Lind, PawSox Walk Off With 5-3 Win in 10 Innings

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - After both teams held serve with a manufactured run in the 10th inning, Adam Lind provided the decisive blow, blasting a two-run, walk-off home run to right field to lift the Pawtucket Red Sox past the Syracuse Chiefs, 5-3, in 10 frames Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.
The PawSox (44-47) dug out of a 2-0 hole and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. After stranding three runners over the eighth and ninth innings, Pawtucket played extras. Syracuse (38-54) used a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to climb ahead 3-2 in the top of the 10th under Minor League Baseball's new extra-innings rules. The PawSox dropped down a sacrifice bunt, as well, in the home half of the 10th, before second baseman Tony Renda served an RBI single into center to tie the game. That set the stage for Lind, who clubbed a 402-foot home run - that left the bat at 100 MPH - and received a pair of Gatorade baths as he crossed home plate. Pawtucket took three of four from Syracuse to begin the unofficial second half of the season.
Pawtucket starter Josh A. Smith tossed five more sharp innings of one-run work in which he fanned five but didn't issue a walk. Over his last half-dozen outings, Smith has only yielded two runs in 17.2 innings - good for a 1.02 ERA. From there, right-hander Fernando Rodriguez Jr. allowed a run over two innings, and sidearmer Trevor Kelley sparkled over the final three frames. Kelley (W, 1-0), who had retired all 10 Triple-A batters he'd faced this season entering Sunday, faced the minimum in his first two innings and only allowed the automatic baserunner to score in the top of the 10th en route to his first career Triple-A win.
Pawtucket leadoff man Aneury Tavárez (2-for-4, R), Renda (2-for-5, R, 2 RBI) and right fielder Cole Sturgeon (2-for-4, RBI) all provided key at-bats in the victory.
Syracuse spot starter John Simms allowed only an unearned run in 5.2 innings. Veteran reliever Carlos Torres (L, 2-2) gave up three runs (two earned) in the 10th.
Syracuse struck first in the top of the third inning on an RBI double from Adrían Sanchez that made it 1-0.
In the sixth, the Chiefs stretched their advantage to 2-0 on a solo homer from left fielder Yadiel Hernandez.
Pawtucket promptly cracked the run column, 2-1, in the home half of the sixth inning when Renda pounded an RBI single through the hole on the left side of the infield.
An inning later, Sturgeon stroked an RBI single the opposite way into left-field to plate shortstop Iván De Jesús Jr. and tie the game, 2-2.
In the top of the 10th, Syracuse leadoff man Matt Reynolds lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 3-2.
The PawSox tied it on Renda's single in the bottom half of the inning, and Lind mashed his no-doubter to win it.
The PawSox now hit the road for a seven-game road trip against the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) and Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves) that begins Monday at 7:04 p.m. against the Knights. PawSox right-hander Chandler Shepherd (4-7, 3.76) is scheduled to start for the first time in the second half of the season. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 6:35 p.m.
After the seven-game road trip, the PawSox will return home July 24-29 (Tuesday-Sunday) to square off with the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) and Knights. 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.