PawSox waste solid start from Walden

PAWTUCKET – Marcus Walden, once again, stated a pretty powerful case to remain in Pawtucket’s starting rotation and Brock Holt collected a double in the first nine-inning game of his rehab assignment.

As for the PawSox nailing down a victory, those hopes were nixed as Rochester scored two in the top of the ninth off reliever Brandon Workman and held on for a 32 triumph before a Thursday gathering of 5,082. Workman was tagged with the loss and a blown save after allowing three hits and a walk in the ninth. He threw 31 pitches (22 strikes) in 1.2 innings.

Bengie Gonzalez, the No. 9 hitter in Rochester’s lineup, tied the game at two with a RBI single on a 0-1 pitch. The next batter, Zack Granite, untied it with a groundball single into center.

Pawtucket went down in order in the bottom of the ninth. Until Thursday, the PawSox were 12-0 when leading after eight innings.

Walden received a no-decision despite turning in five innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts and one walk. His scoreless-inning streak reached 16.2 before the Red Wings’ Leonardo Reginatto nicked the 28-year-old Walden for a RBI double in the fifth.

It will be interesting to see if Walden will make his next scheduled start for the Pawtucket in wake of the Red Sox sending down Kyle Kendrick on Thursday. The PawSox will have Roenis Elias pitching on a rehab assignment on Friday with Shawn Haviland to follow him.

Holt did not have any chances in left field. At the plate, he went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. His hit was a double and came in the eighth inning on a 2-2 pitch.

Pawtucket shortstop Mike Miller tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth, his first of the season and the 10th of his minor-league career. A ground-rule double by third baseman Matt Dominguez put the PawSox up 2-1 in the seventh. Sam Travis collected two hits – his ninth multi-hit hame of the season – and has now hit safely in 12 of his last 15 contests.