Rusney Castillo apparently has a flair for the dramatic.
Castillo ripped a game-tying single in the ninth inning Friday as the Pawtucket Red Sox defeated the Durham Bulls 4-2 to force a decisive Game 5 in the teams’ Governors’ Cup finals series. Ivan De Jesus lifted the PawSox to victory with a two-run homer in the top of the 13th inning.
Castillo, who recently signed a seven-year, $72.5 million contract, is expected to join the Boston Red Sox after Triple-A Pawtucket’s championship series against Durham. But clearly, the Cuban outfielder wants another championship — he already helped the Gulf Coast League Red Sox win a title — before joining the major league club.
All eyes have been on Castillo, as the 27-year-old is expected to be part of the Red Sox’s starting outfield in 2015. He went 1-for-6 with a single, three strikeouts and a walk in Pawtucket’s dramatic Game 4 win at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The PawSox trailed 2-1 in the ninth inning when Alex Hassan walked and Garin Cecchini singled. Deven Marrero beat out a potential game-ending double play after a failed sacrifice bunt, paving the way for Castillo’s season-saving knock. Castillo was down to his final strike before singling into center field.
De Jesus’ 13th-inning homer followed a one-out single by Marrero. The clutch blast was made possible by Bryce Brentz’s perfect throw to the plate to gun down the potential winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Ryan Lavarnway went 4-for-6 and reached base five times in Pawtucket’s win. Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven solid innings, though it was Jose Valdez who earned the victory following two scoreless frames.
The PawSox and Bulls will have a winner-take-all showdown Saturday night in Durham. Keith Couch will toe the rubber for Pawtucket.
Photo via Instagram/pawsox
