Travis Homers, Scott Shines in Series Opener

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Sam Travis cracked his third homer of the season to power the Pawtucket Red Sox to an early lead, but the Lehigh Valley IronPigs responded to quell the PawSox, 6-4, in the series opener on a beautiful Friday night at McCoy Stadium.
Pawtucket's 3-0 first-inning lead turned into a 4-4 tie in the third inning, and the IronPigs (26-19) grabbed a pair of runs in the fifth to kick off the five-game, four-day series with the PawSox (19-25). The eventful weekend at McCoy will continue with a doubleheader Saturday, and the PawSox will induct their third Hall of Fame class - legendary and longtime team executive and current vice chairman Mike Tamburro and former outfielder and nine-time MLB All-Star Fred Lynn - between the games.
Travis (1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI), center fielder Rusney Castillo (2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI) and designated hitter Mike Olt (2-for-3, R, BB) spearheaded the offense from the top of the order.
Pawtucket reliever Robby Scott continued his excellent run in the first two months of the season with two perfect innings in which he struck out three and threw 19 of his 25 pitches for strikes, dotting his fastball all over the zone. The 28-year old southpaw has only allowed an earned run in two of his 17 appearances, and, in his last seven outings (seven innings), Scott has only given up one hit and walked two to go along with 12 strikeouts.  
Before Scott starred out of the bullpen, Pawtucket starter Marcus Walden allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. Walden faced the minimum through two innings on just 21 pitches but ran into trouble in the third. That brought left-hander Josh Smith (L, 1-3) into the ballgame, and the versatile southpaw worked 3.1 innings of two-run ball with four strikeouts. Right-hander Ryan Brasier handled a scoreless ninth in which he struck out two.
Lehigh Valley starter Cole Irvin (W, 5-1) yielded four runs but managed to finish six innings before handing off the game to a bullpen trio of Hoby Milner, Jake Thompson and Yacksel Ríos (S, 1), which only allowed one hit over the final three innings.
With two aboard and just one out in the bottom of the first inning, Travis drilled a three-run shot the opposite way to right field to lift Pawtucket to an early 3-0 advantage.
Lehigh Valley, however, countered with four runs in the top of the third, headlined by a two-run homer from catcher and No. 8 hitter Logan Moore.
Pawtucket evened the game, 4-4, in the bottom of the third inning when Castillo hooked an RBI double down the left-field line and past the dive of IronPigs third baseman Mitch Walding.
Lehigh Valley, though, vaulted back ahead in the fifth on a solo home run from first baseman and cleanup man Joey Meneses to lead off the inning. Four batters later, Moore supplied an RBI single to double the cushion to 6-4.
Lehigh Valley's relievers limited the PawSox to just two hits - both singles - over the final five innings.
Saturday's doubleheader, which consists of seven-inning games, begins at 4:05 p.m. at McCoy Stadium. Between games of the single-admission twin bill, the club will stage the aforementioned induction ceremony, and fireworks will follow the back half of the double-dip. Pawtucket right-hander Fernando Rodriguez Jr. (1-0, 3.86) is scheduled to start the opener, while left-hander Jalen Beeks (2-2, 2.28) is slated to follow in the nightcap. Both games will be televised live on myRITV. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 3:35 p.m.
The nine-game, eight-day homestand runs through 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.