Jul 31, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Brock Holt (26) makes a throw to first base during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS) had the winning formula in their 2-1 victory over the Durham Bulls (TB) in Game 1 of the Governors’ Cup Finals. The PawSox started with great pitching, added in some incredible defense and finished with timely hitting (okay, and maybe a little luck).
Pawtucket second baseman Brock Holt made three stellar defensive plays and drove in both runs. With Durham up 1-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Holt hit a sharp grounder that Bulls second baseman Mike Fontenot could only deflect on a diving attempt, allowing Justin Henry and Heiker Meneses to score. Had the ball been inches to the right, or if it hadn’t short-hopped Fontenot, we could be looking back at a 1-0 Bulls win this morning. Here’s the hit:
The contest started with a great pitcher’s duel between Jake Odorizzi and Anthony Ranaudo. Odorizzi pitched seven shutout innings, surrendering just four hits and a walk to the PawSox. He finished strong, striking out the last four batters he faced and hitting 94 mph on his final pitch.
Ranaudo had to work his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but gave up just one run over six innings. He struck out six batters and gave up four hits and a walk. The Red Sox bullpen pitched three scoreless innings, but were aided by Holt’s three gems and a pair of outstanding plays in the outfield.
In the seventh inning with two out and runners at the corners, Henry made a game-saving diving catch for Pawtucket.
The Bulls were threatening again in the eighth, putting runners on second and third. Jeremy Hazelbaker made a great sliding catch in foul territory to end the inning.
> Austin Hedges drove in the game’s only run on a two-out single as the San Antonio Missions (SD) beat the Arkansas (LAA). Brandon Hynick had eight strikeouts for the Travelers in a complete game loss.
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> Sean Jamieson hit a three-run homer as the Visalia Rawhide (ARI) beat San Jose (SF) 6-4. He also doubled.
> Sean Coyle hit a pair of doubles and drove in four runs to lift the Salem Red Sox (BOS) to a 6-4 win over Potomac (WAS). The win gave Salem a three-game sweep of the Mills Cup Finals, giving the Red Sox their first Carolina League championship in 12 years.