The Louisville Bats feasted on Pawtucket Red Sox pitching, pounding out 17 hits on their way to a 7-2 decision over the PawSox this afternoon at McCoy.  The Bats have taken the first two games of their four game series with Pawtucket.

Every member of the Bats’ line-up had at least one hit, led by CF Dave Sappelt who had four.  Six separate Bats had one RBI each.

Pawtucket scored their runs in the bottom of the first on a RBI single by Ryan Lavarnway and in the eighth on a Hector Luna single.

Lavarnway, Luna, and Nate Spears had two hits each for the PawSox.

Tony Pena, Jr. (7-5) took the loss for Pawtucket, giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings.  He walked two and struck out two.  Clevelan Santeliz gave up two runs over two innings.  Royce Ring gave up the other Louisville run.

Game three of the series is tomorrow night at 7:05p.m.   Edinson Volquez (2-0, 2.18 ERA) gets the ball for the Bats.  Kyle Weiland (8-7, 3.15 ERA) throws for the PawSox.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox mustered only four hits in falling to the Louisville Bats last night 3-2, in the opener of a four game series at McCoy.

The Bats got on the board in the top of the third, scoring two runs on a two-run double by CF Denis Phipps off PawSox starter Kevin Millwood.

The PawSox tied the game in the bottom of the third.  With one out, Louisville starter Travis Wood walked Che-Husan Lin, Hector Luna, and Ryan Lavarnway to load the bases.  Lars Anderson drove in Lin with a sharp single to right.  Luna scored one batter later on a ground out by Luis Exposito.

PawSox starter Kevin Millwood was pitching well, but fell in trouble with two out in the sixth.  Millwood gave up three consecutive singles, to 2B Chris Valaika, 3B Mike Costanzo, and SS Kristopher Negron to give Louisville the lead.

Millwood (6-2) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.  He walked three and struck out ten.

Game two of the series is this afternoon at 1:05p.m.  Daryl Thompson (2-1, 3.21 ERA) takes the mound  for Louisville.  Tony Pena Jr. (7-4, 3.62 ERA) starts for Pawtucket.

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NOTES:  The Red Sox announced yesterday that utility man Yamaico Navarro and pitcher Kendal Volz were traded to the Kansas City Royals for IF Mike Aviles.  Navarro played in 34 games with the PawSox, batting .258 (33-for-128) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 13 RBI, 25 runs and 17 walks.

Red Sox IF Jed Lowrie will begin a rehab assignment with the PawSox beginning Monday night.  Lowrie is expected to play Monday and Tuesday against Louisville, then Thursday and Friday against Buffalo before being re-evaluated by the Red Sox training staff.  Lowrie has been on the disabled list since June 17 with a left shoulder strain.

The Pawtucket Red Sox now find themselves two games out of first place in the I.L.’s North Division after last night’s 4-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs at Coca-Cola Park.

The PawSox got on the board first in the top of the first as Che-Hsuan Lin led off the game with a single, stealing second, then scoring two batters later on a single by Lars Anderson.

After the Iron Pigs scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the second, the PawSox scored twice in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Nate Spears and Luis Exposito.

Lehigh Valley tied the game in the bottom of the fourth before the PawSox got the game winner in the sixth on a RBI single by Jose Iglesias.

Exposito had two of the PawSox’ eight hits on the night, both doubles.

Brandon Duckworth pitched well enough to earn the win.  Duckworth (8-6) has been impressive since the All-Atar break, winning for the fourth consecutive time.  Last night he worked five innings, giving up three runs on five hits.  He walked one and struck out two.

Royce Ring, Jason Rice, Tommy Hottovy, and Scott Atchison threw shutout ball the rest of the way to secure the victory.

The PawSox head home to begin a series with the Louisville Bats beginning tonight at 6:05p.m. Travis Wood (1-1, 3.71 ERA) will pitch for the Bats. Kevin Millwood (5-0, 4.06 ERA) throw for Pawtucket.

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It was a pitcher’s duel matinee today in Allentown, PA between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  The PawSox broke-up a 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the eighth to come away with a 2-1 win at Coca-Cola Park.

The PawSox were aided in scoring the go ahead run in the eighth by Iron Pigs reliever Justin De Fratus (2-1).  Lars Anderson led off with a double and Hector Luna walked.  Nate Spears then grounded into a double play, advancing Anderson to third.  De Fratus’ first pitch to Luis Expositio got away from Lehigh Valley C Dane Sardinha allowing Anderson to score.

The other PawSox run game in the top of the second on a RBI single by Che-Hsuan Lin.

Anderson and Brent Dlugach led all PawSox hitters with two hits on the day.

PawSox starter Matt Fox and Iron Pigs starter Scott Mathieson each gave up one run over six innings.  Fox was a little inconsistent on the mound, walking five and striking out four.  He gave up only two hits, one of which was a solo homer to Iron Pigs LF Brandon Moss.

The PawSox are now three games behind Lehigh Valley for first place in the I.L.’s North Division.  The finale of the four game series is tomorrow night at 7:05p.m.  Brandon Duckworth (7-6, 3.78 ERA) gets the start for the PawSox.  Brian Bass (5-8, 4.03 ERA) will get the ball for Lehigh Valley.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox have now lost three games in a row, managing only three hits in falling to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs last night 4-1 at Coca-Cola Park.  With the loss the PawSox now find themselves four games behind the Iron Pigs in the I.L’s North Division.

The PawSox’ lone run came on a solo home run by Lars Anderson, his tenth of the season.  The homer came off Phillies starter Roy Oswalt, who went four innings in a rehab start for Lehigh Valley.

PawSox starter Kyle Weiland made his return to the club after a stint with Boston.  Weiland (8-7) took the loss, giving up three runs on two hits over four innings.  He did have control problems, surrendering five walks while striking out three.  He did give up a solo homer to the Iron Pigs’ Delwyn Young.

Clevelan Santeliz gave up one run over three innings of work.  Michael Bowden pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Game three of the series will be this morning at 11:05 a.m.  Matt Fox (6-4, 5.03 ERA) will start for Pawtucket. Scott Mathieson (0-1, 3.05 ERA) will throw for the Iron Pigs.

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