The Pawtucket Red Sox and Toledo Mud Hens gave fans at Fifth Third Field a clinic on great pitching. And it was the Hens who won he duel.
Toledo’s Eddie Bonine was just a little better than Pawtucket’s Michael Bowden as the Mud Hens nipped the PawSox 1-0.
Bonine (11-2) allowed only a single hit over seven innings of work to earn the win. That came in the form of a Dusty Brown single in the second inning. Over his 98-pitch performance Bonine walked one while striking out seven.
Toledo relievers Francisco Cruceta and Blaine Neal also shut down the PawSox, with the only other Pawtucket hit coming in the ninth on a bunt single by Joe Thurston. The PawSox never had a runner advance past second base all night. Blaine earned his 25th save of the season.
Bowden (0-2) deserved a better fate in his second start with the team. His only mistake came in the fourth inning when he gave up a solo homer to Timo Perez. Bowden pitched six innings, yielding six hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. PawSox relievers Lincoln Holdzkom and Hunter Jones pitched the remainder of the game giving up only one hit over two innings.
The PawSox loss, combined with another Scranton/Wilkes Barre win, leaves Pawtucket only 1/2 ahead of the Yankees in the IL North.
Game three of the series with Toledo takes place tonight (6:30 pm) Edgar Martinez (4-2) takes the mound for Pawtucket. He will face Virgil Vaaquez for the Hens.
BOX SCORE
Here are the results from across the International League from last night…
A five-run first inning was enough to lead the Durham Bulls over the Louisville Bats 10-5.
BOX
Five Norfolk Tides batters collected at least two hits in
their 9-3 win over the Columbus Clippers.
BOX
Four Indianapolis Indians drove in at least two runs in their
10-2 domination of the Syracuse Chiefs.
BOX
What a difference 5 days makes.
Last Sunday PawSox starter David Pauley struggled in a loss to the Toledo Mud Hens. Since then Pauley apparently learned a thing or two as he dominated the Hens last night in Pawtucket’s 3-2 win at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.
Pauley (12-3) worked 7 2/3 innings giving up only one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out nine throwing 99 pitches, 69 for strikes. The only run he allowed came in the eighth as it appeared fatigue was beginning to set in.
In last Sunday’s 8-4 loss to Toledo at McCoy Pauley gave up five runs in only 3 1/3 innings of work.
The Mud Hens made the game interesting by coming to within a run in the bottom of the ninth. But PawSox reliever Chris Smith settled down and earned his 11th save.
Offensively the PawSox scored all their runs via the long ball. Joe Thurston belted his eighth homer of the season in the top of the first and Chris Carter added a two-run shot (his 21st) in the sixth. Carter’s two RBI’s give him a league lead 73 for the season.
Thurston, Carter, and Keith Ginter led the PawSox with two hits apiece. Brandon Moss returned to the club last night, playing first base and going 0 for 3.
Toledo starter Yorman Bazardo (4-6) pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He walked three, struck out six, and gave up both PawSox homers.
With the win the PawSox are now 3-2 on this eight game road trip, winners of their last three. Game two of the four game set takes place tonight (7:00pm). Michael Bowden (0-1) makes his second start for the PawSox. He’ll be opposed by Eddie Bonine (10-2) for the Hens.
BOX SCORE
As the Red Sox prepare to welcome back David Oriz to the starting line-up tonight, they have optioned Brandon Moss back to Pawtucket.
Moss hit .295 with two homers and 11 RBI’s in 34 games this season with Boston.
Here are the results from around the International League yesterday…
The Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees split a doubleheader yesterday, losing game one 6-3 and winning game two on a Ben Broussard three-run walk-off home run 4-1. GAME ONE BOX GAME TWO BOX
The Durham Bulls and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs split a double header, with Durham winning last night’s suspended game 6-5 and the Iron Pigs taking game two 2-0. GAME ONE BOX GAME TWO BOX
Garrett Jones belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to lead the Rochester Red Wings over the Toledo Mud Hens 6-1 in a game shortened to five innings due to rain. BOX
Neil Walker went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs in the Indianapolis Indians’ 8-3 win over the Charlotte Knights. BOX
Catcher Ryan Hanigan had three hits to pace the Louisville Bats over the Syracuse Chiefs 4-3. BOX
The Norfolk Tides and Buffalo Bisons contest was washed out by rain.
