We’re here at McCoy as the PawSox begin an 8 game home stand with the first of four games against the Buffalo Bisons.  Former PawSox pitcher Kyle Snyder (0-3, 4.05 ERA) will start for the Bisons.  He’ll be opposed by Charlie Zink (1-4, 5.52 ERA) for the PawSox.

There’s a lot to talk about.  First the line-ups…

BUFFALO

Cory Sullivan CF
Ramon Martinez SS
Fernando Martinez
Wily Mo Pena DH
Javier Valentin DH
Mike Lamb 3B
Robinson Cancel C
Jesus Feliciano RF
Argenis Reyes 2B

PAWTUCKET

Freddy Guzman RF
Jonathan Van Every CF
Chip Ambres LF
Chris Carter 1B
Dusty Brown C
Paul McAnulty DH
Travis Denker 2B
Angel Chavez 3B
Iggy Suarez SS

There are two new faces in the PawSox clubhouse. The first is OF Freddy Guzman. He was signed by the Sox after being released earlier this week by the Seattle Mariners. Guzman began the season at Triple A Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. He batted .214 in 13 games for the Rainiers. He spent most of 2008 with Toledo where he batted .270 with 3 homers and 41 RBI’s.  He has great speed, stealing 56 bases last season. He has 37 games of Big League experience, combining for a .213 average with San Diego and Texas. To make room on the roster the Red Sox traded OF Jeff Corsaletti to the Pirates for future considerations.

Former Red Sox lefty reliever Javier Lopez has also joined the club. Lopez accepted an assignment to Pawtucket after being designated for assignment on May 10th. The PawSox have not announced a corresponding roster move necessary to add Lopez to the club. Lopez threw a bullpen session before the game and Manager Ron Johnson said he does not expect to use Lopez tonight.

Pawtucket enters tonight’s game not having scored a run in their last 34 innings. Johnson said teams go through these slumps and he’s confident the team will break out of it soon…

“It’s just one of those funks we’re in. said Johnson, “You go through the first two days and it’s an issue. Now we’re at the point where we just let them kid abut it. Everybody’s been playing hard. They’re hustling. That’s all I can ask for.  It won’t stay that way.”

Zink makes his first start after coming on in relief during the first two rehab starts by Daisuke Matsuzaka.  He got the win in the PawSox’ 4-0 victory May 5th against Toledo.  He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innnings, giving up only three hits while walking two and striking out four.  He lost his last outing, yielding 4 runs on 3 hits May 10th at Columbus.

More coming up…

All teams go through tough stretches during the regular season.  The PawSox are in the midst of one right now.

The three game losing streak the PawSox are facing is, in and of itself, not troubling.  Being shut out in those three contests is.  Pawtucket has not scored a run since the third inning of their 2-1 victory Tuesday night in Toledo…that’s a stretch of 33 innings of scoreless ball…and a total of only two runs over their last four games.  Over the three game stretch the PawSox have collected a total of 13 hits.   Pawtucket has now been shut out five times this season.

The story of last night’s 6-0 loss to the Mud Hens was not the lack of runs but the strong performance of the rehabbing Daisuke Matsuzaka.   Even though he was saddled with the loss, Matsuzaka threw five impressive innings, giving up two runs on three hits.  He walked only one and struck out nine.  He threw a total of 70 pitches, 48 for strikes.

The PawSox hope the friendly confines of McCoy will get them out of this slump as they open the first of four games tonight (6:05pm) with the Buffalo Bisons.  Former PawSox starter Kyle Snyder (0-3, 4.05 ERA) will pitch for Buffalo.  Charlie Zink (1-4, 5.52 ERA) gets back into the rotation for the PawSox.

I’ll be in the McCoy press box and will have pre-game notes and updates throughout the game.

BOX SCORE

PROJO REPORT

The PawSox bats pounded out 20 hits, and Michael Bowden continued to keep batters at bay as Pawtucket routed the Columbus Clippers, 9-1 last night in the final game of their four game set in Columbus.  The win snapped the PawSox’ brief two game losing streak.

RF Sean Danielson led the Pawtucket offensive attack, going 5 for 6 with a homer and 2 RBI’s.  1B Paul McAnulty went 4 for 5 with a homer, two doubles, and 3 RBI’s.  C Dusty Brown and LF Chip Ambres each chipped in with three hits.

As much as the offensive display was impressive, the pitching story of the season has been the consistency of Bowden (2-1).   He pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up only one run on four hits.  He walked one, struck out two, and actually saw his ERA rise to 1.06.

Randor Bierd and Chris George pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way to secure the victory.

The PawSox continue their Ohio road trip with the first of four games tonight in Toledo against the Mud Hens.  Enrique Gonzalez (4-1) will throw for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Chris Lambert (1-2) for the Mud Hens.

BOX SCORE

PAWSOX REPORT

PROJO REPORT

Make it seven in a row for the Pawtucket Red Sox as Clay Buchholz held the Columbus Clippers to one hit over seven innings in last night’s 4-0 win in Ohio.

Buchholz (2-0) has won his last two starts, throwing 12 1/3 scoreless innings over that stretch.  Over his last three starts Buchholz has allowed only one earned run on 6 hits over 18 1/3 innings.  Buchholz was followed on the mound last night by the solid relief work of Rocky Cherry, Chris George, and Fernando Cabrera.

During their seven game winning streak Pawtucket pitching has given up a total of eight runs.  Three of the wins have been shutouts. On three other occasions the PawSox have given up only one run.

Dusty Brown led all PawSox hitters with a 4 for 5 night, including a double.  Angel Chavez continues to wield a hot bat, going 3 for 4 with a double and RBI.  Travis Denker went 2 for 3 with a solo homer.  Sean Danielson also had two hits and an RBI.

Game two of the series is tonight (7:05 p.m)  Kris Johnson (2-2) will throw for the PawSox.  He’ll face Kirk Saarloos (1-4) for Columbus.

PAWSOX REPORT

PROJO REPORT

The PawSox have had an incredible stretch of impressive pitching performances as of late.  They have a 5 game winning streak, during the last four of which the Pawtucket pitching staff has allowed a total of two runs.

The PawSox staff has thrown six shutouts thus far in 2009.  The team ERA of 2.87 is second in the International League (Gwinnett is #1 at 2.85).  The PawSox is tops in the league in fewest hits allowed at 169.  They have also given up the least number of runs and are tied with Norfolk in yielding only 14 home runs.

As impressive as their pitching stats have been is the fact that, overall, the offense has struggled.  Only Buffalo has a lower team batting average than Pawtucket’s .226.  The PawSox are also tied with the Braves for having the second fewest home runs hit by a team with 15.  Pawtucket also is second from the bottom in runs scored with 85.

So what can we take away from these numbers?  That at 15-10 the PawSox are hodling their own.   Unless there is a rash of injuries to the Boston pitching staff, the PawSox staff should remain consistent.  It will be interesting to see how far this team can go if the offense gets turned around.