The Columbus Clippers used a four run fifth inning on it’s way to a 5-4 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox yesterday at Huntington Park. Columbus has won the first three games of this series.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Clippers finally were able to get to PawSox starter Kris Johnson (4-9). CF Ezequiel Carrera led off with a single and advanced to third on a single by RF Jose Costanza and error by Lars Anderson. SS Josh Rodriquez mad it three singles in a row, plating Carrera. After a 3B Luis Valbuena walk to load the bases, DH Jordan Brown laced a double to left, clearing the bases.

The PawSox tried to mount a comeback with a Daniel Nava RBI single on the seventh and an Aaron Bates sacrifice fly in the eight, but came up a run short.

Nava and Bates drove in two runs each. Nava and Mark Wagner each had two hits.

Johnson never got out of the fifth inning, giving up five runs on eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out one.

The two clubs wrap-up their four game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. Mark Holliman (0-1, 3.00 ERA) starts for the PawSox. Justin Germano (2-2, 3.02 ERA) takes the mound for the Clippers.

The PawSox

NOTES: Mike Lowell made his third start for the PawSox yesterday, going hitless in five at bats as the DH.

Ryan Shealy has rejoined the PawSox after a brief stint in Boston. To make room RP Santo Luis was placed on the 7-dal disabled list with a right hamstring strain.

IF Argenis Reyes was also placed on the disabled list on Saturday with a right calf strain.

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You could not ask any more from the PawSox offense last night, as it collected 16 hits and scored seven runs. It was the pitching staff that could not hold-up its end of the bargain as Pawtucket fell to the Columbus Clippers 12-7 last night at Huntington Park. The loss is the second straight for the PawSox on this road trip (not counting Friday’s completion of a suspended game from June, also a loss) and seven of their last eight.

The rehabbing Mike Lowell was the star at the plate for the PawSox, going 4 for 4 with three doubles and two RBI’s. Gustavo Molina belted a three-run homer while Ryan Kalish, Niuman Romero, Jack Hannahan, and Gil Velazquez had two hits each.

As encouraging as the PawSox 16 hits were, they were unfortunately outdone by the Clippers, who collected 18. SS Luis Valbuena had five hits on the night. RF Jordan Brown and CF Ezequiel Carrera had three hits each.

Fleix Doubront (3-3) could not find any consistency on the mound, taking the loss. The lefty gave up six runs on seven hits in only three innings of work. He walked four, struck out three, and gave up a three-run homer to Valbuena.

Reliever Tommy Hottovy did not fair much better, giving up four runs in two innings. He also surrendered a three-run homer, to Clippers LF Josh Rodriguez in the fourth.

Game three of the series is this afternoon at 5:05 p.m. Mark Holliman (0-1, 3.00 ERA) makes his second start of the season for the PawSox. He faces Carlos Carrasco (8-4, 3.98 ERA) for Columbus.

NOTES: Lowell played his first game in the field last night, playing an uneventful first base. He is slated to play again this afternoon.

Jack Hannahan made his PawSox debut last night at third base, getting a pair of hits and driving in a run. He was acquired last week from the Mariners for future considerations.

It looks like Jacoby Ellsbury may be making a rehab stint with the PawSox. Ellsbury, still recovering from broken ribs suffered earlier this year, will make a rehab stint with the Gulf Coast Red Sox before being sent to Pawtucket.

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The Columbus Clippers won two games over the Pawtucket Red Sox last night at Huntington Park, completing a rain shortened affair played last month at McCoy 6-3, then taking the regularly scheduled game 5-3.

Game one was halted in the top of the sixth inning on June 20th when a fierce rain storm blew through Pawtucket with the Clippers leading 4-3. Since the Clippers were not scheduled to return to McCoy this season, officials ordered the game be completed last night.

The Clippers promptly added two more runs when the game resumed in the top of the sixth on a two run RBI single by DH Jordan Brown.

Columbus pitcher Carlos Carrasco (9-4), who started the game on June 20th but did not throw a pitch when the game resumed, was credited with the win. T.J. Large (2-1), who since the original game was placed on the disabled list but did surrender the lead last month, took the loss for Pawtucket.

