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PawSox keep momentum going with 2-1 win over Chiefs

PAWTUCKET -- The Syracuse Chiefs witnessed the explosiveness of Jacoby Ellsbury first-hand yesterday.

With the Chiefs and Pawtucket Red Sox locked in a 1-1 tie and Ellsbury on first base via a walk, Junior Spivey dumped a weak flare into short right field. Ellsbury took off on the hit and easily cruised into third base. As right fielder Michael Vento bobbled the ball, Ellsbury quickly picked up speed again and sailed home without even sliding.

Ellsbury’s race from first to home proved to be the winning run in the PawSox’ 2-1 victory over Syracuse. The Sox have now won eight of their last nine games and six in a row over the Chiefs over the last week. Syracuse has lost 10 straight and face Pawtucket two more times this week.

While Ellsbury’s run in the eighth provided the winning margin, the key to the victory was pitching. Starter Devern Hansack dominated the Chiefs over seven impressive innings, limiting Syracuse to three hits and one unearned run. Hansack didn’t get the win but he’s thrown well for over two months and has just one loss in his last 13 starts (7-1, 5 no decisions).

Craig Breslow and Travis Hughes (6-6) combined to escape a little trouble in the eighth and Hughes survived an eventful ninth to pick up the win.

``When you win a few, there’s a momentum and an atmosphere that’s created,’’ said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. ``When things are going well, you can feel the players expect to win. In the ninth, there was the feeling that (Hughes) is going to get out of that one.’’

Hansack struck out a season-high 11 batters, the most by a Pawtucket pitcher in two years. The 29-year old righty was in complete control through his first six innings. The Chiefs scored a scratch run in the second inning when Chad Mottola singled to center and then raced to third when Dusty Brown’s throw on a steal attempt of second base bounced into center field. Mottola scored the game’s first run when Hector Luna grounded out to third.

Hansack wasn’t threatened much from then on. He threw 103 pitches over seven innings and registered strikeouts with his fastball in the low-90’s, a biting slider and a knee-freezing change-up.

``I had everything working today,’’ he said. ``I was just going out there trying to keep their score down and give us a chance.’’

Johnson was impressed by Hansack’s ability to throw all of his pitches for K’s under pressure.

``The thing I liked is the use and command of his secondary pitches,’’ Johnson said. ``His change was really good. He had some big swing-and-miss pitches.’’

The PawSox tied the game at 1-1 when Jed Lowrie lined a two-out home run to right. The Sox didn’t do much with Syracuse starter Justin James or reliever Matt Roney. But when Jordan DeJong entered in the eighth, they pounced. Ellsbury drew the one-out walk and then Spivey dumped his single into right. That sent the speedy outfielder on his race around the bases.

``I couldn’t see the ball and when RJ held me up, I slowed up and looked at the ball,’’ Ellsbury said. ``I saw the right fielder bobble it and I made the call (to go).’’

--KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 5:09 PM to PawSox | Permalink