Phillips, Cuevas Power PawSox to 4-0 Victory

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - In his first outing since a pair of stints in the majors, Pawtucket Red Sox starter William Cuevas sparkled with seven shutout innings of two-hit work and powered the PawSox to a 4-0 win over the Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday night at McCoy Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 10,000.
Cuevas and reliever Williams Jerez combined on a three-hit shutout - Pawtucket's seventh combined three-hitter of the season - and ensured at least a split of the four-game series. The PawSox (43-47) plated four runs in the first inning and coasted by the Chiefs (38-53) ahead of tomorrow's finale.
Newcomer Brandon Phillips made his Pawtucket debut after being promoted earlier in the day from Short-Season Lowell. Phillips, who signed with the Red Sox on a minor-league deal in late June a day before his 37th birthday, batted third in the order, served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a walk.
"Oh man, this place is crazy. I love the atmosphere, man," Phillips said. "I'm happy to be here. I just got off the plane and just tried to have some good ABs."
Less than two hours after he arrived at the ballpark, Phillips turned around a 94 MPH fastball in the first inning and pulled a hard-hit single into left field. The three-time National League All-Star then worked a full count and walked in the third inning and hit two sharp balls to short in his final two trips (a groundout and a lineout with exit velocities of 94 and 100 MPH, respectively).
"This is like spring training to me right now," Phillips said laughingly. "So I'm trying to go up there and take as many pitches as possible, try to have some good ABs, but also trying to win. I'm just happy the Red Sox organization gave me the opportunity to come over here and go out there and still play the game that I love. I'm married to the game, and hopefully I can see what happens."
In his first outing since tossing two innings for the Red Sox against the Nationals on July 3, Cuevas (W, 6-5) fanned a half-dozen in his seven shutout stanzas, allowing just two hits and a walk. From there, left-hander Williams Jerez punched out three in two innings of efficient work, flashing a 97 MPH fastball and 90 MPH slider.
"That dude [William Cuevas], he was nasty today, man," Phillips said. "He was up there hitting his spots, striking everybody out. It was nice to see the game in general. For him to go out there and pitch the way he pitched, it was awesome."
Syracuse starter Jefry Rodriguez (L, 0-1) allowed four runs (all in the first inning) on five hits and three walks over five innings in his second career Triple-A start.
In the bottom of the first inning, Pawtucket second baseman Tony Renda and Phillips strung together back-to-back one-out singles. From there, cleanup man Adam Lind tagged an RBI single into right-center field to plate Renda and prop up Pawtucket to a 1-0 lead. Three batters later with the bases loaded, catcher Óscar Hernández blooped a bases-clearing, three-run single down the right-field line to crack open a 4-0 lead.
Pawtucket only surrendered four Syracuse baserunners all game - two infield singles, a walk, and a third single that had an exit velocity of just 76 MPH.
The PawSox conclude their four-game weekend series against Syracuse at McCoy Stadium on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. PawSox right-hander Josh A. Smith (2-2, 6.30) is scheduled to oppose Syracuse righty Brady Dragmire (1-3, 5.84). The game will be televised live on myRITV, and radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 1:05 p.m.
The four-game series at McCoy Stadium runs through Sunday. Good tickets 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.