PawSox Take Opener from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 5-4

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Facing off against the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees, the Pawtucket Red Sox came from behind to top the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 5-4, on Monday night at McCoy Stadium in a game also broadcast live throughout the region on NESN.
Trailing 3-0 after a half-inning, the PawSox (18-22) chipped away with a pair of home runs and a late boost of offense to grab the opener of the four-game series with the RailRiders (19-23) and the first matchup of the nine-game homestand. Pawtucket, which had scored just one run in the three-game weekend sweep at the hands of Rochester (Minnesota Twins), snapped a four-game losing skid.
Red Sox right-hander Héctor Velázquez, who had posted a 2.10 ERA in the majors over 10 appearances before landing on the disabled list last Monday with a lower back strain, made his first rehab appearance and cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh inning on 13 pitches (nine strikes), highlighted by a strikeout to begin his evening. Fellow righty Austin Maddox (1+ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 1 K), who had made his first rehab appearance Friday night with a scoreless inning, was allotted two innings for his second outing. The 27-year old (W, 1-0) worked around a pair of one-out walks in the eighth inning but walked the first two he faced in the ninth before he was replaced by Ryan Brasier. From there, Brasier (S, 3) induced a monstrous 4-6-3 double play and induced a flyout to button up the victory.
Earlier in the night, Pawtucket left-hander Jalen Beeks tossed six innings, fanned six and allowed three earned runs (four total) on seven hits and no walks. Beeks, who began the night third in the International League in ERA at 1.93 and first in all of Minor League Baseball in K/9 IP (14.22), yielded three runs in the first inning on a pair of homers against a potent Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup that featured a pair of Yankees on rehab assignments. Beeks, however, gave up just an unearned run and four hits (two infield singles) over his next five innings.
Pawtucket center fielder Cole Sturgeon (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) and designated hitter Ramón Flores (2-for-3, R, BB) notched multi-hit nights, while first baseman Mike Olt (1-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB) and right fielder Aneury Tavárez (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI) drilled homers.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Erik Swanson, who led all minor leaguers with a 0.44 ERA at the time of his promotion earlier in the day from Double-A Trenton, struck out eight in 5.2 innings of three-run ball. Reliever Brady Lail (L, 4-2) ceded two runs in 1.2 innings.
The RailRiders started the scoring in the top of the first on a solo homer from left fielder Clint Frazier (that left the bat at 111 MPH) and a two-run jack from rehabbing Yankee Greg Bird (that traveled 421 feet).
The PawSox grabbed a pair in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 3-2. Olt led off the inning with an opposite-field solo homer - his sixth Triple-A long ball of the season - and Sturgeon plugged the right-center gap with an RBI double.
The RailRiders responded in the top of the third with an unearned run thanks to a Pawtucket error, upping the lead to 4-2.
Pawtucket inched back in the home half of the fourth inning on a second RBI two-bagger from Sturgeon, this one mashed the opposite way to the wall in left field.
Down 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Pawtucket tied the game when Tavarez yanked a solo homer to right field - his second blast of the season.
Then in the bottom of the eighth, Olt worked a leadoff walk and bolted first to third on a single to right field from Flores. With the infield back, catcher Dan Butler then grounded to third in a 5-4 fielder's choice that allowed Olt to score the go-ahead run (5-4).
The PawSox continue the four-game series with the RailRiders on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander William Cuevas (1-2, 4.06) is scheduled to start opposite RailRiders righty Chance Adams (1-2, 4.69). 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.