The Indianapolis Indians have taken advantage of sloppy Pawtucket pitching as they lead the PawSox 6-1 after six innings at McCoy.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink was ineffective in 4 2/3 innings of work.  He gave up four runs on four hits.  Zink also had control issues, walking seven and hitting four others.

Jose Vaquedano worked 2/3 of an inning giving up two runs on two hits.  He walked two and struck out no one.

Pawtucket’s sole run came in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to right by Travis Denker, his fourth of the season.

The PawSox and Indianapolis Indians are scoreless through three innings tonight at McCoy.

Pawtucket had a chance to score in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out.  But Paul McAnulty struck out and Chris Carter lined to 2B Shelby Ford to end the inning.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink has yet to allow a hit through three innings, but he has been anything but stellar.  He has walked five and hit two batters.  With one out Zink loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter in the first, but then forced 3B Neil Walker to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.  Zink has already thrown 59 pitches, onl;y 23 for strikes.

A couple of other tidbits I left out of the pre-game notes…

With Dusty Brown away from the team on a brief paternity leave, The PawSox re-activated Carlos Maldonado who will serve in the role of back-up catcher.

RJ remains positive on the prospects of starter Kris Johnson, who fell to 3-10 with last night’s 9-5 loss to Indy.  Johnson said Triple A is still a learning experience for the young lefty, and he believes Kris Johnson has the stuff to make it in the major leagues.

“When it all comes togteher, you’re gonna get something special” said RJ.

The PawSox try to right the ship again tonight as they host the Indianapolis Indians in game two of their four-game set at McCoy.  Indy took game one 9-5 last night.   Pawtucket looks to snap a six game losing streak with a win tonight.

Tonight Tom Gorzelanny (3-3, 2.77 ERA) gets the call for Indianapolis.  Charlie Zink (4-9, 5.14 ERA) will throw for the PawSox.

Here are the line-ups…

INDIANPOLIS (42-49, 3rd in IL West)

Brian Bixler SS
Lastings Milledge LF
Robinson Diaz C
Steve Pearce 1B
Neil Walker 3B
Brian Morrow RF
Lance Broadway DH
Shelby Ford 2B
Chris Barnwell CF

PAWTUCKET (43-45, 4th in IL North)

Freddy Guzman CF
Ivan Ochoa SS
Paul McAnulty DH
Chris Carter RF
Mark Wagner C
Travis Denker 2B
Bubba Bell LF
Gil Velazquez 1B
Angel Chavez 3B

Zink has had a rough few outings just before the All-Star break.  He has gone 0-3 in his last three starts with an ERA of 8.47.  On the other hand Gorzellany has had some bad luck in his last two starts.  He is 0-2 but with an ERA of only 0.68.

Aaron Bates is headed back to Pawtucket after being optioned by Boston following the return tonight of 3B Mike Lowell.  PawSox Manager Ron Johnson said Bates is expected to be in the clubhouse before the game but is not in the starting line-up.  Johnson did say that there is a good chance Bates may see some action off the bench tonight.

Jed Lowrie is not in the PawSox clubhouse, no doubt en route to Toronto to join the Red Sox in time for tomorrow’s game with the Blue Jays.  Although no official word has come from Boston, Lowrie is expected to officially be re-instated tomorrow.

PawSox catcher Dusty Brown left last night’s game to be with his wife Jordan who went into labor to deliver their first son.  Word in the clubhouse was that Master Brown was born late this afternoon.  Congratulations!

I am once again firmly seated in the McCoy press box and will provide updates throughout the game.  Please check back.

PAWTUCKET-  The All-Star break did little to revitalize the PawSox offense.  But it appeared to do wonders for the Indianapolis Indians.

Indianapolis collected 18 hits as they dominated Pawtucket 9-5 tonight at McCoy.  The loss is Pawtucket’s sixth straight and nine out of their last ten.

The game was not as close as the score indicated as the PawSox banged out five hits and plated four runs in the bottom of the ninth off Indianapolis reliever Chris Bootcheck.

“It was a tough right up until the ninth inning.” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson,  “It was just one of those games where we didn’t establish any momentum offensively early.”

It was a tough outing for PawSox starter Kris Johnson (3-10).   He allowed the lead-off man to reach in each of his first four innings.  All four would score.  Among them was a solo homer by Ford in the top of the fourth.  Johnson worked five innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits.  He walked one and struck our six.  He threw 92 pitches, 66 for strikes.

T.J. Large made his PawSox debut, pitching a scoreless sixth inning, not allowing a hit while walking two.

Hunter Jones worked two innings, giving up three runs on four hits. He struck out three while walking no one.

Marcus McBeth worked the ninth and gave up two runs on a solo home run to RF Tagg Bozied and a two-out single to SS Brian Bixler.

Every member of Indianapolis line-up had at least one hit.  Ford and 1B Steve Pearce had three hits apiece.  Pearce also drove in two runs for Indy.

RF Bubba Bell, 2B Travis Denler, 3B Angel Chavez, and SS jed Lowrie collected RBI’s for the PawSox.

Indianapolis starter Ian Snell (2-1) excelled in his fourth consecutive outing since being sent down to Triple A by the Pirates.  He worked  innings 6 1/3 innings giving up one unearned run on two hits.  He walked five and struck out seven.

Game two of the series is tomorrow night (7:05 PM).  Tom Gorzelanny (3-3, 2.77 ERA) will pitch for Indianapolis.  Charlie Zink (4-9, 5.14 ERA) will throw for the PawSox.

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