PawSox: Pomeranz, PawSox Falter Under Friday Night Lights

Ryan L. Fox

After taking a few days off for the MiLB All-Star Break, baseball had resumed for the second half of the season. The Pawtucket Red Sox returned to action as they faced a 4-game weekend series against the visiting Syracuse Chiefs. The PawSox got the first victory of the series with a 7-3 victory on Thursday night.
 
The two teams then faced off on Friday night in front of a crowd of 7,416. Taking the mound for the PawSox was LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 7.20) making his 3rd start in his current rehab stint with the team as the Chiefs countered with LHP Tommy Milone (5-4, 4.47).

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​After Pomeranz was able to shut the Chiefs down in the top 1st inning, the PawSox led things off in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff double by LF Aneury Tavarez. Three batters later, 1B Adam Lind hit a fly ball into right field. It was deep enough for Tavarez to score to give his team the early 1-0 lead.
 
But the top 2nd inning though, Chiefs lead things off with a single by 2B Matt Reynolds. Two batters later, Reynolds came around to score on an RBI single by teammate LF Yadiel Hernandez to tie things up at 1-1. However Pomeranz was able to get 2 of the next 3 batters he faced to go down via strikeout.
 
In the bottom 3rd inning, the PawSox were able to jump out to a 3-1 lead thanks in part to a 2-run home run to left field by 2B Tony Renda. However in the top 4th inning, the Chiefs were able to tie things yet again for the second time of the game. It was Hernandez doing the damage again as he launched a 2-run shot off of Pomeranz to center field to make it 3-3.
 
Three Innings later, the Chiefs got the first two batters on base. Then the next two batters went down via strikeout. Then on a full count, DH Irving Falu hit a blooper into center field off of PawSox LHP Josh D. Smith that scored two runs to make it 5-3.

The PawSox had a chance to tie things up in the bottom 7th inning. Both CF Kyle Wren and SS Mike Miller each got on base via single and then got into scoring position after stealing a base. However the next two PawSox batter went down via the strikeout as the scoring threat was quelled.
 
In the top 9th inning, the Chiefs added one more extra run as CF Adam Stevenson scored on a throwing error by Lind to make it 6-3. The PawSox tried to answer back in the following bottom frame as Wren got on base with a two out single. However Miller ended up striking out as the Chiefs walked away with the 6-3 victory.

Bonus Audio:

During the 5th inning, LHP Drew Pomeranz spoke to the media about his rehab start versus the Syracuse Chiefs. Click below to listen to what he had to say.

Click Play to Listen 

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