Long Ball Lifts PawSox Past Columbus, 9-6
COLUMBUS, Ohio - With weather befitting a Patriots game in December more than a baseball game on Patriots' Day, the Pawtucket Red Sox belted three home runs and dispatched the Columbus Clippers, 9-6, amid snowfall Monday night at Huntington Park.The PawSox (4-5) scored multiple runs in four different innings and
COLUMBUS, Ohio - With weather befitting a Patriots game in December more than a baseball game on Patriots' Day, the Pawtucket Red Sox belted three home runs and dispatched the Columbus Clippers, 9-6, amid snowfall Monday night at Huntington Park.
The PawSox (4-5) scored multiple runs in four different innings and blasted out of an early 4-0 hole to claim the opener of the three-game series with the Clippers (4-6). Designated hitter
Olt, who had tallied just two hits but worked seven walks in his first four games after being promoted from Double-A Portland last week, went 4-for-4 with his big fly and three consecutive doubles in his next three trips to the plate. Olt's four extra-base hits were the most for a Pawtucket player in a game since Andy LaRoche also had four (three doubles and a home run) on June 30, 2012 against Lehigh Valley.
Travis, for his part, went 2-for-5 with two RBIs to post his third consecutive multi-hit game.
Pawtucket starter
Columbus starter
In a bottom of the first inning highlighted by some sideways snowfall, Columbus snatched a 4-0 lead on a two-run home run to right field from catching prospect
The PawSox sliced the deficit in half in the top of the second when Olt smacked his first home run since his promotion - a two-run shot to left field.
With the snow again blowing in the bottom of the third, a Pawtucket defensive misplay and a wild pitch helped load the bases for Columbus, who then worked a bases-loaded walk to stretch the lead to 5-2.
In the fourth, Olt ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to score left fielder
Miller led off the top of the fifth inning by teeing off on a solo home run to left field to tie the game, 5-5. Three batters later, Travis skied his first home run of the season to the batter's eye to hand Pawtucket its first lead, 6-5.
In the sixth, Miller skied a fly ball to left field where, with the wind blowing and a few stray snowflakes falling, Columbus left fielder
Travis poked an RBI single to right field in the seventh inning to plate right fielder
Columbus cut it to 9-6 in the seventh when it scored an unearned run on an RBI single to center from Mejia.
The three-game series with Columbus continues Tuesday at Huntington Park at 6:35 p.m. PawSox right-hander
Following that three-game series in Columbus, the PawSox return home for a seven-game homestand April 20-25 (Friday-Wednesday) against the Gwinnett Stripers and Toledo. 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.