PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island (Friday, April 23, 2010) – The Pawtucket Red Sox returned home from a season-long nine-game roadtrip and set the McCoy crowd home happy with a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons (Mets) on Friday night.
Buffalo jumped out to an early lead as Fernando Martinez hit a sacrifice fly off Michael Bowden to make it 1-0 for the Bisons.
In the second, the Bisons made it a 2-0 game as Chris Carter was hit by a pitch, scoring Ruben Tejada.
Pawtucket jumped out for good with two in the third inning and three in the fourth. Jorge Jimenez hit a two-run home run to right field to open the PawSox scoring book in the third, while Daniel Nava drove in pair on a triple and he scored on a Bubba Bell sac fly in the fourth.
Buffalo made things interesting with an RBI double by Jason Pridie in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Fernando Cabrera was able to shut the door for his third save of the season.
Prized possession Michael Bowden pitched a solid four innings for the PawSox, allowing five hits and two runs, while walking and striking out three. Robert Manuel picked up the win, his second, as he allowed just a hit over two innings.
Bisons starter Tobi Stoner fell to 0-2 as he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, giving him the loss.
The teams will play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at McCoy Stadium as Randor Bierd faces R.A. Dickey.
