PawSox starter Michael Bowden has been one of the better pitchers in the International League this season.  But his last two outings against the Louisville Bats prove he still needs seasoning.

The Bats scored all six runs on eight hits off Bowden (2-3) on their way to an impressive 6-0 win over Pawtucket last night at McCoy in the first of a four game series.  Its the sixth time the PawSox have been shut out thus far this season.

Bowden worked only four innings, walking one and striking out one.  His ERA rose to 2.58.

As much as Bowden struggled, the opposite was true for Bats/ Reds pitching prospect Homer Bailey.  In getting the win Bailey (5-5) limited the PawSox to only five hits (all singles) over 8 eight innings.  He walked two and struck out eight.

RF Darnell McDonald and 2B Drew Sutton each homered and drove in two runs for the Bats.

The PawSox hope to right the ship as the series continues tonight (7:05 p.m).  Enrique Gonzalez (5-4, 4.97 ERA) goes for Pawtucket against Justin Lehr (5-2, 4.07 ERA) for Louisville.

NOTES:  Jeff Bailey is back with the PawSox, having been re-assigned by Boston after they activated Mark Kotsay off the disabled list.  Bailey went 2 for 4 in his return to Pawtucket.

Relief pitcher Randor Bierd had his best outing of the season in taking over for Bowden.  Bierd threw three scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits while walking one and striking out two.

It’s almost official…John Smoltz will be tabbed for a rehab start this Friday at McCoy.  Barring any complications from another side session today Smoltz is expected to throw 90 pitches or 6 innings for Pawtucket against the Bats.  He will then make another Pawtucket start next week in Syracuse before making his 2009 debut with the Red Sox.

I will not be able to get to the game tonight…but I hope to be at McCoy Thursday and definitely Friday for Smoltz’ rehan start.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox used the station-to-station approach in beating the Indinapolis Indians last night 4-2.  With the win the PawSox earned a split of their four game series.

The PawSox took this game by combining strong pitching with fundamental base running and hitting, scoring all four runs on nothing more than a single, a pair of groundouts, and a sacrifice fly.

Pawtucket scored a single run in the second on  aRBI singles by Freddie Guzman.  In the fifth Guzman and Sean Danielson led off with singles and Guzman scored two batters later on a soft grounder to third by Dusty Brown.  After Indy tied the game, Pawtucket scored the go ahead runs in the seventh on a fielder’s choice ground out by Paul McAnulty and a sacrifice fly by Chip Ambres.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink put together another impressive performance, although he did not figure in the decision.  Over 5 2/3 innings Zink gave up two runs on 7 hits, walking 2 and striking out no one.

Billy Traber (3-3) pithced 2 1/2 innings scoreless relief to get the win.  Fernando Cabrera pitched the ninth for his 10th save of the season.

Guzman led all Pawtuckt hitters, going 3 for 5.  Chris Carter and Travis Denker each had two hits for Pawtucket.

The PawSox return home tonight to begin an 8-game homestand beginning with the first of four games against the Louisville Bats.  It will be a rematch of two of Triple A’s highly touted arms as RHP Homer Bailey (4-5, 4.38 ERA) throws for the Bats against RHP Michael Bowden (2-2, 1.68 ERA) for the PawSox.

NOTES:  Clay Buchholz has been named the IL’s Pitcher of the Week.  In two starts Buchholz pitched 15 2/3 innings, striking out 10, walking no one, and took a perfect game into the ninth against Louisville.

Still no official word if Sox pitcher John Smoltz will be making a rehab start with the PawSox this week.  If he does, it will likely be this Friday at McCoy against the Louisville Bats.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead and held on to nip the Indianapolis Indians, 7-5 yesterday at Victory Field.

Trailing 4-3 entering the fifth, the PawSox took the lead for good by scoring all three runs after  first two batters were retired by Indy reliever Brian Slocum (0-2).   Travis Denker and Gil Velazquez walked.  They were driven in on an RBI double to left by Iggy Suarez.  Suarez would then score on a RBI single by Sen Danielson.

Both PawSox starter Kris Johnson and Indians hurler Eric Hacker struggled from the beginning, with neither man getting the decision.  Johnson gave up 5 runs (3 earned) on six hits, walking 5 and striking out 2 in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Hacker worked 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, while walking 7 and striking out one.

Jose Vaquedano (3-1) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win.  Marcus McBeth picked up his third save of the season.

Mark Kotsay and Freddie Guzman had two hits each to lead the PawSox attack.  Andrew McCutchen had two hits including a homer for the Indians.

The two clubs wrap up their series tonight (7:00) as Charlie Zink (4-4, 3.73 ERA) toes the mound the Pawtucket against Ty Taubenheim (2-5, 4.81 ERA) for the Indians.

NOTES- Sox pitcher John Smoltz had another impressive outing for Double A Portland yesterday and is slated to make his next two starts with the PawSox…the first as early as this Friday at McCoy.

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