Castillo Carries PawSox In Series Finale

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -The Pawtucket Red Sox (8-11) snapped their five-game losing streak Thursday afternoon by topping the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (14-5) by a final of 5-2.
The PawSox got to Iron Pigs starter Tyler Viza in the very first inning. On Viza's second pitch of the game, Cole Sturgeon belted a solo home run to right-center field to put Pawtucket up 1-0.
In the second inning, Sam Travis added a solo shot of his own to make it 2-0 Pawtucket.
The home runs for Sturgeon and Travis were each their first of 2019.
Lehigh Valley responded in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Romine to make it 2-1.
Romine struck again in the fifth inning, tying the game at 2 with an infield single that chased PawSox starter Erasmo Ramírez from the game. In the series, Romine was 4-for-12 with 3 RBI.
Rusney Castillo broke the tie in the seventh inning with a bases-clearing double to put Pawtucket in front 5-2. Castillo drove in 7 runs during the three-game series.
In his return to Pawtucket, Ramirez went 4.2 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 3 walks while setting a new International League career-high with 7 punchouts.
Bobby Poyner (W, 1-0) picked up the victory after tossing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The PawSox begin a seven-game road trip tomorrow night at Frontier Field against the Rochester Red Wings at 6:35 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Josh Smith (1-1, 3.78 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Red Wings righty Chase De Jong (0-1, 11.12 ERA). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:05 p.m.
Pawtucket returns home for a three-game homestand with the Red Wings beginning Friday, May 3, and running through Sunday, May 5. Good tickets are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 9 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.