Pawtucket completes four-game sweep
PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Pawtucket (67-59) finished off a four-game sweep of Louisville (60-68) with a 7-6 victory. Pawtucket survived a strong rally from the Bats, who scored four runs in the eighth to make it a one-run game.
It was a rough start for Daniel Corcino (L, 6-13) and the Bats Friday night. Pawtucket jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of three hits, a walk, and a Louisville error. Jackie Bradley Jr. led off with a single and advanced to second with the next batter, Xander Bogaerts, drawing a walk. Mark Hamilton popped up to shallow left field, but shortstop Emmanuel Burriss was unable to make the play. Burriss threw the ball to third, but the throw got away from Neftali Soto and Bradley Jr. came home to score. Drew Sutton capped off the inning with a two-run single, scoring Bogaerts and Hamilton.
The PawSox added to their lead in the second inning with the help of another Bats error. With a runner on, Justin Henry tripled to bump the lead to four. The relay throw to third from Burriss deflected off Henry's helmet and bounced into foul territory, allowing Henry to come home as well.
Louisville began chipping away at the lead in the next inning. Burriss led off the third with a walk. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Burriss scored on Derrick Robinson's double to make it a 5-1 game.
The Bats inched closer in the fifth, closing the lead to three. Burriss and Billy Hamilton pulled off the double steal to get on second and third with one out. It was the 70th stolen base of the season for Hamilton. Soto grounded out, but scored Burriss from third to make it 5-2. Hamilton would be stranded at third after Felix Perez grounded out to end the inning.
Just as it seemed Corcino had settled down, Dan Butler took him out of the park for two runs to extend Pawtucket's lead back to five. Corcino went five innings while giving up seven runs, five earned, on five hits. Corcino walked five batters, but also struck out a season-high eight. Corcino's 13th loss matches a franchise high.
Pawtucket's starter, Allen Webster (W, 7-4), went five strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Louisville made things interesting in the eighth inning off of PawSox reliever Pedro Beato. Soto started the rally with a solo shot to left. Felix Perez continued the comeback with a double. Henry Rodriguez singled to extend his hitting streak to seven games and advance Perez to third. Perez then attempted to score on a wild pitch but was thrown out at the plate. After a Mike Hessman walk, Denis Phipps brought the Bats to within one with his seventh home run of the year, a three-run jack to left.
Pawtucket brought in Brayan Villarreal (S, 2) to stop the bleeding. The PawSox would hang on to win the game and extend Louisville's losing streak to nine games.
Louisville travels to Rochester to take on the Red Wings tomorrow at 7:05. Probable starters for that game are Louisville's RHP Yohan Pino (4-6, 2.95) and Rochester's LHP Scott Diamond (1-0, 2.40).