Middlebrooks Homers in 7-4 Win Over Knights
PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Returning from a back injury, the Pawtucket Red Sox's Will Middlebrooks proved a giant pain in the neck for the Charlotte Knights.
In his second game for Pawtucket on a major league injury rehabilitation assignment, Middlebrooks delivered five RBI, including a go-ahead homer, in Wednesday's 7-4 victory for the PawSox over the Knights in front of 5,001 at McCoy Stadium.
Middlebrooks was placed on the Boston Red Sox disabled list on May 24 due to a lower back strain, resulting from a collision with catcher David Ross. He walked his first plate appearance, then drove in runs his next two at-bats, with a single and groundout.
When Middlebrooks came up again in what was scheduled to be his final inning, Charlotte held a 4-3 lead. But Jonathan Diaz was at second base and Drew Sutton was on first, the result of a single, hit batsman, respectively. Both runners soon advanced on wild pitch by Knights' reliever Jahn Carlos Marinez.
After the count reached 3-and-1, Middlebrooks drove the next offering to right-center field, lifting Pawtucket to a lead that was bound to increase two batters later. That's when Jeremy Hazelbaker connected off Marinez (L, 2-4) with a drive into the PawSox bullpen in straight-away left field.
Middlebrooks' production at the plate led to a win in relief for Pedro Beato (W, 4-1), who turned the lead over to Alex Wilson and Anthony Carter. Carter (S, 8), formerly with Charlotte, fanned the final two batters of a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his eighth save.
Overall, Pawtucket had nine hits, including two apiece by Diaz, Hazelbaker, Middlebrooks and Sutton. In addition, Brock Holt singled to prolong his hitting streak to 14 games.
The PawSox (36-24), who own a four-game lead in the International League's North Division, are scheduled to host the Knights in the seventh contest of their current eight-day homestand at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday.
Allen Webster (5-0, 2.57) is slated to meet Simon Castro (1-6, 5.14) on the mound, while the Pawtucket lineup is expected to feature another rehabbing major leaguer, outfielder Shane Victorino.
In his second game for Pawtucket on a major league injury rehabilitation assignment, Middlebrooks delivered five RBI, including a go-ahead homer, in Wednesday's 7-4 victory for the PawSox over the Knights in front of 5,001 at McCoy Stadium.
Middlebrooks was placed on the Boston Red Sox disabled list on May 24 due to a lower back strain, resulting from a collision with catcher David Ross. He walked his first plate appearance, then drove in runs his next two at-bats, with a single and groundout.
When Middlebrooks came up again in what was scheduled to be his final inning, Charlotte held a 4-3 lead. But Jonathan Diaz was at second base and Drew Sutton was on first, the result of a single, hit batsman, respectively. Both runners soon advanced on wild pitch by Knights' reliever Jahn Carlos Marinez.
After the count reached 3-and-1, Middlebrooks drove the next offering to right-center field, lifting Pawtucket to a lead that was bound to increase two batters later. That's when Jeremy Hazelbaker connected off Marinez (L, 2-4) with a drive into the PawSox bullpen in straight-away left field.
Middlebrooks' production at the plate led to a win in relief for Pedro Beato (W, 4-1), who turned the lead over to Alex Wilson and Anthony Carter. Carter (S, 8), formerly with Charlotte, fanned the final two batters of a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his eighth save.
Overall, Pawtucket had nine hits, including two apiece by Diaz, Hazelbaker, Middlebrooks and Sutton. In addition, Brock Holt singled to prolong his hitting streak to 14 games.
The PawSox (36-24), who own a four-game lead in the International League's North Division, are scheduled to host the Knights in the seventh contest of their current eight-day homestand at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday.
Allen Webster (5-0, 2.57) is slated to meet Simon Castro (1-6, 5.14) on the mound, while the Pawtucket lineup is expected to feature another rehabbing major leaguer, outfielder Shane Victorino.