STAFF REPORTS
For five innings on Sunday, the only cards in the deck for Pawtucket were strikeouts.
Deck McGuire (2-1) fanned nine PawSox batters and Danny Jansen homered as the Bisons blanked their IL rivals, 2-0, at Coca-Cola Field.
McGuire was fantastic throughout his five innings of work. He allowed just five base runners, none of which got as far as third base. He threw 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes in becoming the Bisons first multi-game winner of the season.
McGuire blew a fastball by Sam Travis in the first inning before getting Ivan De Jesus Jr.reaching for an off-speed offering out of the zone. Jordan Betts and Dan Butler were both fooled with a runner on second base in the second, before McGuire got Mike Miller, Rusney Castilloand Travis again in the third to strike out the side.
McGuire worked perfect 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth innings before Castillo reached on an infield single to lead off the sixth. After the righty walked Ramon Flores, manager Bobby Meacham went to the pen. Luis Castillo got a doubleplay out of De Jesus Jr. to end the rally, keeping McGuire’s line clean.
McGuire’s nine strikeouts were just one shy of his Bisons’ record. The righty struck out 10 in a victory June 5, 2014 against Toledo in his previous stint in the Blue Jays system.
Santos was just as impressive in relief. He faced nine total batters, allowing just a walk in three scoreless innings of relief. Al Alburquerque got another doubeplay, this one of the bat of Aneury Tavarez, in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season.
The only offense the Bisons would need on Sunday came in the second inning in the form of a solo home run from Danny Jansen. Insurance came in the fifth with a lead off double from Gift Ngoepe, a single by Jason Leblebijian and a sacrifice fly from Dalton Pompey.
The Bisons will now travel to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a three-game series with the RailRiders starting Monday afternoon. The Herd returns home for a seven-game homestand starting Thursday against Syracuse.
BISONS NOTES:
At two hours and 18 minutes, Sunday contest was eight minutes faster than any other Bisons game this season…Tim Lopes went 0-4 at the plate to see the end of his 11-game hit streak to begin his Triple-A career. He is still hitting .409 on the year…Before the game, the Blue Jays recalled RHP Carlos Ramirez and optioned INF Devon Travis to the Herd. The Bisons also activated OF Ian Parmley as SS Danny Espinosa was released from his contract by Toronto.
At two hours and 18 minutes, Sunday contest was eight minutes faster than any other Bisons game this season…Tim Lopes went 0-4 at the plate to see the end of his 11-game hit streak to begin his Triple-A career. He is still hitting .409 on the year…Before the game, the Blue Jays recalled RHP Carlos Ramirez and optioned INF Devon Travis to the Herd. The Bisons also activated OF Ian Parmley as SS Danny Espinosa was released from his contract by Toronto.
