PawSox Hit Three Homers in 5-4 Loss to Columbus

PAWTUCKET, R.I.  - After falling behind 5-0, the Pawtucket Red Sox clobbered three home runs and inched their way back before falling to the Columbus Clippers, 5-4, on Saturday night at McCoy Stadium in front of a massive sell-out crowd of 11,515.
Columbus (62-58) constructed a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning, and the PawSox (60-59) couldn't complete a comeback to extend their five-game winning streak.
In his second appearance with Pawtucket, rehabbing Red Sox reliever Carson Smith cruised through the fifth inning on 13 pitches (eight strikes), facing three and retiring three. He struck out the first man he faced on a sharp slider, then allowed a soft single down the left-field line. However, Columbus catcher Erik Kratz tried to stretch his base knock into a double, and PawSox left fielder Ryan Court threw out Kratz at second. Smith then finished off his economical inning with another punchout on a breaking ball. Smith's fastball ranged between 91 and 92 MPH.
Pawtucket shortstop Deven Marrero (2-for-4, HR) lifted a solo homer to deep left-center field - his eighth extra-base hit (of his nine hits) since he was optioned from Boston. Right fielder Brian Bogusevic (2-for-4, HR) continued his sizzling stretch, as did third baseman Matt Dominguez (2-for-4, 2B).
Columbus started the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single from right fielder Tyler Naquin and an RBI groundout from shortstop Eric Stamets, which built a 2-0 lead for the Clippers.
Clippers center fielder Michael Martinez laced a sacrifice fly into right field in the second inning, stretching the margin to 3-0.
In the fourth, Martinez delivered a two-run double to extend the gap to 5-0.
Pawtucket, however, responded in the bottom of the fourth. After second baseman Heiker Meneses led off with a single, catcher Dan Butler smashed a two-run homer to left field to cut the deficit to 5-2. Moments later, Marrero drilled a solo homer to make it 5-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bogusevic greeted Columbus reliever Diego Moreno by clubbing a solo homer on a line to right field to get Pawtucket within one, 5-4. Later in the inning, Dominguez doubled, but pinch-runner Tzu-Wei Lin was stranded at second as the would-be tying run.
The PawSox conclude their four-game series with the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at McCoy Stadium. PawSox left-hander Jalen Beeks (5-4, 3.18) is scheduled to oppose Clippers righty Jarrett Grube (5-6, 4.71). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the PawSox Pre-Game Show at 1:05 p.m.
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.