By Josh Cook
Talk about getting a hit at the right time.
Louisville's Chris Denove was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Bats a 4-3 win over Pawtucket at Louisville Slugger Field on Sunday night.
That came after the Red Sox had tied the game in the top of the eighth on Daniel Nava's two-run homer off Bats reliever Jared Burton.
In the bottom of the inning Wladimir Balentien led off with a walk from Pawtucket reliever Chad Paronto, then moved to second on Drew Sutton's sacrifice bunt. Michael Griffin singled to move Balentien to third before he stole second.
Paronto then intentionally walked Todd Frazier to load the bases. After striking out Chris Valaika, Paronto (2-4) plunked Denove.
The Red Sox (26-31) took an early lead by scoring once in the first off Louisville starter Jared Burton. It was the lone run given up by Burton, who gave up 10 hits while walking one and striking out two over seven innings.
The Bats tied the game on Valaika's RBI-single in the second, then took the lead on Frazier's RBI-single in the fourth. Louisville increased its lead to 3-1 in the fifth on an RBI-double by Sutton, who has reached base safely in 24 straight games.
Burton (1-0) blew the save, but picked up the win with his one inning of relief. Jon Adkins pitched the ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.
The Bats and Red Sox end their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Monday night as highly-touted prospect Aroldis Chapman (5-2, 3.42 ERA) makes his fourth start at Slugger Field.
