Hernández Propels PawSox to 8-1 Victory, Series Win
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
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
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
Syracuse spot starter
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
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
In the seventh, a second error by Syracuse right fielder
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
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
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.