The PawSox are in control of tonight’s game at McCoy, leading the Richmond Braves 7-0 after four innings.

Pawtucket added five runs in the bottom of the fourth on a solo homer down the right field line by George Kottaras,two bases loaded walks to Joe Thurston and Jed Lowrie, and a two-run single by Chris Carter.

Clay Buchholz continues to impress on the mound. He has given up only two hits through four, striking out three and walking one. He has thrown 40 pitches, 25 for strikes.

The PawSox have opened up a 2-0 lead on the Richmond Braves after two innings tonight at McCoy.

The PawSox scored their runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Bryan Pritz, scoring Chris Carter and Keith Ginter who led off the inning with a single and double respectively.

Clay Buchholz has been effective through two innings. He has allowed one hit while striking out three. He has also been efficient, throwing only 19 pitches, 14 of them for strikes.

It’s game three of a four game set tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy as the PawSox once again host the Richmond Braves. RHP Jerome Gamble (0-1, 4.50) will start for Richmond, while RHP Clay Buchholz (2-1, 2.00) throws for the PawSox.

I have returned to the McCoy Stadium press box for tonight’s game. So…here is an in-depth preview…

Richmond Braves (38-41)

LINE-UP

Josh Anderson CF
Carl Loadenthal LF
Jason Perry RF
Barbaro Canizares 1B
Diory Hernandez SS
Mark Jurich DH
Enrique Cruz 3B
Clint Simmons C
Derrick Arnold 2B

Gamble makes his third start for the Braves. He suffered the lost his last time out at Syracuse, giving up two runs on four hits over six innings of work. He has spent a majority of the season at Double A Mississippi where he complied a 1-5 record with a 4.83 ERA.

As a team the Braves are tenth in hitting (.256) and tenth in ERA (4.21)

Barbaro Canizares leads the Braves in hitting (based on at least 200 AB) at .309. Scott Thorman leads the team in homers (12) and RBIs (41)

Pawtucket Red Sox (49-31)

LINE-UP

Jeff Bailey 1B
Joe Thurston 2b
Jed Lowrie SS
Chris Carter DH
Keith Ginter 3B
George Kottaras C
Bryan Pitz LF
Sean Danielson RF
Jonathan Van Every CF

The PawSox enter the game the hottest team in the International League…having won five straight and 9 out of 10. They are 5-1 on their current 8-game home stand. They continue to have the best overall record in the league and the best at home (29-14).

Buchholz will make his seventh start of the season tonight. He has been spectacular in winning his last two starts, pitching 11 scoreless innings yielding a total of 7 hits. Last week against Columbus Buchholz gave up only one hit, striking out 6 and walking no one. Over his last four starts he has given up only two earned runs in 19 innings pitched.

PawSox Manager Ron Johnson said it was a welcomed site the last two nights that the team had received strong pitching performances from starters Charlie Zink and Davern Hansack, who pitched 8 1/3 and 8 innings respectively.

“It’s a good problem to have” said Johnson, “It gives our bullpen some days off.”

Johnson also gave the media an update from the medical front. Kyle Snyder, sidelined since June 3rd with a right groin strain, threw a 35 pitch side session with pitching coach Rich Sauveur. All reports are that the session went extremely well.

Equally well was the first batting practice session by OF Bobby Kielty. Out since June 9th with a left oblique strain, Johnson said Kietly looked good and feels great. Both Snyder and Kielty will be re-evaluated by the PawSox training and Red Sox rehab staff before determining the next move on the road to their return.

Offensively the PawSox are atop the league in hitting (.270). They lead the league in runs scored and are second in both homers (104) and RBI’s (299)

Ginter enters tonight’s game with a five-game hitting streak. He is hitting .333 over that stretch with five doubles and 1 RBI.

George Kottaras has hit safely in 8 of his last 10 games, batting an even .300 with 3 homers and 9 RBI’s.

On a side note, Johnson will be managing on the field but also rooting for his alma mater, Fresno State, to take home the title tonight in game three of the College World Series Finals.

Check back for updates every two innings or so and a complete wrap at games’ end.

Here is how the rest of the action across the International League played out last night…

Toledo’s Matt Joyce was the offensive star of the night, belting a three run homer and a grand slam, to pace the Mud Hens to a 12-2 thumping of the Syracuse Chiefs. BOX

The Columbus Clippers’ pitching staff bent, but did not break, as they scattered 12 hits and still beat the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees, 4-2. BOX

The Charlotte Knights scored twice in the bottom of the ninth, the winning run coming on a third strike wild pitch with two outs, to over take the Norfolk Tides, 6-5. BOX

Jason Tyner had three of Buffalo’s 11 hits to lead the Bisons to a 3-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians. BOX

Despite four hits from Lehigh Valley’s Adam Watson, the Durham Bulls upended the Iron Pigs, 4-1. BOX

Adam Rosales had two homers and drove in five runs, and Matthew Mahoney threw seven scoreless innings, to lead the Louisville Bats to a 8-0 shutout of the Rochester Red Wings. BOX

PawSox starter Davern Hansack threw eight innings of scoreless ball to lead the PawSox to a 6-1 victory over the Richmond Braves last night at McCoy.

Hansack (3-8), who has now thrown 14 consecutive shutout innings, surrendered only two hits in his eight innings of work. He had command of all his pitches, striking out four and walking no one. 61 of his 89 pitches were strikes.

Offensively the PawSox scored all their runs in the second and fourth innings. A RBI double by Dusty Brown and a Bryan Pitz fielder’s choice plated two in the second. Pawtucket scored four more in the fourth, on a solo homer by Jed Lowrie, a two-run triple by Brown, and a gruond out by Sean Danielson.

Brown(2for 3, double, triple, 3 RBI) and Danielson (2 for 3) had two hits apiece for the PawSox.

Richmond starter Jonathan Rouwenhorst (6-7) suffered his second consecutive loss. He gave up all six PawSox runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two. Chris Resop and Andy Shibilo came on in relief and shut down the PawSox the remainder of the game.

The lone Braves run came in the top of the ninth when PawSox reliever Jose Vaquedano got into a jam and hit Jason Perry with the bases loaded, forcing in a run.

The victory was Pawtucket’s fifth in a row. And combined with a Scranton/Wilkes Barre loss, the PawSox now find themselves two games ahead of the Yankees in first place in the IL North.

Game three of the four game series continues tonight (7:05 pm) as RHP Jerome Gamble (0-1, 4.50) throws for the Braves. He’ll be opposed by RHP Clay Buchholz (2-1, 2.00) for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE