Holt homers to help PawSox overcome Scranton/W-B, 4-3 Rehabbing utility player crushed two-run home run in sixth

PAWTUCKET – Brock Holt went deep and Brian Johnson rebounded from a shaky start as the PawSox notched their second straight win over the defending Governors’ Cup champions on Tuesday night.

Holt snapped an 0-for-5 rehab drought with a titanic two-run home run that got Pawtucket on the scoreboard in in the sixth inning. An inning later, Matt Dominguez blasted a two-run shot and the home team never looked back in a 43 win over Scranton/WilkesBarre before 3,157. The reigning International League Pitcher of the Week, Johnson earn his second consecutive win with seven innings of three-run ball. All of those runs came in the first two innings and for the longest time figured to prove more than enough for Scranton starter Brady Lail, who took a shutout into the sixth inning.

After drawing an eightpitch walk in the first inning and flying out to left field on a 3-2 pitch in the fourth inning, Holt turned his third and final plate appearance of the evening into a major positive. Playing left field for the PawSox, Holt went from down 0-2 to up 3-2 before going deep for his first home run at any level this season. Holt has been on Boston’s disabled list since April 21 with a bout of vertigo.

Earlier in the day, PawSox manager Kevin Boles noted Holt felt just okay after serving as the club’s DH on Monday. Holt got through Tuesday’s pregame session feeling fine. Defensively, he made a nice catch up against the wall. On another occasion, Holt quickly got the ball back to the infield. That helped hold a Scranton runner at third.

“Three quality at-bats. It was a good day for him,” Boles said about Holt, who’s scheduled to be off on Wednesday.

Johnson’s first couple of innings saw him leave pitches out over the zone. Up 1-0 in the second, Scranton’s Cito Culver drilled a long RBI double to left field and eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice to pin the PawSox (1513) in a 3-0 hole.

Johnson settled down and then some. He scattered 10 hits and threw a season-high 104 pitches, 79 for strikes.

“They were collecting some hits early on, but he was able to navigate through some rough waters and limit the damage,” Boles said. “From the third through the seventh inning, he did a terrific job. He got into a good pace and looked comfort- able out there.”

Ameeting with catcher Dan Butler prior to the start of the third inning went a long way in helping Johnson combat Scranton’s aggressive approach.

“I kind of had to change my game-plan on the fly,” Johnson said. “I thank Dan a lot. We switched it up, which was a big thing.”

The home run for Dominguez was the second in as many days. Just like on Monday night, the right-handed hitting third baseman displayed a nice approach by depositing the ball over the right-field wall. Pawtucket managed just three hits in the game, though two of them left the yard.

“He had a great start to the season. Then there was a lull for about 10 days when his timing was off and he was expand- ing the zone,” Boles said. “Now he’s starting to use rightcenter a little bit. I know he has impact to the other side. He’s got to stay there and trust he’ll be able to get to the pitch on the inner half.”

Kyle Martin and Noe Ramirez each turned in a scoreless inning. Martin has struggled at times this season, though his one-strikeout, ninepitch outing in the eighth had Boles raving after the game.

“He looked great,” Boles said about Martin. “There was quality to his fastball and the cutter was an interesting pitcher.”

Ramirez worked around a two-out single to Scranton’s Dustin Fowler, who drew an 11-pitch walk against Johnson in the first inning. Clint Frazier, the No. 3 hitter in the RailRiders’ lineup, flied out to center field to end it. Ramirez was credited with his second save.

The PawSox will go for the sweep on Wednesday morning as Henry Owens (3-0, 1.35) makes the start for locals. Scranton (15-14) counters with Caleb Smith (1-0, 3.70).

***

Roenis Elias, sidelined since March 9 with a right intercostal muscle strain, threw a side session at McCoy Stadium on Tuesday. The next step would entail taking the mound for Pawtucket, which could possibly come as soon as later this week. Elias struggled in his rehab start on Sunday, allowing 10 runs, nine earned, 10 hits (one homer) and two walks while striking out one for Single-A Salem.