Cuevas, Workman Combine on Three-Hit Shutout

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Pawtucket Red Sox right-handers William Cuevas and Brandon Workman combined on one of the team's best pitching performances of the season, as the PawSox three-hit the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.
For the third time this season, PawSox pitchers combined on a nine-inning, three-hit performance. Despite recording just two hits, Pawtucket (20-27) used a first-inning run to down the IronPigs (28-20) and snap a five-game losing skid. The PawSox, which led the International League in shutout wins in 2017, nabbed their fourth such victory of 2018.
Cuevas (W, 2-2) cruised in his best start of the season, spinning seven shutout innings of two-hit work, yielding just two weak infield singles. The 27-year old right-hander from Venezuela struck out six, only walked two and retired 14 of the final 15 he faced - including the last seven. Cuevas' seven-inning gem matched the longest start by a PawSox pitcher this season, joining Monday's starter, Chandler Shepherd, who worked seven scoreless stanzas earlier this month against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Workman (S, 1) followed Cuevas with a 1-2-3 eighth inning and worked around merely a one-out single in the ninth to secure Pawtucket's first win in the five-game series ahead of tomorrow's finale.
Lehigh Valley starter Enyel De Los Santos (L, 5-2), who entered Sunday's matinee with a Triple-A-best 1.39 ERA, allowed one run on just one hit over six innings, soaring his ERA to 1.40. De Los Santos struck out seven but did walk five. In two starts this month against the PawSox, the 22-year old from the Dominican Republic has ceded just two hits in 13 innings. In both outings, De Los Santos only allowed a first-inning single.
PawSox center fielder Tzu-Wei Lin (2-for-4, R) supplied both of Pawtucket's hits, stroking opposite-field knocks in both the first and eighth innings. Pawtucket's offense did coax seven walks, as left fielder Aneury Tavárez, third baseman Mike Olt and second baseman Iván De Jesús Jr. all worked two free passes each.  
Pawtucket loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning against De Los Santos. With one out, first baseman Sam Travis delivered a sacrifice fly to left to plate Lin, who had led off the frame with a single to left.
Lehigh Valley managed just two infield singles and two walks through the first eight innings before generating a one-out single up the middle in the ninth.
The five-game series with the IronPigs concludes Monday at 1:35 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Chandler Shepherd (2-4, 4.76) is scheduled to oppose IronPigs righty Tom Eshelman (1-3, 5.73). 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.
Monday's matinee marks the end of the nine-game homestand. 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.