The PawSox look to make it five in a row as they face the Richmond Braves again tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy in game two of a four game series. The pitching match-up; LHP Jonathan Rouwenhorst (6-6, 5.50) for Richmond and RHP Devern Hansack (2-8, 5.40) for Pawtucket.

Circumstances again are keeping me at the home base. So, weather permitting, here is a brief look at the game…

Richmond Braves (38-40)

The Braves, losers of last night’s extra inning affair, have lost two straight and six of their last ten.

Rouwenhorst makes his 14th start of the season. Last time out he took the loss in a 6-1 contest against the Syracuse Chiefs. He lasted only three innings, giving up three runs on three hits. He did have command issues, walking six and striking out no one.

Pawtucket Red Sox (48-31)

The PawSox, meanwhile, are winners of four in a row, 8 of their last 9, and 10 of their last 12. They remain 1 game up on Scranton for the lead in the IL North Division.

Hansack received a no decision in his last start, a 4-3 loss last Thursday to the Columbus Clippers. Hansack was effective, pitching six scoreless innings and yielding only four hits.

Jeff Bailey looks to continue on his tear at the plate. He has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games, going .427 over that stretch, with 4 doubles, 4 homers, and 9 RBI’s

Here is a review of the action from across the International League on Monday…

The Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees kept pace with the PawSox in the IL North, shutting-out the Columbus Clippers, 6-0. BOX

The Syracuse Chiefs have now fallen 3 1/2 games behind the PawSox in third place following their 4-3 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens. BOX

Andrew McCutchen drove in a pair of runs to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Bisons. BOX

J.A. Happ pitched six innings of one hit ball to lead the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs to a 7-0 shutout of the Durham Bulls. BOX

The Rochester Red Wings scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to over take the Louisville Bats, 8-5. BOX

Javier Castillo and Noah Hall each drove in three runs to lead the Charlotte Knights to a 8-1 win over the Norfolk Tides. BOX

When a team is on a roll, everything seems to fall their way. That appears to be the case right now with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Down 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning last night at McCoy, the PawSox mounted a two-run rally and beat the Richmond Braves, 7-6.

Richmond took the lead in the top of the tenth on 1B Scott Thorman’s second solo homer of the game, off PawSox reliever Jon Switzer (3-0).

With Braves reliever Jorge Julio (0-1) in the game, George Kottaras and Bryan Pitz started the rally with back-to-back singles. After Chad Spann came in to run for Kottaras, pinch hitter Dusty Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A grounder off the bat of Jonathan Van Every was mis-handled by Braves second baseman Derrick Arnold, plating Spann. Jeff Bailey then earned the game-winning RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

Bailey had another huge day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI’s. Kottaras (2 for 5) also drove in a pair for Pawtucket. Pitz (2 for 5) and Jed Lowrie (2 for 5, 1 RBI) also had solid nights at the plate.

The PawSox were riding high once again on the back of starting pitcher Charlie Zink, leading 4-2 before Thorman and RF Jason Perry touched Zink for back-to-back homers to lead off the top of the sixth and tie the game.

Pawtucket would strike back to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a Bailey RBI double.

The Braves would tie the game one inning later on a Thorman sacrifice fly.

Zink pitched 8 1/3 innings, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, on five hits. He walked four and struck out 10. Richmond starter Brian Lawrence worked 5 1/3 innings yielding five runs on 9 hits. Neither started figured in the decision.

With the win the PawSox remain alone atop the IL North, one game clear of the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees.

Game two of the series is set for tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy. LHP Jonathon Rouwenhorst (6-6, 5.50) throws for Richmond while RHP Devern Hansack (2-8, 5.40) takes the mound for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

The first place Pawtucket Red Sox open up a four game set against the Richmond Braves tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy. It’s the first meeting between the clubs this season. RHP Brian Lawrence (0-1, 8.10) will start for the Braves, opposed by RHP Charlie Zink (8-2, 2.14) for the PawSox.

I am once again unable to be at the park tonight. Here is a preview nonetheless…

Richmond Braves (38-39)

At one game below .500 the Braves are in second place in the IL South Division, 3 1/2 games behind the Durham Bulls.

Lawrence makes his third start of the season tonight. His lone decision came last week in a loss to the Charlotte Knights. He pitched 3 2/3 innings giving up 6 earned runs on 11 hits.

Pawtucket Red Sox (47-31)

The PawSox enter tonight’s contest winners of 7 of their last 8 and 8 out of 10.

Zink looks to continue with his impressive 2008 season. He is coming off a win in his start last Tuesday at Lehigh Valley. In that contest he threw 7 innings, giving up only one earned run on four hits. He has not lost a game since May 5th against Durham.

PawSox players continue to get accolades off the field. OF Jonathan Van Every has been named IL Batter of the Week. He hit .318 with four homers and 8 RBI’s over his last six games. Van Every’s accomplishment comes one week after Joe Thurston was named IL Batter of the Week last week.

Here is what transpired across the International League on Sunday…

Shelley Duncan drove in four runs to lead the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees to a 10-1 win over the Toledo Mud Hens. Jeff Karstens struck out 11 to earn the win. BOX

The Syracuse Chiefs kept pace in the IL North with a convincing 10-2 trouncing of the Richmond Braves. BOX

Homers by Sergio Santos and Ryan Jorgensen tied the game in the eighth and a sacrifice fly by Trevor Plouffe broke it up in the 11th to guide the Rochester Red Wings past the Indianapolis Indians 7-6. BOX

Javier Castillo and Danny Richar drove in a combined 5 runs to lead the Charlotte Knights to a 7-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. BOX

Reid Brignac belted a homer and drove in three to lead the Durham Bulls over the Norfolk Tides 6-0 in a rain-shortened game in Durham. BOX

Chris Dickerson drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Louisville Bats a 3-2 decision over the Buffalo Bisons. BOX