Pomeranz, PawSox Fall to Syracuse, 6-3

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz made his third appearance of his current rehab assignment, and newcomer Tony Renda homered, but the Pawtucket Red Sox fell to the Syracuse Chiefs, 6-3, on Friday night at McCoy Stadium.
Pawtucket (42-47) climbed out to a lead in the first inning and reclaimed an advantage on Renda's home run in the third inning, but Syracuse (38-52) scored five unanswered runs to even the four-game series at a game apiece. With a G.O.A.T. bobblehead giveaway, the PawSox welcomed a crowd of more than 7,000 to the ballpark on a comfortable Friday night.
Pomeranz worked 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits and a walk to go along with three strikeouts. The 29-year-old left-hander threw 78 pitches (46 strikes) and worked 88-91 MPH with his fastball. The 2016 National League All-Star began his evening with a 1-2-3 first inning on a trio of weak groundouts - his first perfect inning during this three-appearance rehab assignment - then ceded three singles in the second, spun a 1-2-3 third but allowed a two-run homer in the fourth.
"I felt good today. I felt probably the best I've felt this whole time, made pitches when I needed to," Pomeranz said. "I gave up a home run there, whatever, just trying to throw a strike [in a] 3-0 [count] and the guy swings. It's a different game pitching down here. But that's the best I've felt the whole time."
Renda, who joined Pawtucket on Thursday from Double-A Portland and has big-league experience with the Reds, went 2-for-4 with a double and two-run homer. Center fielder Kyle Wren, the son of Red Sox executive and former Braves general manager Frank Wren, tallied his first multi-hit game in the Red Sox organization with a 3-for-4 night that included a double.
Syracuse veteran starter Tommy Milone (W, 6-4) fanned seven without a walk in six innings of three-run ball, and five Chiefs relievers recorded the final nine outs to lock up the victory. Hard-throwing right-hander Austin Adams (S, 6) stamped the win and lowered his ERA to 1.95.
After a pair of doubles to begin the bottom of the first inning, Pawtucket struck first when designated hitter Adam Lind lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score leadoff man Aneury Tavárez.
In the second, Syracuse leveled the score, 1-1, on an RBI single from left fielder Yadiel Hernandez.
An inning later, the PawSox stormed back ahead 3-1 when Renda mashed a two-run homer to the left-field bullpen with an exit velocity of 100 MPH.
Syracuse tied the game, 3-3, in the fourth when Hernandez crushed a 411-foot homer to center that left the bat at 106 MPH.
The Chiefs snatched their first lead in the sixth inning when - with two outs and two strikes - Syracuse veteran designated hitter Irving Falu bounced a two-run single up the middle.
Syracuse added an insurance run and stretched its lead to 6-3 in the top of the ninth when leadoff man Andrew Stevenson aggressively sprinted to third on a foul popup and scored on an errant throw.
The PawSox continue their four-game weekend series against Syracuse at McCoy Stadium on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. PawSox right-hander William Cuevas (5-5, 3.65) is scheduled to oppose Syracuse righty Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 5.40). 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 PawSox Insider at 4:45 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.