RailRiders 4, PawSox 2: Pinch-hit HR sinks Pawtucket

MOOSIC, Pa. — A pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre spoiled a strong start by Pawtucket's Kyle Hart, as the RailRiders beat the PawSox, 4-2, Wednesday night at PNC Field.

The PawSox (54-73) and division-leading RailRiders (68-60) each scored two runs in the second inning, and the game remained tied into the bottom of the eighth. With one on and one out, RailRiders pinch hitter Breyvic Valera pulled a two-run homer over the right-field wall to eventually win the third game of the four-game series.

Hart left in the eighth inning in a 2-2 game after tossing 7 1/3 sharp innings, striking out five. The 26-year-old from Cincinnati has made 25 appearances (22 starts) between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland this season and has combined to post a 3.48 ERA in 144 2/3 innings. Hart has thrown the most innings of all Red Sox minor leaguers, has the second-most strikeouts (132) and fifth-best ERA of all qualifiers in the farm system.

Pawtucket center fielder Gorkys Hernández (2-for-3, R, BB) and catcher Óscar Hernández (2-for-4, RBI) led the offense. RailRiders starter Nick Nelson threw six innings and allowed two runs, while Tyler Lyons and J.P. Feyereisen buttoned up the late innings out of the bullpen.

Hernández and Cole Sturgeon hit consecutive RBI singles in the second to give Pawtucket a 2-0 lead. The RailRiders quickly countered with a pair of run-scoring hits to knot the game.

The PawSox conclude their four-game series against the RailRiders on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Ryan Weber (1-4, 4.48 ERA) is scheduled to oppose RailRiders righty Mike King (0-1, 7.50).