In the regularly scheduled game the news was more of the same for Pawtucket, with the offense falling prey to strong pitching. Clippers starter Jeanmar Gomez (7-8) got the win, holding the PawSox to only one run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter. The lone run off Gomez came on a double by Tug Hulett and a throwing error by Columbus shortstop Josh Rodriguez.

Pawtucket was able to tally two runs in the top of the ninth on a RBI single by Lars Anderson and a bases loaded ground out by Argenis Reyes.

Robert Coello (2-4) took the loss on the mound for the PawSox, giving up all five Columbus runs on six hits over five innings. He walked two, struck out five, and gave up a pair of solo home runs to Brown and Rodriguez.

The series in Columbus will continue tonight at 7:05p.m. Felix Doubront (3-2, 2.36 ERA) will return to the mound for the PawSox. David Huff (4-0, 3.14 ERA) throws for the Clippers.

NOTES: Prior to the game the PawSox welcomed back RP Dustin Richardson, who had been with the Red Sox since June 12th. Richardson pitched a scoreless inning of relief last night. To make room for Richardson, the Red Sox released lefty reliever Kason Gabbard.

Josh Beckett returned to the Red Sox rotation yesterday. To make room on the Boston roster Michael Bowden was optioned back to Pawtucket.

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

PawSox outfielder Daniel Nava returned to the club last night after a stint with Boston. And he wasted little time in contributing, belting a three run homer and scoring the winning run in the tenth as Pawtucket salvaged the finale of their four game series with the Toledo Mud Hens, 5-4, last night at McCoy.

Nava had been with the Red Sox since early July when OF Jeremy Hermida went down with a rib injury. Nava made history with the Sox, belting a grand slamm against the Philadelphia Phillies in his first Major League at bat. With Hermida’s return to Boston yesterday, Nava was sent back down to Pawtucket.

Nava finished the night going 2 for 3 in his return, belting his three-run, game tying homer in the third on a 3-2 pitch off Toledo starter Charles Furbush.

Nava was the catalyst for the PawSox in the bottom of the tenth. He led off with a walk and hustled to third on a single by Mike Lowell. He scored the game winner one batter later as Lars Anderson singled to right.

Trailing 4-3 the PawSox tied the game again on a Tug Hulett double and Ryan Kalish sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.

Robert Manuel (5-1) got the win for the PawSox in relief, throwing three scoreless innings, giving up only one hit. He walked two and struck out three.

Ramor Ramirez made the start for Pawtucket, giving up three runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.

The PawSox now head back to the road, opening a four game series beginning tonight (7:05 p.m.) in Columbus. Robert Coello (2-3, 3.73 ERA) takes the mound for the PawSox. Jeanmar Gomez (6-8, 5.70 ERA) will go for the Clippers.

NOTES: Lowell began his rehab assignment last night, serving as the team’s DH. He was 1 for 5 with a strikeout, with his hit coming in the bottom of the tenth.

There were also reports yesterday that the Red Sox acquired infielder Jack Hannahan from the Mariners. He was expected to be assigned to the PawSox.

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The Toledo Mud Hens used 15 hits and nine walks on it’s way to an easy 11-2 victory this afternoon over the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy.  Toledo has won the first three games of the series and the PawSox have now lost five straight overall.

The Mud Hens scored their runs in bunches, tallying four runs in each the fourth and sixth innings.  They added two in the seventh and one in the ninth.  C Max St. Pierre was the hitting star for Toledo,  going 4 for 5 with a homer and two RBI.  Six of the nine staters for the Mud Hens drove in at least one run with five driving in two each.

The PawSox used five pitchers, all of whom gave up at least one run.  Fabio Castro (4-7) worked only 3 1/3 innings and took the loss, even though he gave up only one run.  Randor Bierd (3 runs), Santo Luis (4 runs), Chad Paronto (2 runs), and Rich Hill (1 run) were all equally ineffective.

The lone PawSox runs came on a two-run homer by Ryan Kalish in the bottom of the seventh.

The two teams will complete the four game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.  Charlie Furbush will make his Toledo debut, opposing Felix Doubront (3-2, 2.36) for the PawSox.  Red Sox IF/DH Mike Lowell is expected to make a rehab appearance tomorrow night with Pawtucket.

NOTES: With the activation today of Jed Lowrie and Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox designated 1B Ryan Shealy for assignment and optioned RP Dustin Richardson back to Pawtucket.

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