The Rochester Red Wings lead the PawSox 1-0 after two innings tonight at McCoy.
Tim Wakefield, in his second rehab start with the PawSox, has given up only one hit through two, but it was a solo homer to Wings’ DH Justin Huber.
Despite the homer Wakefield has been effective and accurate, throwing only 22 pitches, 18 of which were for strikes.
The PawSox are looking to snap their ten game losing streak as they play the final game of their series tonight with the Rochester Red Wings. Tim Wakefield (0-1, 4.91 ERA) will make his second rehab start for the PawSox. He faces Armando Gabino (5-3, 2.93 ERA) for the Red Wings.
I am here at McCoy and will provide updates throughout the night. Here are the line-ups and pre-game notes…
ROCHESTER RED WINGS (61-64)
Matt Tolbert LF
Steve Tolleson 2B
Jose Morales C
Justin Huber DH
Danny Velencia 3B
David Winfree RF
Trevor Plouffe SS
Dustin Martin CF
Brock Peterson 1B
Armando Gabino P
PAWTUCKET RED SOX (52-72)
Josh Reddick RF
Mark Wagner DH
George Kottaras C
Jeff Bailey LF
Bubba Bell CF
Aaron Bates 1B
Travis Denker 2B
Angel Chavez 3B
Chris Woodward SS
Tim Wakefield P
PawSox Manager Ron Johnson says Wakefield is expected to throw about 80 pitches tonight. In his first rehab start last week at Gwinnett, Wakefield gave up two runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss in a 10-1 Braves win. He walked one and struck out three. Wakefield will have a familiar face behind the plate as Kottaras makes another rehab start at catcher.
Johnson said Chris Carter has been battling a bout of fatigue and is being given the night off.
In other off field news…Michael Bowden has been promoted to Boston. Fernando Cabrera has been designated for assignment to make room for Bowden on the Sox roster.
Rocco Baldelli has been taken off the disabled list and is back with Boston. OF Brian Anderson has been optioned back to Pawtucket. Anderson is with the team and will be available off the bench.
Speaking of Anderson, he spent part of his Friday at the optometrist. He was prescribed contact lenses which he hopes will help him better pick-up pitches at the plate.
Dustin Richardson has been added to the PawSox roster after having been promoted from Double A Portland. Richardson appeared in 38 games out of the pen where he complied a 2-2 record with a 2.70 ERA. Richardson is a tall lefty with a fastball in the mid-9o mph range.
Johnson announced his rotation for the next three nights against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Adam Mills will pitch tomorrow night, followed by Enrique Gonzalez on Sunday, and Paul Byrd will make his second Pawtucket start Monday night.
It looked like the PawSox were on the verge of snapping their nine game losing streak last night at McCoy against the Rochester Red Wings. Pawtucket led 3-1 entering the last frame. But instead it all turned around as Rochester scored four runs in the ninth to come away with a 5-3 win that earned the PawSox their tenth straight loss…
Marcus McBeth (2-2) took the loss in the ninth as the first six Red Wings batters in the inning reached base, with four runs scoring. Javier Lopez also worked the inning and gave up two hits during the Rochester onslaught.
The game looked like it was to be a pitchers duel as both clubs held each other in check until the sixth inning when Rochester took the lead on an RBI single by CF Dustin Martin.
The PawSox took the lead in the bottom of the seventh on RBI hits by Dusty Brown and Angel Chavez. They tacked on another in the eighth on an RBI single by Aaron Bates.
Randor Beird pitched well in his start for the PawSox. He worked seven innings, giving up only one run on four hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter
I plan to be at McCoy tonight (7:05 PM) as Tim Wakefield (0-1, 4.91 ERA) will make his second rehab start for the PawSox. He faces Armando Gabino (5-3, 2.93 ERA) for the Red Wings.
NOTES: It was announced after the game that OF Chris Dunacn was released by the Red Sox. Duncan was acquired last month from the Cardinals in exchange for SS Julio Lugo.
PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox losing streak has now reached nine games after they fell to the Rochester Red Wings, 5-1 tonight in game two of a day-night double header at McCoy. Pawtucket lost game one earlier this afternoon 6-0.
The PawSox were able to muster only five hits in the nightcap after collecting three hits in the matinee. Pawtucket did snap a 16 1/3 inning scoreless streak when Jeff Bailey clubbed an opposite field solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. Bailey had two hits for Pawtucket.
PawSox starter Paul Byrd (0-1) took the loss in his first appearance for Pawtucket as he prepares to possibly join Boston by the end of the season. He pitched four innings, giving up three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three. He threw 74 pitches, 49 for strikes. But for Byrd, the stats mean little…
“Overall my body felt good, it was nice to get back in front of a crowd” said Byrd, “The most important thing for me is that I’m commanding pitches.”
Byrd said he needs one more start before he feels he’ll be ready to join Boston.
“Today was a big step for me because I needed to see if my fastball was good enough.” said Byrd “I’d like to get my pitch count up into the 90′s and see that slider get just a hair better and we’ll go from there.”
PawSox Manager Ron Johnson was impressed by Byrd’s performance, and said his expereince speaks volumes as to when he will return to the big leagues.
“Paul Byrd knows” said Johnson, “When you see experience at that level of what he has done in his career, it’s fun to watch.”
Rochester scored two runs off Byrd in the top of the second on a RBI double by DH Trevor Plouffe. They added another in the third on an RBI single by LF Justin Huber.
Hunter Jones relieved Byrd and pitched 2 1/3 innings yielding two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by CF Dustin Martin and SS Matt Tolbert..
Rochester starter Jason Jones (4-10), who struggled for most of the season, put up an exemplary performance against the PawSox. He threw seven innings, giving up only one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Rochester banged out thirteen hits with Huber, Plouffe, Martin, Danny Velencia, and Brock Peterson collecting two hits each.
The two teams play game four of their series tomorrow night at 7:05pm. R.A. Dickey (0-1, 12.19 ERA) starts for the Red Wings. He’ll be opposed by Randor Bierd (1-1, 4.85 ERA) for the PawSox.
The PawSox still trail the Rochester Red Wings, 3-0 after five innings tonight at McCoy.
Rochester tallied their third run in the third on a RBI single by Justin Huber.
Paul Byrd, making his first Pawtucket start, lasted only four innings, giving up all three Rochester runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out three.
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