PawSox Blast Past Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7-6

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Bolstered by a pair of long balls for a second consecutive night, the Pawtucket Red Sox overcame another early deficit to defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 7-6, on Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium.
Playing as Los Osos Polares de Pawtucket - as they do for virtually all Tuesday night home games to celebrate the surrounding Hispanic community, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball - the PawSox (19-22) scored three runs in the second and two in each of the third and fourth innings to grab their second win in as many nights to begin the four-game series with the RailRiders (19-24). Pawtucket's bullpen didn't allow a baserunner in the fifth through eighth innings.
Rehabbing Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg made his ninth rehab appearance and cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh inning on 12 pitches (nine strikes) with a pair of strikeouts. Thornburg painted a 93 MPH fastball on the low outside corner against Scranton leadoff man Tyler Wade to begin his frame, then punched out Yankees prospect Clint Frazier on three pitches - punctuated by a 77 MPH curveball for a swinging strikeout. Thornburg then got Scranton's Brandon Drury to ground out softly just past the mound. In total, Thornburg threw seven fastballs that all ranged from 92-94 MPH, four curveballs (all at 77 MPH) and one changeup.
"Looked good. Much better. Much better than the last couple outings we've seen," Pawtucket manager Kevin Boles said. "It looked like the ball was coming out really good, showed pretty good power to his curveball, also mixed in a change. Overall good job by him. That looked pretty good."
Pawtucket starter William Cuevas gave up five runs on five hits and two walks in four innings, though he escaped a hefty bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth to end his evening. Working for the first time in nearly a week-and-a-half, left-hander Josh Smith (W, 1-2) then took over and buzzed through two perfect innings on just 18 pitches, 16 of which were strikes. After Thornburg rolled through the seventh inning, southpaw Robby Scott handled the heart of Scranton's order in a 1-2-3 eighth. Righty Ty Buttrey gave up a run in the ninth, but Ryan Brasier (S, 4) slammed the door shut.
Rehabbing Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) was slated to bat third and play second base but was scratched just before the ballgame due to rain that persisted for much of the night and the resulting wet field conditions.
"He fought it. But it was good. We had a nice conversation," Boles said. "There's just no way you're gonna do that, not with how hard he's worked, not with what he means to the organization. You can't do it. It's poor judgment if you put him on the field like that at this time."
Pawtucket left fielder Aneury Tavárez (2-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI), center fielder Rusney Castillo (2-for-4, R) and designated hitter Ramón Flores (2-for-3, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI) combined for six of the team's seven hits.
RailRiders starter Chance Adams yielded five runs on three hits and three walks over three innings in which he did strike out six. Reliever Raynel Espinal (L, 1-1) gave up two runs on four hits in 1.2 innings.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre used the long ball to snatch an early lead for the second consecutive night, as first baseman Adam Lind - who has hit 200 career MLB homers - skied a two-run home run to left that narrowly eluded the glove of Tavarez, who nearly robbed the homer. Four batters later, second baseman Rey Navarro tucked a two-run homer inside the right-field foul pole to stretch the lead to 4-0.
The PawSox clawed back into the ballgame in the bottom of the second inning when Flores turned on a three-run homer into the right-field bullpen to trim the gap to 4-3.
The next inning, Tavarez drilled a two-run homer to right-center field - his second homer in as many nights - to vault Pawtucket in front, 5-4.
The RailRiders tied the game, 5-5, in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from No. 8 hitter and center fielder Shane Robinson.
In the home half of the fourth, Pawtucket first baseman Mike Olt doubled off the right-center wall and came around to score on an RBI single to center from Flores, nudging the PawSox back ahead, 6-5. Tavarez then doubled the lead to 7-5 when he dropped a gentle liner into shallow left field to score Flores.
Wade delivered an RBI single in the ninth off Buttrey, but Brasier sealed the victory.
The PawSox continue their four-game series with the RailRiders on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Chandler Shepherd (2-3, 4.21) is scheduled to start opposite RailRiders lefty Justus Sheffield (0-1, 2.16). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 5:45 p.m.
The nine-game, eight-day homestand runs through the following Monday (May 28). 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.