PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox used some timely hitting and Clay Buchholz had another impressive start as the PawSox took down the Louisville Bats, 7-3 tonight at McCoy.  The win snapped a four game home losing skid for Pawtucket.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the PawSox scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead.  The first two Pawtucket batters reached base as Anglel Chavez led off with a single and Freddie Guzman reached base after Bats starter Sam LeCure could not handle Guzman’s sacrifice bunt attempt.  Chavez and Guzman then completed a double steal, leading to the ejection of Louisville Manager Rick Sweet, who argued Guzman was out at second.

After Jeff Bailey popped to shortstop, Travis Denker drove both runners home with a double to right.  Two batters later Denker crossed the plate on a double by Paul McAnulty.

The PawSox added a pair of runs in the seventh on two out RBI singles by McAnulty and Gil Velazquez.

“We got a two run lead, they come back score three and we get it back.” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson,  “It was nice to see.”

Buchholz improved to 4-0, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits.  He struck out five and walked no one.  He threw 82 pitches, 57 for strikes.  All three runs came in the top of the fifth on a two run home run by Wes Bankston and a ground out by Brian Peterson.

“I think the pitches I’m throwing right now I think I can live with (in Boston)” said Buchholz, “That was my big thing coming here…pitching well enough to keep my confidence going even if I was in the Big Leagues right now.  Everything’s going well right now.”

“He gave up three runs in that inning (the fifth), then he came out and put up two more zeroes.” said Johnson, “I’m sure if I would have kept him out he would have thrown two more.”

McClure (2-5) took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits.  He walked two and struck out seven.

Pawtucket scored their other runs on a RBI double by Guzman in the second and a solo home run in the third by Chris Carter, his third of the season.

McAnulty and Velazquez had two hits each to lead the PawSox.

The finale of the four game series will be tomorrow night (7:05pm) as Red Sox starter John Smoltz (NR) makes a rehab start for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Ramon Ramirez for the Bats.

BOX SCORE

The PawSox lead the Louisville Bats 5-3 after five innings tonight at McCoy.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the PawSox scored three runs in the frame on a two-run double to right by Travis Denker followed two batters later by a RBI double by Paul McAnulty.

PawSox starter Clay Buchholz had cruised through the first four innings before giving up three runs on four hits in the fifth.  The big hit was a two-run homer to left by Bats 1B Wes Bankston.

Through five Buchholz has thrown 57 pitches, 43 for strikes.  He has given up 6 hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.

The PawSox tallied their second run in the bottom of the third on a deep home run to right by Chris Carter.

The Pawtucket Red Sox lead the Louisville Bats 1-0 after two innings tonight at McCoy.  The PawSox’ run came in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Freddie Guzman.

PawSox starter Clay Buchholz remains locked in on the Bats’ hitters, giving up two hit through three innings yet still only facing the minimum of nine Louisville batters.

It’s nice to be back in the McCoy Stadium press box as the PawSox take on the Louisville Bats tonight in game three of their four game set.  Pawtucket looks to rebound after losing the first two games to the Bats.  Clay Buchholz (3-0, 1.47 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Sam LeClure (2-4, 6.02 ERA) for the Bats

First, the line-ups…

Louisville Bats (26-27, 2nd, IL West)

Norris Hopper LF
Drew Stubbs CF
Darnell McDonald
Danny Dorn DH
Wes Bankston 1B
Drew Sutton 2B
Danny Richar SS
Michael Griffin 3B
Brian Peterson C

Pawtucket Red Sox (27-25, 2nd IL East)

Jeff Bailey 1B
Travis Denker2B
Chris Carter DH
Dusty Brown C
Paul McAnulty LF
Gil Velazquez SS
Sean Danielson RF
Angel Chavez 3B
Freddie Guzman CF

Buchholz is coming off his most impressive outings of the season, a near perfect game last week at Louisville.  He took his bid into the ninth before it was broken up by the Bats’ Danny Richar.   Buchholz closed out the game, earning the 1-hit shutout.

The PawSox have lost four straight at McCoy, the first time that has happened since 2007.  They remain toward the bottom of the league hitting stats, sitting next to last in batting average (.232), hits (406) and runs (167).  Only the Buffalo Bisons are worse.  More troubling is the Pawtucket batting average at McCoy, a paltry .217.  Despite those numbers the PawSox are 13-10 at home and lead the International League in walks with 205.

On the injury front, PawSox outfielder Jonathan Van Every will be re-evaluated by the Red Sox medical staff tomorrow.  Manager Ron Johnson hopes Van Every will begin some light baseball workouts with the anticipation that he will return to the line-up in a little over a week.

That’s it for now.  Check back for updates throughout the game…

The Louisville Bats collected three solo home runs off PawSox starter Enrique Gonzalez, just enough to lead them to a 4-2 win last night at McCoy.  The Bats have taken the first two games on this four game series.

The home runs came in the second (Daniel Dorn (7)), fifth (Danny Richar (3)) and sixth innings (Wes Bankston (8)), all on first pitches from Gonzalez (5-4).  The Bats tacked on an insurance tally in the eighth on a RBI double by Darrnell McDonald.

Other than giving up the home runs, Gonzalez kept the Bats in check, working 6 1/3 innings giving up all four runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out four.

Once again the PawSox offense continued its inconsistent ways, scoring their runs on a solo homer by Paul McAnulty (his 7th) and a RBI single by Travis Denker.  Denker, Freddie Guzman, and Jeff Bailey had two hits each for the PawSox.

I plan to be at McCoy tonight (7:05 PM) for game three of the series as Clay Buchholz (3-0, 1.47) returns to the mound for Pawtucket, opposed by Sam LeCure (2-4, 6.02 ERA) for Louisville.

NOTES: IF Jeff Natale was activated off the disabled list for the PawSox last night.  He had been sidelined with a left oblique strain.  He went 1 for 4 while playing second base.

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PAWSOX REPORT

PROJO REPORT