The PawSox look to earn a split of their four game series with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees as the teams wrap up their four game set tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy. RHP Dan McCutchen (0-1, 4.26) toes the mound for SWB against RHP Justin Masterson (NR) for Pawtucket.

It’s a beautiful night at McCoy. I am on press row…here is a preview…

Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees (34-20)

LINE-UP

Brett Gardner CF
Alberto Gonzalez SS
Jason Lane LF
Ben Broussard 1B
Cody Ransom 3B
Greg Porter DH
Justin Christian RF
Chris Stewart C
Bernie Castro 2B

The Yankees enjoy another day atop the IL North Division. SWB has shared at least the top spot in 55 of the 57 days of the season thus far.

McCutchen makes his second start of the season for the Yankees, having lost on May 24th to Indianapolis. In that game he pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on ten hits. He has made nine starts for Double A Trenton. He had a 4-3 record with an ERA of 2.55.

Justin Lane enters the game with a 10 game hitting streak. In that time he has a .350 batting average, with three homers and 14 RBI.s

Pawtucket Red Sox (32-22)

LINE-UP

Jeff Bailey DH
George Kottaras C
Joe Thurston 2B
Chris Carter LF
Brandon Moss 1B
Keith Ginter 3B
Sean Danielson RF
Gil Velazquez SS
Jonathan Van Every CF

What a difference two games make. Two days ago the PawSox were tied with the Yankees for first place in the IL North Division. Following back-to-back losses the PawSox find themselves in third place, two games out of first and 1/2 game behind Syracuse for second place.

Justin Masterson makes his PawSox debut tonight. He was slated to start Saturday in Durham but was moved up with the speculation he may be needed to pitch for the Red Sox on Tuesday if Daisuke Matsuzaka is unable to make his next start with shoulder stiffness.

PawSox Manager Ron Johnson is looking forward to Masterson’s debut.

“I saw two innings in the first two days of Major League Spring Training. The only other times I’ve seen him was on TV. It should be exciting.” said Johnson.

Masterson has been with the team for about a week and has blended in extremely well.

“He’s probably the nicest guy I’ve ever met. He makes you feel better hanging out with him,” said Johnson. “When these guys go up there to the big league club, it’s there responsibility to blend in to be part of that culture. When you’ve got a guy that understands things..its real good.”

Masterson has made two appearances with Boston this season. In those games he was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA. In those games he struck out nine and walked seven. He has also had eight starts with Double A Portland. In those starts Masterson was 1-3 with a 4.23 ERA.

Elsewhere with the pitching staff Johnson said it’s important for the PawSox bullpen to not get too discouraged over their performance the last two games,

“We’re playing the best team in the league. They’ve had they’re way with us” Johnson said, “When they have two or three days when they struggle its all about how they rebound.”

On the injury front Johnson said Jed Lowrie took batting practice from both sides of the plate today and looks ready to rejoin the PawSox line-up in the next day or so. Reliever Lee Gronkiewicz, who has been sidelined since May 1st, has had another MRI on his ailing right elbow. His status is still up in the air.

Jeff Bailey was slated to have the day off but was a last minute addition to the line-up at DH. He has been in a rut as of late, going hitless in his last nine at bats.

Chris Carter enters the game with a 8 game hitting streak, over which he is hitting .531 with 4 homers and 7 RBI. He now leads the team with a .318 batting average.

Check back as I will be providing periodic updates every few innings.

Another full slate of action Wednesday across the International League. Here are the results…

The Syracuse Chiefs are now alone in second place in the IL North Division after their 9-1 domination of the Richmond Braves. Four Chiefs drove in two runs each. BOX

Jason Pridie had three hits and drove in two runs as the Rochester Red Wings have won three straight, 6-3 over the Charlotte Knights. BOX

It was a pitcher’s duel in Columbus as the Louiville Bats edged the Clippers 2-1. BOX

For the second straight game the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees got off to a quick start and defeated the PawSox, this time by a 9-4 score last night at McCoy.

The Yankees scored four runs over the first two innings off Pawtucket starter Davern Hansack (2-6). Cody Ransom belted a three run homer in the first and Brett Garnder cashed in with an RBI single in the second.

The PawSox were able to cut the lead to two runs with a Brandon Moss RBI in the fifth and a Chris Carter solo homer (his 7th of the season) in the sixth.

But Scranton opened the flood gates by scoring a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth off PawSox relievers Jon Switzer and Chris Smith to seal the victory.

Alberto Gonzalez led the way for the Yankees, going 3 for 5 with a double and 4 RBI’s. Ransom, Jason Lane, and Greg Porter each had two hits in the Yankees’ 14-hit attack.

Carter, Moss, and Gil Velazquez had two hits apiece for the PawSox.

Scranton starter Kei Igawa (4-4) was impressive in picking up the win. He threw 7 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking no one.

Th finale of the four game series and PawSox homestand is tonight (7:05pm) as Dan McCutchen (0-1) starts for the Yankees against Justin Masterson (NR), making his first start of the season for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

The ProJo’s Joe McDonald is reporting that Red Sox pitching prospect Justin Masterson will be making his PawSox debut tomorrow night in the series finale against the Yankees at McCoy.

Masterson was scheduled to make his debut this weekend in Durham, but has been moved up as he may be needed in the Boston rotation if Daisuke Matsuzaka is in need of a break due to the shoulder injury he suffered last night…

The PawSox can reclaim a portion of first place in the IL North Division with a win tonight (7:05pm) against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees at McCoy. Kei Igawa (3-4, 3.83 ERA) starts for SWB. He’ll be opposed by Davern Hansack (2-5, 5.55 ERA) for the PawSox.

Here is a brief look at tonight’s match-up:

Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees (33-20)

The Yankees took back sole possession of first place after last night’s exciting 9-8 win. They are a game up on Pawtucket and 1.5 games ahead of third place Syracuse.

Igawa makes his tenth start for the Yankees tonight. Over his last four starts he is 1-2 with an ERA of 4.96. He received a no decision last Friday against Indianapolis where he pitched 6 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.

Pawtucket Red Sox (32-21)

The PawSox take the best home record into tonight’s third game of the four game series. They have not lost back to back games at home since the beginning of the season.

Despite falling behind by an 8-0 score last night, Manager Ron Johnson was pleased at how the team battled back.

Hansack will start for the ninth time this season. He is coming off a lost last week against Rochester, where he threw 5 1/3 innings yielding four runs on seven hits.