The PawSox begin the first game of a short two-game series in Syracuse tonight (7:00 pm) against the Chiefs. Clay Buchholz (3-1, 1.87 ERA) toes the mound for Pawtucket. He’ll be opposed by Davis Romero (3-5, 3.48 ERA) for the Chiefs.

Here is a brief look at tonight’s contest…

Pawtucket Red Sox (53-32)

The PawSox continue to ride high after taking two of three in Rochester against the Red Wings. Pawtucket has won 9 of its last 10 and and 13 of 15 and have opened a 5 game lead over Scranton/Wilkes Barre in the IL’s North Division. This the eighth game of the season between these two clubs with the PawSox holding a 4-3 edge.

Buchholz enters tonight’s contest a winner in his last three starts. Over that stretch he has allowed only one earned run on 12 hits in 17 2/3 innings.

In news off the field, PawSox starter Davern Hansack today was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Week. Hansack was 2-0 for the week, pitching a total of 15 scoreless innings in victories over Richmond and Rochester. After a slow start to the season Hansack is currently enjoying a 23-inning consecutive scoreless streak.

(Syracuse Chiefs 45-37)

The Chiefs enter the game treading water, with a 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Romero makes his 17th start of the season tonight. He has won his last two starts, giving up only two earned runs in his last 12 2/3 innings of work.

IF Hector Luna enters the game with a 8-game hitting streak. OF-DH Matt Watson has hit in seven straight.

It was another busy Sunday across the International League. Here are the results of all the action..

Five Buffalo Bisons drove in runs as they beat the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees, 7-5 at Dunn Tire Park. BOX.

Chris Roberson drove in two runs, one of which was a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth as the Norfolk Tides beat the Charlotte Knights, 5-4. BOX

Every member of the Syracuse starting line-up got one hit to lead the Chiefs to a 6-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. BOX

Jon Weber drove in four runs to lead the Durham Bulls to a 5-1 win over the Richmond Braves. BOX

Austin Kearns drove in four runs, but it was Ryan Langerhans’ two run double in the bottom of the ninth that lead the Columbus Clippers to a 6-5 win over the Indianapolis Indians. BOX

Drew T. Anderson homered and drove in three runs to pace the Louisville Bats over the Toledo Mud Hens, 4-2. BOX

Jonathan Van Every is really going to miss Rochester.

The PawSox center fielder tied a team record by belting three homers in the PawSox‘ 10-0 whitewash of the Rochester Red Wings in a game shortened to eight innings due to rain. It’s Van Every’s fourth homer in the last two games against the Red Wings.

Van Every’s three homers accounted for five of Pawtucket’s runs. The other runs also came courtesy of the long ball with Jed Lowrie (4 RBI’s) tallying two homers while Gil Velazquez added a solo shot.

No Rochester pitcher was spared from giving up a homer. Starter Brian Duensing (4-8) gave up a pair of two-run homers, to Lowrie in the first and Van Every in the fifth. Casey Daigle gave up three homers, solo taters to Velazquez and Van Every and a two run shot by Lowrie, all in the seventh inning. Julio DePaula surrendered Van Every’s third blast, a two-run bomb in the eighth.

Lost in all the offensive fireworks was the job on the mound put in by PawSox starting pitcher Davern Hansack (4-8). With his seven innings of scoreless ball Hansack has now not allowed an earned run over his last 23 consecutive innings. He held the Red Wings to only two hits, striking out eight and walking no one. Jose Vaquedano pitched 2/3 of an inning in the eighth before the game was halted by rain.

With the win the PawSox now have a 5 game lead over Scranton in the IL’s North Division. Pawtucket heads to Syracuse to open a two game series tomorrow night (7:00pm) with the Chiefs. Clay Buchholz (3-1, 1.87) will throw for Pawtucket against lefty Davis Romero (3-5, 3.48) for the Chiefs.

And in case your wondering, Van Every will be able to celebrate a return to Rochester for two games in late August.

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MiLB.COM REPORT

Here are the results of the rest of the action from around the International League…

The Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees snapped their brief two-game losing streak, up ending the Columbus Clippers, 7-4. Cody Ransom belted a homer and drove in four runs for the Yankees. BOX

The Buffalo Bisons scored five runs in the second on their way to a 7-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians. BOX

SS Mike Rouse went 4 for 5 with a pair of RBI’s to pace the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs to a 10-8 win over the Durham Bulls. BOX

Jason Pridie went 4 for 4 as the Rochester Red Wings beat the Louisville Bats, 4-1. BOX

Three Charlotte Knights’ players collected two hits apiece of their way to a 6-5 win over the Norfolk Tides. BOX

The Toledo Mud Hens scored all their runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings on their way to a 10-5 win over the Syracuse Chiefs. BOX

Fans of the PawSox have been treated to some quality ball, especially over this last 8-game home stand. Pawtucket won their season-high seventh straight game last night, sweeping the Richmond Braves 4-1 before over 8,000 fans at McCoy.

The PawSox broke up a 1-1 tie by scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh. With one out Jeff Bailey singled to left center off Braves reliever Matt DeSalvo (2-7). After Joe Thurston followed with a walk, Jed Lowrie banged a two-run double to left center. Three batters later Lowrie would score on an RBI single to center by Bryan Pritz.

Other than the late game heroics at the plate, the story of the game was the solid pitching performance, once again, from PawSox starter David Pauley. Pauley improved his record to 10-2, tying him for the league lead in wins. Over seven innings Pauley gave up only four hits. He struck out a season-high nine batters and walked only two.

Pauley gave up the Braves’ lone run in the top of the first. Lead-off man Josh Anderson belted the first pitch of the game for a single. He advanced to second when Pauley committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt at first. Anderson would score three batters later on a Barbaro Canizares ground out. Despite the bad start Pauley was able to retain his composure and pitch scoreless ball the rest of the night.

Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin, on a rehab assignment with Pawtucket, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. Hunter Jones struck out two in a scoreless ninth, picking-up the save.

Chris Carter and Pritz had two hits apiece for the PawSox. Carl Loadenthal had a pair of hits for the Braves.

After a 7-1 home stand the PawSox play their next five games away from McCoy, beginning with a three game set tonight (7:05 pm) at Rochester. RHP Edgar Martinez (2-1, 4.22) will throw for the PawSox against Red Wings RHP Danny Graves (3-2, 5.40).

I will be away from the computer all weekend, so no updates until possibly late Sunday. Enjoy!

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