The Pawtucket Red Sox combined timely hitting and strong pitching to defeat the Rochester Red Wings, 4-2, this afternoon in the final game of their three game set at Frontier Field.

The PawSox were able to open up a 4-0 lead on a Chad Spann sacrifice fly in the second, a two run homer by Jeff Bailey in the third, and a Keith Ginter double in the fifth. Ginter ended the game going 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles.

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink (3-1) once again was effective as the starter for Pawtucket. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on four hits. He walked two and struck out two to earn the win.

The Red Wings had a chance to score more than two runs in the sixth off Zink. With runners on second and third and one out and one run in, OF Jason Pridie made a poor base running decision in trying to score from third on a grounder back to Zink. 2B Howie Clark then drove in Rochester’s second run with a single. Zink retired DH Randy Ruiz on a fly out to right to end the threat.

RHP Chris Smith came in to pitch the final three innings for Pawtucket to pick-up his first save of the season.

LHP Francisco Liriano (0-1) struggled again for the Red Wings, going 4 1/3 innings, giving up all four runs and taking the loss.

The PawSox head to Syracuse tomorrow night (7:00pm) to begin a four game series with the Chiefs. Davern Hansack (0-3) is slated to start for Pawtucket.

BOX SCORE

The PawSox hope to end the opening month of the season on a high note as they wrap up their three game series with the Rochester Red Wings this afternoon (12:05pm) in Rochester. RHP Charlie Zink (2-1, 3.09) takes the hill for Pawtucket against LHP Francisco Liriano (0-0, 6.75) for the Red Wings.

Here are some brief notes leading up to the game…

Pawtucket Red Sox (14-12)

Zink is coming off another solid outing, a no-decision April 24th against Syracuse. He pitched six innings, giving up only two runs on nine hits.

The PawSox bullpen is looking to rebound after giving up seven runs last night.

Jeff Bailey has been on a tear of late at the plate. he has a hit in 6 of his last 7 games and has raised his average to .292 after last night’s 2 for 4 performance.

Rochester Red Wings (13-13)

Liriano will make his second start of the season for the Red Wings. The one-time Twins star lefty has been shaky in his three starts this season with the big club. He lost all three decisions with an ERA of 11.32. His lone Rochester start came on April 8th. He did not get the decision in the Red Wings’ 6-5 win over Norfolk. He pitched 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.

IF Randy Ruiz is working a seven game hitting streak. Over that time he is hitting .429 with 5 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 10 RBI’s.

It’s a safe bet that if you can get by the eighth inning unscathed with Rochester, you are in line for success. The Red Wings have out-scored opponents 24-2 in eighth inning so far this season, including 4 runs off the PawSox last night.

Here’s a look at the rest of the action around the International League…

1B Brad Eldred hit a two-run walk off homer leading the Charlotte Knights to a 3-1 victory over the Norfolk Tides. BOX

The Scranton Wilkes/Barre Yankees scored six runs in ht second, and five players drove in runs as they dominated the Buffalo Bisons 10-6. BOX

CF Ryan Langerhans belted a homer and drove in five runs as the Columbus Clippers dominated the Indianapolis Indians 8-1. BOX

SS Reid Brignac and RF Justin Ruggiano each drove in a pair as the Durham Bulls shut out the Richmond Braves 4-0. BOX

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs continue to find ways to lose, this time a 1-0 pitcher’s duel to the Syracuse Chiefs. BOX

Toledo starter Eddie Bonine is now a perfect 5-0 as the Mud Hens beat the Louisville Bats 4-3. BOX

The usually solid PawSox relief corps could not hold down the fort, giving up seven runs late as Pawtucket fell to the Rochester Red Wings, 9-3, last night at Frontier Field.

The PawSox were cruising along behind starter Michael Tejera, who left the game with one out in the sixth with a 3-2 lead. The Red Wings scored seven times in the seventh and eight off relievers Eric Hull, Craig Hansen, and Lincoln Holdzkom.

Throughout their barrage, the Red Wings only collected one extra base hit, a two run triple in the eighth by RF Darnell McDonald off Holdzkom. Rochester’s three runs in the seventh scored on four singles and two sacrifice flies. Those runs were charged to Hull.

Hansen gave up his first three runs of the season in the eighth on a pair of singles sandwiched around a stolen base. Holdzkom’s run also came on a single.

In the early goings of this game it looked like the PawSox were well in command. They scored all three runs in the first on a bases loaded wild pitch by Rochester starter Brian Duensing, a based loaded double play off the bat of Chris Carter, and a single by Keith Ginter. The PawSox scattered hits the rest of the way.

Tejera gave up two runs on six hits striking out five and walking two. Hull (1-2) took the loss in relief.

Duensing settled down after the shaky first, pitching six innings giving up seven hits and striking our four. Reliever Phil Humber (1-3) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless seventh.

The two teams wrap up their three game series this afternoon (12:05pm) as RHP Charlie Zink (2-1, 3.09) throws for Pawtucket against LHP Francisco Liriano (0-0, 6.75) for Rochester.

BOX SCORE

PROJO REPORT

ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE REPORT

The Red Sox this afternoon activated 3B Mike Lowell off the disabled list and have optioned RP Bryan Corey back to Pawtucket.