PawSox Sweep Doubleheader vs. Red Wings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Pawtucket Red Sox (18-27) started their Memorial Day Weekend on a high note, sweeping a Friday night doubleheader with the Rochester Red Wings (16-28) by identical 6-1 scores at Frontier Field.
The PawSox took Game 1 by a score of 6-1 thanks to impressive performances by both their starting pitcher and lineup.
Teddy Stankiewicz (W, 2-3) didn't allow his first base runner until two outs into the fourth inning, when he issued a walk to center-fielder Jake Cave. In total, he allowed just one run, three hits, and two walks in six innings of work, striking out four. The lone Red Wings run was scored by Worcester native John Andreoli, who led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to right center field.
The PawSox lineup combined for 13 hits and quickly ran up the pitch count of Red Wings starter Lewis Thorpe (L, 3-3), who departed after the fourth inning. Like Stankiewicz, Thorpe only gave up one run on a Rusney Castillo RBI single in the third inning that plated Oscar Hernández.
The PawSox padded their lead by scoring two runs in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth inning off of Red Wings reliever Preston Guilmet. Mike Miller (3-for-4, R, RBI) and Jantzen Witte (2-for-4, R, RBI) led the way at the top of the lineup, but it was a true team effort, as every single PawSox batter collected at least one hit.
Josh Taylor pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh, and the PawSox picked up right where they left off in Game 2.
In fact, the final score of Game 2 looked awfully familiar: PawSox 6, Red Wings 1.
PawSox catcher Juan Centeno was the hero of this one, collecting four RBI, three of which came on a bases-clearing double in the top of the third. Josh Ockimey and Marco Hernández each scored two runs, and Cole Sturgeon went 2-for-3 out of the No. 9 spot in the order.
With a fresh bullpen, the PawSox gave reliever Jeremy Bleich the start. Bleich threw three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out two. Adam Lau then worked into and out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, and Trevor Kelley (W, 4-2) did the same in the sixth and seventh.
The Red Wings also turned to a reliever to start the game, but had less success, as D.J. Baxendale (L, 1-2) was tagged for three quick runs in 2.1 innings. Zack Weiss then came on and gave up the bases-clearing double to Centeno, but Ryan Eades and Trevor Hildenberger combined to keep the PawSox off the scoreboard for the rest of the night.
The PawSox will look to win their third in a row when their five-game series with the Red Wings continues tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Erasmo Ramírez is scheduled to start. 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.
Following an eight-game, seven-day road trip, the PawSox return home May 28-June 4 (Tuesday-Sunday) for a nine-game homestand. On Friday May 31, the first 5,000 fans coming to McCoy Stadium for the 6:05 p.m. game against the Tim Tebow-led Syracuse Mets will receive a collector's edition PawSox Baseball Card Set honoring the World Champion Red Sox. On Saturday June 1 following a 6:15 p.m. game against the Mets, fans will be treated to Hits of the 2000s Post-Game Fireworks. Sunday June 2 will mark the next Sunday Funday at McCoy Stadium, where fans can play catch in the outfield grass before the game and run the bases afterward.
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.