WBOB Original Reads

PawSox: Bulls Blank Sox in Series Finale

8/19/2018

Ryan L. Fox

In front of a crowd of 8,678, the Pawtucket Red Sox took to the diamond to play the series finale against the Durham Bulls on a Sunday afternoon. The PawSox took the first two games of the series while the Bulls took the Saturday night game.

Taking the mound for the PawSox was starter RHP Justin Haley (5-7, 3.90). The Durham Bulls decided to use a bullpen day for the Sunday game as they first went to RHP Austin Pruitt (2-0, 3.65) to open up the game for them.

For the early goings of the game, it seemed like a pitching duel between Haley and Pruitt. Both pitchers were able to stymie both offenses, with each team getting as far as getting a man on second base for the first 4 innings of the game.

It wasn’t until the top 5th inning that the game’s first run was scored. Facing a 1-0 count with 1 out in the inning, Bulls RF Jason Coats took a Haley pitch deep to left field for a solo home run to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Haley then found himself in a bit of a pickle in the top 6th inning. After getting the first two Bulls batters out, he proceeded to load up the bases. PawSox manager Kevin Boles went to the bullpen, bringing in RHP Mike Shawaryn to try to get out of the jam. Shawaryn was able to do so, getting Bulls 1B Nathaniel Lowe to strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.

The PawSox best scoring chance came in the bottom 8th inning. After getting on base with a single, 1B Josh Ockmiey was able to advance to third on a single by 2B Mike Miller (he was thrown out on the same play trying for second base). Then RF Aneury Tavarez was able to get on base via wild pitch on a strikeout, giving the PawSox with runners at the corners. However the next two PawSox batters popped out and flew out to left to end the threat.

They tried to rally again in the bottom of the 9th. After getting on base with a single, CF Rusney Castillo was able to advance all the way to third base. Unfortunately 3B Ivan De Jesus Jr. flew out to right field for the final out of the game as the Bulls won the game on the final score of 1-0.

Haley ended up getting tagged for the loss, bringing his season record to 5-8. He went 5.2 innings pitched, giving up 4 hits, 1 run (1 earned), walking one Bulls batter, striking out 8 more, and gave up a home run all on 98 pitches with 61 for strikes.

The PawSox will have the following Monday off before heading on the road to Rochester, New York to play a 4-game weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings.