PAWTUCKET- The PawSox bats were quieted by strong pitching once again, amassing only 3 hits in falling to the Gwinnett Braves 5-0 tonight at McCoy.  It’s the first time the PawSox have been shut out this season.

The loss was Pawtucket’s third straight, over which they have scored a total of two runs.  Gwinnett has now won four straight.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson (1-3) showed the fans at McCoy why he is considered the top prospect in the Atlanta organization.  Hanson allowed only 3 hits over six innings.  He walked one and struck out nine.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen him.” said Pawsox Manager Ron Johnson, “I heard the hype.  You see why he’s rated where he’s rated.”

The best threat of the night for the PawSox came in the bottom of the first when they loaded the bases with only one out.  But Hanson settled down and struck out Dusty Brown and Chip Ambres to get out of the jam.

“When you got someone on the ropes like that, you gotta close the deal” said Johnson, “If they get into that point where they haven’t settled in yet, you’ve got to capitalize.”

Lefty Mariano Gomez pitched three perfect innings in closing out the game for the Braves.  The PawSox were held hitless for the last seven innings of the game.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink (0-3) had trouble finding the plate all night.  He gave up five runs on nine hits.  He walked five, struck out only three, and hit three batters.  Zink has hit nine batters so far in 2009.  The team record is 11 by Danny Parks in 1981.  Zink threw 98 pitches, only 52 for strikes.

“I thought Charlie did a pretty god job” said Johnson, “But going six innings and giving up five (runs), I’m sure Charlie isn’t too pleased with that.”

LH Chris George relieved Zink and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out three.

Offensively the Braves were led by SS Diory Hernandez, had three hits and drove in two of the Braves runs.  LF Brian Barton also had three hits and drove in a run.   CF Gregor Bianco added a pair of hits and one RBI.

Game two of the series is tomorrow night (6:15pm) as Michael Bowden (1-0, 0.64 ERA) will return to the PawSox mound.  He’ll be opposed by Kris Medlen (2-0, 2.04 ERA) for the Braves.

The Gwinnett Braves now lead the PawSox 5-0 through four innings tonight at McCoy.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink has not had a good night, giving up four runs (two earned) in the top of the fourth.  He has given up eight hits while walking five and hitting two batters.  Zink has hit 8 batters so far in this young season.  He has thrown 77 pitches, 39 for strikes…

The Gwinnett Braves lead the PawSox 1-0 after two innings tonight at McCoy.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink has had a shaky couple of innings, giving up a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Braves SS Diory Hernandez.  He also struggled in the second, allowing the first two Braves to reach base before getting out of the jam unscathed.

The PawSox were able to load the bases in the first with one out, but Braves starter Tommy Hanson struck out Dusty Brown and Chip Ambres to end the threat…

Welcome to McCoy as the PawSox return home to open up an eight game homestand with four games against the Gwinnett Braves.  RHP Tommy Hanson (0-3, 2.18 ERA) throws for the Braves.  He’ll be opposed by RHP  Charlie Zink (0-2, 4.96) for the PawSox.

The weather is seasonable for April 30th, so we will get this game in…

Here’s a quick preview from press row…

GWINNETT BRAVES (8-12)

LINE-UP

Gregor Blanco CF
Brian Barton LF
Brooks Conrad 2B
Barbaro Canizares DH
Diory Hernndez SS
Reid Gorecki RF
Van Pope 3B
J.C. Boscan C
Wes Timmons 1B

The Braves come to McCoy for their only visit of 2009.  They do so in a new location…moving to Gwinnett County, GA after spending 33 years in Richmond, VA.

Gwinnett got off to a rough start this season, but has turned things around, winning their last three contests. The currently sit in third place in the IL South, 4 1/2 games behind Durham.

Hanson is rated as the #1 prospect in the Braves organization.  He is also ranked 13 in the Baseball Prospectus Top 100.  He has pitched fairly well over his first four starts, giving up a total of only five earned runs.  Unfortunately the Braves offense has not been able to score enough runs to earn him a win.  It will be interesting to see how he fares tonight.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX

LINE-UP

Sean Danielson CF
Gil Velazquez SS
Paul McAnulty 1B
Chris Carter RF
Dusty Brown C
Chip Ambres DH
Travis Denker 2B
Jeff Corsaletti LF
Angel Chavez 3B

The PawSox return home after a 3-3 road trip through Lehigh Valley and Rochester.  Pawtucket is in third place in the IL North, 5 1/2 games behind Scranton/Wilkes Barre.  The PawSox had great success against the Braves in 2008, going 6-1, winning all four games played at McCoy.

Zink comes into the game off his most impressive performance of the season, a six inning, one hit, one run affair last week against the Iron Pigs.

Tonight marks the McCoy return for two members of the team who spent part of their early season in Boston. Gil Velzaquez was called up when Jed Lowrie injured his wrist. Chris Carter started 2009 on the Boston roster and was optioned back to Pawtucket last week while the team was in Lehigh Valley.

With all the call-ups and injuries to the team, it has really played a negative impact on the offense.  The PawSox have hit a home run in over a week, dating back to Jonathan Van Every’s game-tying grnad slam on August 22nd against Rochester.

That’s it for now…join me for updates throughout the game….

The Pawtucket Red Sox offense was limited to 8 singles, and they hit into three double plays, falling to the Syracuse Chiefs, 4-1 last night in Syracuse.

The PawSox lone run came in the top of the third on a RBI single by Sean Danielson.  Danielson, Chris Carter, and Gil Velazquez each had two hits to lead the PawSox.

Chiefs third baseman Cory Castro drove in a pair of runs while RF Jorge Padilla had two hits for Syracuse.

Kris Johnson (1-2) took the loss for the PawSox.  He gave up all four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work.  He gave up five hits walking three and striking out six.  Daniel Bard again had an impressive relief appearance, working two innings, giving up one hit while striking out four.  He lowered his ERA to 1.42.

Syracuse starter Michael O’Connor (1-0) picked up the win for the Chiefs.

The PawSox return home tonight to begin an eight game home stand with four against the Gwinnett Braves.  Charlie Zink (0-2, 4.96 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Braves top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson (0-3, 2.18 ERA).

I plan to be at tonight’s game and will provide updates throughout.

NOTES:  PawSox starter Michael Bowden returned to the PawSox yesterday after his brief relief appearnce with Boston last Sunday against the Yankees.  Bowden is expected to start game two of the series against the braves on Friday.  To make room for Bowden RP Robert Coello was sent to Single A Salem.