PawSox Hold on to 5-4 Victory Over Hens
TOLEDO, OHIO -- The Pawtucket Red Sox improved upon the International League's best road record on Monday, concluding a 7-1 trip with a 5-4 win over the Toledo Mud Hens in front of 9,587 at Fifth Third Field.
Pawtucket climbed a season-high 18 games over .500 with a 47-29 record overall, while improving to 27-14 away from home. On their just completed swing into Ohio, the Sox swept a four-game series at Columbus and lost the opener in Toledo, before winning the next three.
The Sox captured their latest victory despite walking nine Mud Hens and, in large part, because they drew seven walks of their own. Bases on balls figured prominently in Pawtucket's early scoring and late insurance.
Against Toledo starter Ramon Garcia in the second inning, an infield hit, walk and hit batsman loaded the bases for catcher Dan Butler, who plated all three teammates with a double into the left-centerfield gap.
But wildness by Chris Hernandez, who entered in relief of rehabbing starter Clayton Mortensen, enabled the Hens to erase the 3-0 deficit. An error, balk and four walks by Hernandez helped Toledo score twice in the third inning alone.
The Hens tied the game in the fifth, following a two-out walk by another reliever, Terry Doyle, who then surrendered a run-scoring double by Mike Cervenak.
A half inning later, Xander Bogaerts singled off Garcia (L, 2-7), prompting a pitching change. Jess Todd entered for Toledo and eventually allowed a go-ahead single by Jeremy Hazelbaker to make it 4-3.
The PawSox added the eventual decisive run in the eighth inning, thanks to four walks by three different Mud Hens.
Ahead 5-3, Anthony Carter opened the ninth bidding for his 12th save in 13 opportunities. But three singles, including an RBI knock by Danny Dorn, closed the difference to 5-4. Carter (S, 12) induced a liner to center by Cervenak, stranding runners on the corners and preserving the decision for Doyle (W, 5-5).
It marked the PawSox's 12th one-run victory of 2013 and sealed the 20th one-run defeat for the Mud Hens.
The same teams shift their series to Pawtucket, where the Sox open a season-long nine-game homestand Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Brandon Workman (2-1, 1.89) is scheduled to deliver the fist pitch, matched up with Toledo's Shawn Hill (1-9, 5.61).
Pawtucket climbed a season-high 18 games over .500 with a 47-29 record overall, while improving to 27-14 away from home. On their just completed swing into Ohio, the Sox swept a four-game series at Columbus and lost the opener in Toledo, before winning the next three.
The Sox captured their latest victory despite walking nine Mud Hens and, in large part, because they drew seven walks of their own. Bases on balls figured prominently in Pawtucket's early scoring and late insurance.
Against Toledo starter Ramon Garcia in the second inning, an infield hit, walk and hit batsman loaded the bases for catcher Dan Butler, who plated all three teammates with a double into the left-centerfield gap.
But wildness by Chris Hernandez, who entered in relief of rehabbing starter Clayton Mortensen, enabled the Hens to erase the 3-0 deficit. An error, balk and four walks by Hernandez helped Toledo score twice in the third inning alone.
The Hens tied the game in the fifth, following a two-out walk by another reliever, Terry Doyle, who then surrendered a run-scoring double by Mike Cervenak.
A half inning later, Xander Bogaerts singled off Garcia (L, 2-7), prompting a pitching change. Jess Todd entered for Toledo and eventually allowed a go-ahead single by Jeremy Hazelbaker to make it 4-3.
The PawSox added the eventual decisive run in the eighth inning, thanks to four walks by three different Mud Hens.
Ahead 5-3, Anthony Carter opened the ninth bidding for his 12th save in 13 opportunities. But three singles, including an RBI knock by Danny Dorn, closed the difference to 5-4. Carter (S, 12) induced a liner to center by Cervenak, stranding runners on the corners and preserving the decision for Doyle (W, 5-5).
It marked the PawSox's 12th one-run victory of 2013 and sealed the 20th one-run defeat for the Mud Hens.
The same teams shift their series to Pawtucket, where the Sox open a season-long nine-game homestand Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Brandon Workman (2-1, 1.89) is scheduled to deliver the fist pitch, matched up with Toledo's Shawn Hill (1-9, 5.61).