Here is PawSox catcher Dusty Brown’s comments following his game winning three run homer that gave the PawSox the 5-4 win tonight over the Norfolk Tides.

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Dusty Brown belted a two-out three run home run in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Pawtucket Red Sox to a come from behind 5-4 win tonight over the Norfolk Tides at McCoy.

Brown lifted a 2-1 fastball from Norfolk reliever Kam Mickolio (1-1) that was just out of the reach of Tides left fielder Danny Figueroa and into the PawSox bullpen.

“It got in on me a bit.” said Brown.  I hit it high and I wasn’t sure if it was going to go or not.”

“We have been grinding offensively.” said PawSox Manager Torey Lovullo.  “We battled all the way through.”

The Pawtucket Red Sox bullpen nearly wasted a strong starting pitching performance by the rehabbing Boof Bonser.

With the PawSox leading 1-0 in the top of the seventh, Scott Atchison came on in relief of Bonser and gave up three singles then a two-run double by Norfolk C Adam Donachie to give the Tides a 2-1 lead.  Dustin Richard came in for Atchison and yielded a two out, two-run double to Tides SS Robert Andino to give Norfolk a 4-1 edge.

Bonser got off to a shaky start then settled down.  He gave up two hits and walked two and got out of a based loaded jam in the top of the first. Brown helped his pitcher out by gunning down Tides speedster Joey Gathright attempting to steal third.

Bonser gave up a lead-off single in the third then retired 12 batters in a row before giving up a one-out double to Tides SS Robert Andino in the sixth.

In six innings of work Bonser gave up four hits, walking two and striking out five.  He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes.  He lowered his ERA from 10.61 to 8.03.

“It all matched up for him.” said Lovullo of Bonser’s performance, “He did a great job of attacking hitters. His fastball was down hill.  He was getting swings and misses with his breaking ball.  He was excited.”

The PawSox scored their first run in the bottom of the sixth on doubles by Bubba Bell and Angel Sanchez.  Pawtucket duplicated the feat in the seventh with back-to-back doubles by Josh Reddick and Brown.

Norfolk starter Chris George matched Bonser in putting zeroes up on the board.  The former PawSox hurler threw 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball before giving up a run in the sixth. George worked a total of 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits.  He walked one and struck out three.

Andino had three hits, including two doubles to pace the Norfolk offense.  2B Jeff Blake added two hits.

T.J. Large (1-0) got the win, pitching a perfect ninth.

The win snaps a two game Pawtucket losing streak.   Game two of the series will be played tomorrow night (7:05pm).  Troy Patton (2-6, 6.56 ERA) starts for the Tides.  Felix Doubront (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second start for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

It’s been nearly a month since I’ve set foot in the McCoy Stadium press box.  I was away on vacation during the last home stand and it’s good to be back.  The PawSox look to rebound beginning tonight as they begin an eight game home stand with the first if four with the Norfolk Tides.  Former PawSox hurler Chris George (1-1, 4.22 ERA) throws for Norfolk while Boof Bonser (0-2, 10.61 ERA) makes the start for Pawtucket.   Here are the lineups:

NORFOLK TIDES (21-26, 2nd Place IL South)

Joey Gathright CF
Robert Andino SS
Jeff Salazar DH
Josh Bell 3B
Rhyne Hughes RF
Brandon Snyder 1B
Blake Davis 2B
Adam Donachie C
Doug Bernier 2B

Chris George P

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (20-26, 4TH Place IL North)

Tug Hulett 2B
Angel Sanchez SS
Daniel Nava LF
Lars Anderson 1B
Aaron Bates DH
Josh Reddick RF
Dusty Brown C
Jorge Jimenez 3B
Bubba Bell CF

Boof Bonser P

After a 6-2 home stand in mid-May the PawSox are coming off a 2-6 road trip.  The offense has struggled, with the PawSox scoring two runs or less in six of the eight games on the trip.

PawSox Manager Tory Lovullo changed the line-up a bit during the road trip, most notably dropping Josh Reddick from the lead-off spot and moving Lars Anderson to the clean-up role.

