PawSox Rally in Eighth, Fall to Charlotte in 11 Innings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - After they rallied back late in the ballgame for the second night in a row, the Pawtucket Red Sox fell to the Charlotte Knights, 6-5, in walk-off fashion in 11 innings Tuesday night at BB&T Ballpark.
Trailing 5-3 through the middle innings and into the eighth, Pawtucket catcher Óscar Hernández ripped a key two-run single in the top of the eighth to tie the game, 5-5. After both teams volleyed back and forth in extra innings, the Knights (43-52) walked off in the bottom of the 11th on a two-out, wall-ball RBI single from leadoff man Jacob May. On Monday, Pawtucket stunned Charlotte with three runs in the top of the ninth inning to begin the four-game series.
Pawtucket third baseman Tony Renda ascended to the leadoff spot and went 4-for-5 with four singles, notching his first four-hit game since July 2016 with the Triple-A Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds). In six games with Pawtucket since his promotion from Double-A Portland, Renda is 13-for-27 with four extra-base hits. Shortstop Iván De Jesús Jr. (2-for-6, R), Hernandez (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and left fielder Sam Travis (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB) aided the offense. Over his last 10 Triple-A games surrounding his second promotion to the Red Sox this season, Travis is 13-for-34 (.382) with two homers and six walks (compared to just two strikeouts).
Pawtucket newcomer Brandon Phillips played his third game with the PawSox, batted third and played six innings at second base for the second consecutive night. The 37-year old went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the first inning.
For a second straight game, Pawtucket's bullpen impressed on a night when it was tasked with logging a large chunk of innings. Hard-throwing left-hander Williams Jerez bumped 98 MPH on the radar gun multiple times and fanned four in 2.2 hitless innings, retiring the final eight batters he faced. The Dominican-born former second-round pick has now punched out 12 in his last three appearances. Versatile right-hander Fernando Rodriguez Jr. struck out three in two shutout stanzas, and Trevor Kelley (L, 1-1) allowed only the automatic runner to score in the 11th. Starter Justin Haley ceded five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk in 4.1 innings.
Charlotte starter Jordan Guerrero worked six innings of three-run ball, and former first-round pick Carson Fulmer (W, 4-5) - who was selected one pick after Andrew Benintendi in 2015 - handled the final two frames.
For a second straight night, the PawSox climbed out to a first-inning lead. Phillips supplied a hard-hit RBI infield single up the middle, and, two batters later, Travis worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.
In the third, first baseman Mike Ohlman blooped an RBI single to right field to extend the gap to 3-0.
However, in the home half of the third, Charlotte plated three runs on a pair of RBI doubles and a fielder's choice.
The Knights built a 5-3 lead with runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the eighth, Hernández scorched the game-tying, two-run single.
Pawtucket stranded two runners aboard in each of the 10th and 11th innings and ran into an out to end the top of the 10th.
In the bottom of the 11th, Kelley retired the first two batters he faced and kept the automatic runner at second. After a walk placed runners at first and second, May lifted a ball to deep center to walk it off.
The PawSox continue their four-game series against Charlotte on Wednesday at 7:04 p.m. Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 7.24) is scheduled to make a rehab start opposite Charlotte right-hander Spencer Adams (1-3, 3.86). 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.