Paul McAnulty hit a wind-aided home run to left in the bottom of the first to give the PawSox a 2-0 lead over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs after two innings this afternoon in McCoy.

PawSox starter Michael Bowden has been solid through two innings.  He has given up only one hit while striking out two and walking no one.

The Red Sox have announced that Red Sox SS Julio Lugo will begin a rehab assignment beginning tomorrow with the PawSox.

Lugo has been sidelined since March 17th since undergoing surgery on his meniscus in his right knee.  There is no timetable as to the number of games he will play with the PawSox

Took some time away from the team yesterday, but I am back in the McCoy press box for today’s Patriot’s Day matinee with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  Michael Bowden (0-0, 1.04 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll be oppsed by Kyle Kendrick (1-0, 1.64 ERA) for the Iron Pigs.

In terms of the weather, there is rain in the forecast, but it looks like it will hold off for us to get this game in.

Here is a brief preview…

LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS (4-6)

LINE-UP

Rich Thompson LF
Jason Donald SS
Mike Cervenack DH
Andy Tracy 1B
Pablo Ozuna 2B
Jeremy Slayden RF
J.J. Furmaniak
Paul Hoover C
Jason Ellison CF

The Iron Pigs are looking to take three out of four in this series with a win today.  They have already doubled their win total over the PawSox from a year ago when they were 1-15 against Pawtucket in their inaugural season in the International League.

Kendrick makes his third start of the season for the Iron Pigs.  He has been extremely effective over his first two starts, holding Scranton-Wilkes Barre and Syracuse to a total of 2 earned runs in 11 innings of work…Kendrick spent all of 2008 with the World Champion Phillies, compiling a 11-9 record with a 5.49 ERA in 30 starts.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (6-5)

LINE-UP

Jeff Bailey LF
Jeff Natale 1B
Paul McAnulty DH
Chip Ambres RF
Dusty Brown C
Angel Chavez 3B
Travis Denker 2B
Ivan Ochoa SS
Sean Danielson CF

The PawSox are looking to earn a split in this four game series if they can pull out a win today.

Bowden has been one of the encouraging strories coming out of the PawSox pitching staff early this season.  He has allowed only one earned run over 8 2/3 innings of work over his first two starts.

In off the field news, Boston SS Julio Lugo will begin a rehab stint tomorrow with the PawSox.  Lugo has been sidelined since March 17th following knee surgery…

it looks like Clay Buchholz will be back in the PawSox rotation when the team hosts the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday.  Buchholz missed his last start due to a hamstring strain.

PawSox OF/1B Brad Wilkerson has retired.  He left the PawSox after the second game of the season in Buffalo.  He is currently on the PawSox temporary inactive list.  He leaves baseball with a .247 average with 122 himers in his Big League career…

Stay tuned for updates through the game…

The Pawtucket Red Sox took advantage of their “pitching staff by committee” and Lehigh Valley mistakes in coming away with a 5-2 victory this afternoon at McCoy.

Pawtucket received a solid performance from five relief pitchers.  Marcus McBeth started in place of Clay Buchholz who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.  He was followed by Jose Vaquedano (1-1), Rocky Cherry, Francisco Carbrera, and Daniel Bard in shutting down the Iron Pigs line-up.

Pawtucket was helped by a sloppy Lehigh Valley staff which yielded 8 walks and a shoddy defense which committed three errors.

Jeff Natale and Chip Ambres each had two hits and drove in two to lead the PawSox offense.  Catcher Carlos Maldonado also had two hits for Pawtucket.

Game three of the four game series will be tomorrow at 1:05pm.  Enrique Gonzalez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will throw for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Justin Lehr (1-0, 1.43 ERA) for Lehigh Valley.

PAWSOX REPORT

Here’s Ron Johnson’s post game remarks…

The PawSox beat the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs this afternoon by a score of 5-2 at McCoy. More soon…