after he grounded into a double play, cutting the Toledo deficit to 6-4.
In the bottom of eighth, Pawtucket got some insurance when Bobby Dalbec blasted a 410-foot home run that sailed over the left-field fence to make it 7-4.
Trevor Kelley picked up his league-leading 11^th save of the season, closing out the victory with a one-two-three ninth inning.
The PawSox and Mud Hens play the middle game of this three-game set tomorrow night at 6:15 p.m. Right-hander Ryan Weber (1-2, 4.33 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for Pawtucket.
The game will be televised live on myRITV and Charter TV3. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 5:45 p.m.
This homestand runs through Sunday, August 18. Tomorrow, fans can enjoy post-game fireworks set to country music. The first 5,000 fans in attendance on Sunday will receive a PawSox Baseball Card Set. Sunday will also be another Family FunDay, during which fans can play catch on the field before the game and run the bases after the game.
Good tickets are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.