PAWTUCKET -- There's no question that having Manny Ramirez in the lineup has sparked the Pawtucket Red Sox.
In the last two games that Ramirez has had a hit, the PawSox have belted out a combined 26 of their own. Yesterday alone they put 14 on the board to win back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks with a 7-1 victory over the Syracuse SkyChiefs at McCoy Stadium.
"I'll tell you what," said Pawtucket pitcher Jamie Brewington. "His approach to the game is unbelievable. He's here early and he does his work, and like Buddy [Bailey] said, hopefully guys can see that and take that and say that's what it takes to be successful."
Brewington was certainly successful yesterday, tossing 71/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits to improve to 5-4. He's been solid for most of the season and continued that here yesterday, striking out five and walking three. As a pitcher, he's even affected by Ramirez's presence.
"You're able to be more aggressive," said Brewington. "Instead of being passive, hoping you don't get anybody on base . . . but we got those runs on the board and I was able to get strike one and strike two and not be too perfect."
The PawSox have been lighting it up since The Arrival. Each player in the lineup yesterday registered at least a hit. Leadoff hitter Angel Santos went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Edgard Clemente added two hits and two RBI.
"I think guys are bearing down a little bit more," added Brewington. "Because everybody looks up to him and you want to give it a little bit more effort out there and do things, and if that's what it takes to get us going that's good."
Even Bailey has seen the difference in his players and isn't surprised by the motivation.
"I just think that everybody gets a lift," he said. "There's a superstar guy down here hitting and they get a chance to watch him take BP and see his approach."
The Triple-A players have the luxury of having Ramirez around to talk to and observe. And the work ethic they have feasted their eyes on has woken them up.
"Let's face it," said Bailey. "Manny has created a different energy level here at the ballpark. How about the first time he came up? He hits a home run, and how quiet it was after that. Manny's home run wore the crowd out. They were so excited they cheered for the 30 seconds he goes around the bases and then you could have heard a mouse run across homeplate."
That noise you heard around the city was Ramirez's blast in the first inning on a 3-0 pitch.
The PawSox led off with back-to-back doubles, by Santos and Clemente, before Ramirez lifted a two-run shot into the bleachers in right-center field for a 3-0 PawSox lead.
"That's a big shift for us," said Bailey. "It gave us a big-time energy boost, and Brew went out and shut them out."
An RBI by Todd Betts in the seventh to score Jeff Abbott gave Pawtucket a 4-0 advantage before Syracuse got its one run off Brewington in the eighth.
Pawtucket put a 3-spot on the board in the bottom half of the inning on Santos's two RBI, and Clemente added his second of the game for a 7-1 final.
"Today was one of our best all-around complete games," said Bailey. "I'm mean offensively, catching the ball, running the bases and we had a good starting pitcher."
Thanks Manny.
