PawSox Take Out Bisons in Ten 6-5

PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox got an RBI single from SS Gil Velazquez in the bottom of the tenth to defeat the Buffalo Bisons, 6-5 in a thrilling series finale this afternoon at McCoy.

Jeff Bailey led off the inning with a hard single to left. Dusty Brown followed up with a single of his own to put runners at first and second. After two attempts to bunt the runners into scoring position failed, Velazquez was forced to hit away. He made the most of his opportunity.

“I nearly put (the bunt) on a third time” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, “(Velazquez) turned a poor baseball fundamental situation into high fives and people jumping all over him.”

“I was trying to look for something out over the plate” said Velazquez, I got the head of the bat out and just got the base hit.”

The PawSox trailed 4-2 before rallying to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. Chris Carter led off with a single to left. Keith Ginter walked and Jeff Bailey singled to load the bases. After Carter was forced at the plate on a fielder’s choice by Brown, Velazquez drove in Ginter on a ground out to third. Jonathan Van Every then drilled a two run single up the middle to put the PawSox on top.

That lead was short lived as Bisons’ 3B Aaron Herr belted his second home run of the game on the first pitch thrown in the ninth by Lee Gronkiewicz.

PawSox starter Kyle Snyder had a shaky outing, pitching four innings, giving up four runs on two homers. The first came when Herr blasted a three-run shot to left in the second inning. The other came in the third, a solo effort off the bat of 2B Josh Barfield.

“He s a guy who has to hit spots", said Johnson of Snyder, “He missed spots on a couple of fastballs and they hit it out of the park.”

The PawSox bullpen once again helped keep the team in the ball game. Other than Gronkiewicz’ homer in the ninth, Pawtucket received 5 scoreless innings of relief from Dan Kolb, Craig Hansen, Abe Alvarez, and Lincoln Holdzkom. Holdzkom pitched the tenth to earn the win.

Jeremy Sowers was solid as the Bisons’ starter. He was lifted after going 4 2/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits, striking out six and walking one.

“We didn’t do a whole lot (against Sowers)” said Johnson, “It’s one of those things if you can keep the games close when it comes down to bullpen there’s going to be opportunities.”

The PawSox scored their first run in the bottom of the third. Van Every got things going with a double and advanced to third on a single by Jeff Natale. After George Kottaras flied out, Brandon Moss drove in Van Every with a sacrifice fly to left.

Keith Ginter had a good game at the plate for the Pawtucket. He extended his hitting streak to five games, going 3 for 4. He contributed the PawSox second run with a solo homer off Bisons’ reliever Scott Elarton in the sixth.

Bailey, Velazquez, and Van Every each had two hits for the PawSox. Both Herr and 1B Jordan Brown had two hits for the Bisons.

The PawSox will enjoy their first off-day of the season tomorrow. The Syracuse Chiefs come to McCoy for a three game series beginning Wednesday night (6:15pm). LHP Michael Tejera (0-2, 5.74 ERA) is scheduled to start for Pawtucket with LHP David Purcey (2-0, 1.89 ERA) going for the Chiefs.

BOX SCORE

Photo Courtesy of PawSox.com