PawSox: A Lovely Sunday Matinee

Ryan L. Fox

On a warm, sunny day the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Syracuse Mets squared off against each other in the weekend series finale for a Sunday matinee. Winners of 2 out of the 3 previous games in the series, the PawSox looked to win the 3rd game of the series while the Mets looked to try and even the series at 2-2.

Taking the mound for the home team was RHP Ryan Weber (0-0, 4.50), who was in search of his first victory of the season. The Mets countered with RHP Zach Lee (0-0, 16.88) who was also in the same position as Weber.

The pre-game ceremonies went off with a hit, the anthem was sang, and we were underway at McCoy.

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Like in previous games during the series, it was the PawSox who got on the ball rolling in the early goings of the game.
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In the bottom 1st, after a ground out to begin the inning the next 3 PawSox batters (RF Rusney Castillo, 3B Michael Chavis, and DH Sam Travis) were all able to reach base. With the bases loaded, 1B Josh Ockimey came to the plate. He was able to induce a walk, bringing in Castillo from 3rd for the first run of the game. Then LF Bryce Brentz came to the plate. Unfortunately, Brentz grounded out to Mets 3B David Thompson, who induced an inning-ending double play that allowed the Mets to escape with just allowing 1 run.

The Mets were able to answer back in the following top 2nd. After 2B Dilson Herrera popped out to left field to start the inning, RF Rymer Liriano was able to get on base with a double. Two batters later, LF Tim Tebow was at the plate. After getting a full count, Tebow hit the ball out past the out-stretched glove of PawSox 2B Tzu-Wei Lin and into the outfield that drove in Liriano from 2nd to make it 1-1. The Mets then loaded the bases up with the next two batters but Weber got Mets SS Adeiny Hechavarria to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.

In the following top 3rd, the Mets led things off with a double by DH Carlos Gomez. Two batters later, Herrera came to the plate. On a 1-1 count, Herrera hit a double into left field that scored Gomez to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. However Weber got the next two batters out to end the inning.

The PawSox trailed the Mets for the next couple of innings until the bottom 5th.

In that inning, after C Sandy Leon grounded out to begin the inning SS Mike Miller came to the plate. He softly hit the ball along the 3rd base line as Lee tried to field it. His throw to 1st went awry as Miller was able to make it to 2nd base on the throwing error. Two batters later, Castillo came to the plate. Castillo then hit a single into center field that allowed Miller to score from 2nd to tie the game at 2-2. Unfortunately, Castillo was thrown out trying to steal 2nd base during the following at-bat to end the inning.

In the following bottom 6th, Chavis the tie with a 467ft home run into left field off Mets RHP Tyler Bashlor to break the tie and give his team the 3-2 lead. After Travis got on board via hit-by-pitch, it was Ockimey’s turn to bat. Facing a 1-0 count, Ockimey took the next Bashlor pitch and drove it high over the left field wall to make the score 5-2.

The Mets, however, answered the home run bonanza by the PawSox in the following inning.

After CF Gregory Blanco lined out to 2nd, Hechavarria got on base with a double into left field. Next batter later, Gomez stepped up to the plate against PawSox RHP Dan Runzler. Facing a 2-1 count, Gomez took the next Runzler pitch he saw deep into left field for a 2-run home run to make it 5-4. Runzler then got the next two Mets batters out (strikeout and ground out) to end the inning.

The Mets tried to rally in the top of the 9th inning against PawSox LHP Bobby Poyner as 3B David Thompson got on with a leadoff walk. He was then lifted as the speedy OF Rajai Davis came in to pinch-run for him. Davis was able to get as far as 2nd base but due in part to a walk drawn by Gomez. With men on base, Poyner was able to get 1B Travis Taijeron to strikeout for the final out of the game, giving the PawSox the 5-4 victory.

For the game, Weber went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, allowing 2 runs (both earned), walking 1 Mets batter, and striking out 3 more on 79 pitches (51 for strikes). However he was awarded the no-decision. The winning pitcher for the PawSox was actually Dan Runzler, who came on in the 6th inning. He went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits including a home run, 2 runs (both earned), walked 2 Mets batters, and struck out 1 more on 45 pitches (21 for strikes). Poyner was awarded the save, his 2nd on the season.

The PawSox next game will be against the visiting Buffalo Bisons on April 15th as RHP Mike Shawaryn (1-0, 3.18) will take the mound for the home team. He will be opposed by Bisons RHP Jacob Waguespack (1-1, 5.23).

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