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Van Every powers PawSox to win |
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Monday, 23 June 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – There’s just no quit in these Pawtucket Red Sox.
As deflating as the grand slam off the bat of Columbus’ Larry Broadway could have been, turning a one-run deficit into a three-cushion for the visitors, it was able to ignite what was a fantastic finish.
After not being able to get down a bunt in the 10th inning, Jonathan Van Every decided to send the 9,346 fans home with a bang. Van Every blasted a two-run home run, good for a 8-6 Pawtucket win.
Van Every’s round tripper (his 17th) provided redemption on a day that saw the center fielder strike out three times and bounce into a double play. His parents, Jean and Paula, came up from Mississippi and were in stands to witness their son cap off what was a game that saw plenty of contributions from the hometowners.
“The guys don’t quit,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson after Pawtucket took three of the four against Columbus and remain with the best record (47-31) in the International League.
Edgar Martinez was only guilty of one mistake in his 5 2/3 innings. The PawSox starter allowed a two-run home run to former Mets prospect Alex Escobar in the top of the sixth, the only runs Martinez permitted.
Johnson allowed Martinez (seven strikeouts, two walks) to remain in the game and get two more outs before taking him out. At that point he had thrown 82 pitches, which more than exceeded the expectations coming in.
“He hasn’t been in the starter’s role long. Last time out he threw 31 pitches which we wanted to do after he threw 66 and 88 (the prior two starts),” said Johnson.
Jeff Bailey led off the first with a solo home run and would later add to his team lead with No. 22 in the seventh. Total up the souvenirs Bailey, Van Every and Chris Carter (16 home runs) have amassed to date and it comes out to 55, which exceeds five teams in the IL.
Broadway was the only batter Michael Tejera faced as Johnson opted for the lefty-lefty matchup. Broadway burned the PawSox on a 3-2 pitch. Tejera was responsible for just one run (Michael Asencio was tagged for three).
Lincoln Holdzkom came in and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Hunter Jones, who picked up his third win, worked his way around two singles in the 10th.
Pawtucket had a chance to win it in the ninth, loading the bases with one down. On came Mike Bacsik, better known as the pitcher who served up home run No. 756 to Barry Bonds last August. Bacsik escaped by striking out George Kottaras and getting Dusty Brown to lift a shallow fly to right.
Bacsik wasn’t as fortunate an inning later as Pawtucket improved to 5-0 in extra inning affairs.
Lost in the shuffle of Van Every’s game-ending heroics was Keith Ginter’s performance (two doubles). His second double of the afternoon made it 6-6 in the seventh.
Ginter is batting just .244 on the season, but Johnson believes that’s more a product of line drives that end up in the webbing.
“With Ginter it’s all about getting the ball to fall. I have seen someone hit so many line drives to the left fielder that are caught,” said Johnson. “If you talk about the percentage of balls off the barrel, then he’s hitting .340.”
“As a hitter it gets frustrating, but all you can do is put the barrel on the ball. You can’t control it after that,” said Ginter. “[Johnson] puts me in the lineup for defense, but I’m going to give you a descent at-bat.”
Richmond comes to town tonight with Charlie Zink seeking to equal David Pauley for the team lead with nine wins.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 June 2008 )
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