Elias delivers again in 6-2 home win

PAWTUCKET – In case you forgot, the Red Sox also got another pitcher from the Seattle Mariners besides Carson Smith – the same Smith who on Tuesday underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.

His name is Roenis Elias, and he’s emerged as a strikeout machine for the Pawtucket Red Sox. A lefthander who can attack from several different arm angles, Elias last night turned in 7.2 innings of one-run ball as the PawSox cruised to a 6-2 victory over Lehigh Valley.

Elias struck out eight and allowed just three hits, one of which left the yard for a solo home run in the fifth inning. It was the only run the IronPigs would muster on a sultry evening at McCoy Stadium, where the attendance was 4,473.

You could say that Elias followed up his 13-strikeout masterpiece in his last time out against Norfolk in fine fashion. He didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the fifth inning.

The only true tight spot that Elias found himself in came in the second. He walked the first two batters with Lehigh Valley’s No. 9 hitter, Darnell Sweeney, laying down a sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position. Elias came back to strike out the next two batters, both of the swinging variety.

Sam Travis provided all the offense the PawSox would need courtesy of one mighty swing in the third inning. He launched a threerun home run that scored Jantzen Witte (single) and Rusney Castillo (walk). It was his sixth home run of the season.

The home team wasn’t done in the frame as Chris Marrero and Bryce Brentz connected for back-to-back doubles that made it 4- 0. Brentz finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.

The win pushes the PawSox’ record to 23-23. They’ll look to go over .500 this morning (11 a.m. first pitch) as Henry Owens (3-1, 2.57) gets the call. The last time the PawSox were over the .500 mark was April 29 (11-10).