WBOB Original Reads

PawSox: Chiefs Chug Past PawSox

6/23/2018

Ryan L. Fox

After spending the past few days on winning track, the Pawtucket Red Sox were looking to continue going into the weekend against the visiting Syracuse Chiefs. Already the PawSox took the first game of the series between the two teams on Friday night, 5-4, and were ready to go for the second win of the series.

Taking the mound for the PawSox was RHP Chandler Shepherd (4-4, 3.36) while the Chiefs countered with LHP Tommy Milone (3-4, 4.99) for the Saturday night match up.

The Chiefs struck early and struck hard in the top of the 1st. After Shepherd surrendered a leadoff walk to Chiefs CF Andrew Stevenson, SS Adrian Sanchez got the ball rolling with a two-run homerun to left to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors. A couple batters later, 2B Matt Reynolds got on base with a double with 2 outs left in the inning. Then 1B Marmolejos came to bat and hit what would be a routine ground out to first. However 1B Mike Ohlman couldn’t handle the ball as it bounced off his into foul territory. Reynolds ended up scoring from second to make it 3-0 in favor of the Chiefs.

The following inning, more PawSox errors led to Chiefs runs being scored. With 2 outs in the inning and 2 men on base, Chiefs 3B Jacob Wilson knocked a ball to 3B Mike Olt. However Olt ended up bobbling the baseball which allowed Chiefs LF Yadiel Hernandez to score to make it 4-0.

Olt then later redeemed himself. In the bottom 2nd with 2 outs, Olt knocked a solo shot to left to help the PawSox cut into the lead 4-1. Then in the following bottom 3rd inning, 2B Ivan De Jesus Jr. hit his own solo home run to make it 4-2.

Then in the bottom 4th inning, the PawSox had a grand opportunity to not only tie the game but take the lead. After DH Rusney Castillo flew out to center field, the next 3 PawSox batters got on base. Two batters later, C Oscar Hernandez drew an RBI walk to bring in Ohlman from third to make 4-3. However SS Mike Miller flew out to center to end the inning.

In the top 5th inning, tensions between the two teams flared up. After Hernandez hit a solo home run to give his team the 5-3, he ended up flipping his bat before trotting around the bases. Rodriguez did not take too kindly to Hernandez’s actions as the two then got into a heated confrontation. Both teams’ bullpens and dugouts got out as there was a confrontation along the first base line. However cooler heads prevailed as both teams dispersed and went back to their respective dugout and bullpen.

Play then resumed as the umpires issued warnings to both teams. Rodriguez, however, was ejected from the game as RHP Kyle Martin had to come in and finish the inning.

Martin kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard for 2.2 innings pitched, allowing his team to hang around. However the PawSox had chances to tie the game or take the lead but ended up falling short. This included a 8th inning that saw the bases loaded with 1 out but Olt struck out and then RF Ramon Flores flew out to right to end the threat.

The PawSox had on last gasp in the bottom of the 9th as De Jesus Jr. got on board via walk and then advanced to second base on a defensive indifference. But CF Aneury Tavarez struck out as the Chiefs held on to win the game 5-3.

After the game, PawSox Manager Kevin Boles sat down with the media for his post game Q & A.