Double Walk-Off Bonanza

By Scoop Fox

Bryce Brentz, the hero of Game 2

As we all know, getting two walk-off wins in back-to-back games is an exciting event. Now try to imagine getting two walk-off wins in back-to-back games in a double-header. On June 14th, that's exactly what happened at McCoy Stadium.

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Due to the past rainstorm on Thursday, the Pawtucket Red Sox squared off against the Buffalo Bison in a double-header match-up on Friday night. Even before the match up, there was a buzz around McCoy about the debut of the Boston Red Sox #1 overall prospect: SS Xander Bogaerts at the Triple-A level for the first time in his career. 

Game 1's first pitch was at 5:35 p.m. and it proved to be a 1-0 pitcher's duel victory for the PawSox in 7 innings. Allen Webster took the mound against for Pawtucket against Buffalo's Ricky Romero. Webster went 6.0 innings in a No-Decision, just giving up 1 hit in that frame and striking out 6 Bison players and walking only 1. Reliever Chris Martin picked up the W, going 1 inning and just striking out 1 while allowing no runs. 

On the diamond, Xander Bogaerts helped his team win the game, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a crucial single in the bottom of the 7th. He then stole second base before rounding to score the only run of the gave on an RBI single by OF Alex Hassan, who was making his season debut as well after missing the early parts due to injuries.

The second game proved to be a rollar coaster ride. The first to draw blood was Bogaerts in the bottom of the 4th inning with a 2-run blast, his first HR in Pawtucket. However the Bison were able to tack on 7 runs in the top of the 6th, including by a 2 RBI single former PawSox 1B/DH Mauro Gomez. However the PawSox held on and were able to tie it in the bottom of the 7th with 5 runs including a 3-run shot by RF Bryce Brentz, number 13 on the year. Then all it took was a small blooper by LF Jeremy Hazelbaker to score DH Mitch Maier in the bottom of the 9th and that was all she wrote. 

Starter Terry Doyle went 5 innings, giving up 3 hits and 4 runs (all earned) while striking out 4 and walking 2 for the no decision. Reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith came on in the top of the 9th to get his 4th victory of the season, going 1 inning and giving up no hits or runs and striking out 2. 

The weekend series concludes with a 6:05 pm showdown on Saturday and then a Father's Day matinee at 1:05 pm. Next time these two teams meet will be on August 3-6 in Buffalo, New York. They will meet again in McCoy from August 17-20 for the final match up of the season. This is Scoop Fox signing off. 


Below is a small interview between Scoop and PawSox skipper Gary DiSarcina following Game 2.