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Hernández Propels PawSox to 8-1 Victory, Series Win

Pawtucket secures fifth win of seven-game homestand
June 24, 2018

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Two more Pawtucket Red Sox home runs backed a strong start from Jalen Beeks, as the PawSox blasted the Syracuse Chiefs, 8-1, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.The PawSox (37-37) carried a 2-0 lead into the middle innings and then pulled away with three runs

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Two more Pawtucket Red Sox home runs backed a strong start from Jalen Beeks, as the PawSox blasted the Syracuse Chiefs, 8-1, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.
The PawSox (37-37) carried a 2-0 lead into the middle innings and then pulled away with three runs in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth to claim the rubber meeting of the three-game series with Syracuse (30-43). Pawtucket, which had its four-game losing streak snapped Saturday night, has won 10 of its last 15 games and took five of its seven games during the homestand.
Pawtucket's 24-year old catcher Óscar Hernández impressed all over the diamond, as the former Diamondbacks backstop went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a solo homer and a walk at the plate and also nabbed a pair of would-be base-stealers. PawSox first baseman Adam Lind, meanwhile, clubbed his third home run since joining the Red Sox organization and went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Designated hitter Sam Travis cracked a pair of singles to extend his hitting streak to five games - during which he's 8-for-20.
That trio supported Beeks (W, 5-4), who fired seven shutout innings and only ceded three hits. The 24-year old southpaw added seven more strikeouts to his International League-leading total and had only faced one above the minimum through five frames. Rehabbing reliever Tyler Thornburg allowed a leadoff solo homer in the eighth inning and then generated three consecutive flyball outs. All 13 of Thornburg's fastballs were 93-94 MPH. Southpaw Bobby Poyner buzzed through a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off the Chiefs and stamp the victory.
Syracuse spot starter John Simms (L, 2-4) gave up five runs (four earned) in 5.2 innings on seven hits and a pair of walks.  
The PawSox struck first in the bottom of the third inning when Hernández pulled his leadoff homer just inside the left-field foul pole for his first long ball of the season.
Then in the fourth, PawSox center fielder Rusney Castillo walked and moved to third on a single from Travis and a Syracuse error. That allowed Castillo to then score and make it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Mike Olt.
Two innings later, Lind drilled a two-run homer to right-center - a 411-foot blast that stretched the lead to 4-0. Four batters later, Hernández laced an RBI double off the left-field wall to plate shortstop Mike Miller and make it 5-0.
In the seventh, a second error by Syracuse right fielder Moisés Sierra added a sixth Pawtucket run. Then Lind poked an RBI single into left field to widen the gap to 7-0.
Sierra greeted Thornburg with a 415-foot solo homer to left field in the top of the eighth.
In the home half of the inning, Pawtucket second baseman Deiner Lopez yanked an RBI double into the right-field corner off Syracuse shortstop-turned-reliever Bengie González.
Following the seven-game homestand, the PawSox now hit the road for a seven-game road trip that begins against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket left-hander Josh D. Smith (4-3, 2.51) is scheduled to oppose Bisons righty Nick Tepesch (0-2, 3.95). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:35 p.m.
The PawSox then return to McCoy Stadium on July 2-3 (Monday-Tuesday) for the start of a holiday home-and-home series against the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins). 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.