“Lars was ready for that challenge (of batting clean-up)” said Lovullo, He’s had some great at bats.  We thought the time was right.”

“We wanted (Reddick) to catch his breath a bit.” said Lovullo, “Being the first hitter out of the box to now seeing five hitters ahead of him allows him to get into the flow of the game.”

Bonser was ineffective in his last start, giving up seven runs in only one inning in the PawSox’ 18-1 drubbing at the hands of the Durham Bulls in a game that was suspended last Saturday and was completed on Sunday.  Lovullo said Bonser’s poor outing is not the focus of his rehab stint with Pawtucket.

“All the feedback we get about his health  is great.” said Lovullo, “That’s all we really care about.  We’re not so much concerned with the results.”

In off the field news RP Scott Atchison returned to the PawSox after briefly being called up by Boston last weekend.  He never did rejoin the Sox as Boston decided to reinstate OF Darnell McDonald instead.  To make room for Atchison the PawSox placed IF Ryan Khoury on the 7- day disabled list with a right calf strain.

I will provide game updates via Twitter and back here later with a complete game wrap.

The Durham Bulls broke open a 2-2 tie with a four-run sixth inning and held off a late rally to beat the PawSox 8-5 last night at Durham Athletic Park.  With the win the Bulls won three of four over Pawtucket.

PawSox pitcher Fabio Castro (2-4), working in relief of Michael Bowden, allowed the first three Durham batters in the sixth to reach base.  A PawSox error, two singles, and a double play resulted in the scoring of the four Durham runs.

Bowden pitched 4 1/3 innings giving up two runs on four hits.  The runs came on a two-run homer by Bulls LF Dan Johnson.  Bowden walked two and struck out three.  The Bulls forced him into man high pitch counts, as Bowden threw 91 pitches in his outing.

Trailing 8-2 in the ninth the PawSox tried to rally, scoring three times on only one hit.  The runs scored on bases loaded walks to Jorge Jimenez and Tug Hulett and a ground out by Angel Sanchez.

Lars Anderson belted a solo home run, his third of the season to score Pawtucket’s first run in the second.  Aaron Bates also drove in a run for the PawSox.

Bulls 2B Joe Dillon had four hits, three of them doubles to lead the Durham offensive attack.  Daniel Nava had two hits for the PawSox.

Pawtucket has today off as they travel back to McCoy to open up a 8-game homestand beginning tomorrow night with the first of four games with the Norfolk Tides.  Former PawSox pitcher Chris George (1-1, 4.22 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Tides.  Boof Bonser (0-2, 10.61 ERA) takes the mound for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

The Pawtucket Red Sox and Durham Bulls engaged in another pitchers’s duel last night at Durham Athletic Park.   Unlike Sunday’s 1-0 PawSox win, it was the Bulls’ turn to come away with the 1-0 victory.

Durham starter Jeremy Hellickson (7-2) carried a perfect game into the seventh before issuing a walk to Tug Hulett.  The PawSox spoiled the no hitter in the eighth on a lead-off single by Bubba Bell.  That was the only hit of the night for Pawtucket.

PawSox starter Kris Johnson (3-3) was nearly equal to the task over six innings in taking the loss.  He gave up only three hits, but one of them was a solo home run to Bulls 1B Ryan Shealy in the bottom of the second.

Dustin Richardson struck out five in two scoreless innings in relief of Johnson.

Bulls SS Elliot Johnson collected the other two Durham hits.

The four game series between the two teams wraps up tonight (7:05 p.m.). Michael Bowden (1-2, 6.03 ERA) starts for the PawSox.  He’ll face Heath Phillips (3-4, 4.58 ERA) for the Bulls.

NOTES:  Before the game PawSox pitcher Scott Atchison was called up by the Red Sox and IF Angel Sanchez was optioned back to the PawSox.

After the game the Red Sox announced that OF Darnell McDonald has been designated for assignment to make room for the return of Mike Cameron.  If McDonald clears waivers he may return to the PawSox.

BOX SCORE