Chalk it up to being just one of those games.

The Rochester Red Wings were able to take advantage of some shaky PawSox pitching and sloppy defense on their way to a 8-3 victory this afternoon at a sold-out McCoy Stadium.

The way the game started, it looked like it would be the PawSox that would dominate the game, given the fact that they scored two early runs off Rochester starter Anthony Swarzak making his Triple-A debut. Jeff Bailey led the inning with a walk and reached second when shortstop Matt Macri could not handle a relay throw from second baseman Alejandro Machado. After Brandon Moss lined out to right, Chris Carter followed with an RBI single, also to right. Dusty Brown then drove in Pawtucket’s second run with a sacrifice fly to center.

After the first Swarzak settled down, giving up only one more run on a solo homer by Jeff Natale in the fifth. Swarzak (1-0) pitched five innings, giving up only one earned run on four hits. He walked three and struck out two to earn the win. Relievers Julio DePaula and Bobby Korecky pitched the final four innings in scoreless fashion.

The PawSox pitching staff did not fare as well. Starter David Pauley (12-4) proved ineffective in his five innings on the mound. He gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out four. He also surrendered a solo homer to Randy Ruiz in the top of the fourth.

Pawtucket relievers Micheal Tejera and Eric Hull each gave up two runs in their stints on the mound. Tejera’s runs came courtesy of a two-run homer by Garret Jones in the seventh.

The usually solid Pawtucket defense proved to be anything but this afternoon. The PawSox committed two errors which led to two unearned runs.

Jones ended the day going 2 for 5 with 3 RBI’s. Former PawSox Machado went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Keith Ginter led all PawSox batters with two hits in four plate appearances.

Game three of the series will be tomorrow night (7:05pm). Carmen Cali (5-0) starts for Rochester. He’ll be opposed by Michael Bowden (0-2), who will be making his PawSox McCoy debut.

BOX SCORE

Here are the results from the rest of the International League from Tuesday night…

The Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees kept pace with the PawSox as four players had at least two hits in their 8-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs. Ian Kennedy picked-up his third win of the year. BOX

Timo Perez and Kody Kirkland had two RBI’s each as the Toledo Mud Hens up ended the Indianapolis Indians 5-3. BOX

Leonard Davis collected two hits and two RBI’s in the Columbus Clippers’ 5-2 victory over the Richmond Braves. BOX

Morgan Ensberg homered and drove in four runs to pace the Buffalo Bisons to an 8-7 win over the Durham Bulls. BOX

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs have won three in a row, led by Rich Thomposon’s 4 for 5 night as the they defeated the Norfolk Tides 7-1. BOX

Kevin Baker hit two homers and drove in three runs in the Louisville Bat’s 6-3 win over the Charlotte Knights. BOX

Shortstop Gil Velazquez went 3 for 3 with a double, homer, and 2 RBI’s while starter Charlie Zink improved to an IL best 13-3 in the PawSox 5-3 win last night over the Rochester Red Wings before another packed house at McCoy.

Velazquez, a former member of the Red Wings, notched his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth and added an RBI single in the PawSox three-run seventh. He came close to driving in a another run in the bottom of the second on a double to right but Keith Ginter was thrown out at the plate.

Zink was in control of the Rochester batting order with the exception of giving up three runs in the third. He finished pitching seven innings, yielding nine hits, walking one and striking out two. Jon Switzer and Chris Smith followed Zink to the mound and pitched two perfect innings. Smith notched his 13th save.

Jeff Bailey added to Velazquez offensive performance by going 2 for 4 with a double and a run driven in. Chris Carter also added two hits in four at bats to raise his average to an even .300 for the season. Jonathan Van Every belted a triple and drove in a run.

Jason Pridie, Alejandro Machado, and Randy Ruiz had two hits apiece for the Red Wings.

Rochester starter Kevin Mulvey worked 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits but did not figure in the decision. Reliever Ricky Barrett (3-5) gave-up the go ahead runs in the seventh and was credited with the loss.

The two teams play a rare, mid-week matinee game this afternoon (12:05pm) at McCoy. Anthony Swarzak makes his Triple A debut for Rochester, opposed by David Pauley (12-3) for Pawtucket.

BOX SCORE

The PawSox today announced that they have released IF Chad Spann. Spann had been ineffective at the plate this season, batting only .185 with three homers and 20 RBI’s in 56 games.

Spann’s spot on the roster is being filled by IF Jeff Natale. Natale had been on the disabled list since April 21st when he fractured his left forearm after being hit by a pitch from Buffalo pitcher Edwin Mujica. In five games with the PawSox Natale batted .250. He spent the last two weeks on a rehab stint in Lowell where he batted .333 with one home run and 6 RBI’s

Other news from McCoy is that the PawSox have begun selling tickets for potential playoff games. The Governor’s Cup playoffs begin September 3rd.

The PawSox return home tonight (7:05 pm) to begin a six game home stand with the first of four games against the Rochester Red Wings. Kevin Mulvey (4-8, 3.87 ERA) will pitch for Rochester. He’ll be opposed by Charlie Zink (12-3, 2.70 ERA) for the PawSox.

Unfortunately I will not be at the game tonight…but here is a brief overview…

Rochester Red Wings (52-59)

The Red Wings enter the game in fourth place in the IL North, 15 1/2 games behind the PawSox. They have won two in a row, splitting a four-game series with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees.

Mulvey makes his 21st start of the season. He won his last outing last Thursday against Toledo. In that game he threw five innings giving up one run on four hits. He last faced the PawSox on June 28th, failing to earn the decision in Rochester’s 8-6 win.

Pawtucket Red Sox (67-43)

Pawtucket enters the game after a 4-4 road trip against Columbus and Toledo. They still have the best record in the International League, 1 1/2 games on top of Scranton in the IL North. The PawSox hold an 7-3 edge over the Red Wings this season.

Zink takes the mound for the 23rd time tonight. He rebounded from a poor game against the Toledo Mud Hens to earn the win last Thursday at Columbus. He pitched six innings giving up four runs on eight hits. Zink has collected a decision in his last five outings, going 4-1 over that span.