The Rochester Red Wings scored five runs in the first inning, and then hung on to a 8-6 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox last night at Frontier Field.  Despite the loss the PawSox remain two games on top of Lehigh Valley in the I.L. North Division with five games to play.  The PawSox’ magic number to claim a play-off spot is three.

The Red Wings got off to the hot start off PawSox starter Greg Smith (4-4).  The big hit in the five run first was a three run homer to right by Rochester RF Brian Dinkelman.

The PawSox had the help of Red Sox 1B Kevin Youkilis and OF J.D. Drew who are with the club on rehab assignments.  Drew finished the day 3 for 3 with three singles.  Youkilis went 1 for 4 with a walk.

Down 6-0 the PawSox scored four times in the fifth.  With one out Drew singled and Youkilis walked.  Ryan Lavarnway then drove a two run double to center.  Daniel Nava then drove in Lavarnway with a double of his own.  Nava scored one batter later on a RBI single by Lars Anderson.

A Nava triple and Anderson sacrifice fly drove in a run in the seventh.  A double play by Lavarnway in the ninth resulted in the sixth Pawtucket run to score in the ninth.

Smith gave up a total of six runs on six hits over five innings.  He walked three and struck out three.

The finale of the two game series, and the final regular season road game for the PawSox is tonight at 7:05p.m. Kyle Weiland (8-9, 3.46 ERA) will start for the PawSox.  He faces Liam Hendriks (3-4, 5.23 ERA) for Rochester.

BOX SCORE

The Pawtucket Red Sox collected a total of three hits over the double header last night against the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees.  But it was good enough to earn a split, with the PawSox losing game one 3-0 but winning game two 2-0.

The PawSox lone hit in game one came by Jose Iglesias, a single in the sixth.  Pawtucket was totally shut down by Yankees starter Manny Banuelos (2-2), who went the distance for the win.  He gave up two walks and struck out six.

Tony Pena Jr (9-6) took the loss for Pawtucket, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.  He walked three and struck out four.  He did surrender a solo home run to the Yankees’ Jesus Montero.

The PawSox rode the back of starter Alex Wilson to a win in game two.  Wilson (1-0) got his first win for the PawSox, shutting down the Yankees on five hits over five innings.  He walked one and struck out nine.

Pawtucket scored their runs in the fourth on a Nate Spears walk and a two run homer by Ryan Lavarnway.

Pawtucket’s only other hit was a Tony Thomas single in the fifth.

With the split the PawSox remain two games ahead of Lehigh Valley for first place in the IL North Division with six games to play.  Pawtucket now heads to Rochester to begin a two game series with the Red Wings beginning tonight at 7:05p.m.  Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew may both be on hand to begin a rehab assignment with Pawtucket.  Greg Smith is slated to get the start.

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

NOTES: The PawSox Blog headquarters is without power, so updates may be more infrequent.  We appreciate your patience.

The Pawtucket Red Sox took a double header over the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees last night, 6-1 and 7-3.  And with Lehigh Valley’s loss in Louisville the PawSox find themselves leading the Iron Pigs by 1 1/2 games in the I.L. North Division with eight games to play.

In game one the PawSox got out to a quick lead off Yankees starter Adam Warren (6-7).  Daniel Nava blasted a solo homer in the first and Jose Iglesias belted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the second.  Hector Luna added a two run double in the sixth and Nava drove in the final run for the PawSox with a double in the seventh.

Matt Fox (9-4), fresh off the disabled list, shutdown the Yankees, giving up only one hit over five scoreless innings.  He walked two and struck out five in getting the win.

In game two the PawSox scored first in the top of the first on a Luna RBI single.  The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the inning on a two run homer by 1B Jorge Vazquez.

The PawSox scored four runs over the next two innings to pull away.  Brett Carroll led off the second by reaching on and error by Yankees CF Chris Dickerson which allowed Carroll to advance to third.  Iglesias followed with a RBI double to right to tie the game.  Matt Spring singled Iglesias to third.  Che-Hsuan Lin then grounded into a double play, but Iglesias was able to score the go-ahead run.

With one out in the third Lars Anderson reached on a single off Yankees pitcher Aaron Laffey (0-1).  Luna drove in Anderson with a deep double to center.  After Andrew Brackman replaced Aaron Laffey on the mound, Will Middlebrooks singled and Carroll drove in Luna with a sacrifice fly.

Singles by Luna and Middlebrooks in the seventh drove in the final Pawtucket runs.

Jason Rice got the spot start for the PawSox and gave up two runs over three innings.  Hidecki Okajima (7-1) pitched two scoreless innings to get the win.

Luna led all hitters by getting five hits over the two games.

Weather permitting the two teams will play again tonight at 7:05p.m. Tony Pena, Jr. (9-5, 3.46 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll face Manny Banuelos (1-2, 3.86 ERA) for Scranton.

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

NOTES:  With the Red Sox playing a double header today they called up PawSox reliever Scott Atchison to shore up the bullpen.  C. Ryan Lavarnway was optioned back to Pawtucket.

The Pawtucket Red Sox scored ten runs over the final two innings to come away with a 12-4 win over the Syarcuse Chiefs in the finale of the two game series at Alliance Bank Park.

With the score tied 2-2 entering the eighth, the PawSox tacked on two runs to take the lead.  Che-Hsuan Lin led off the inning with a single off Syracuse reliever Ryan Tatsko (3-4).  Lee Hyde replaced Tasko and walked Nate Spears.  Daniel Nava sacrificed the runners to second and third.  Lars Anderson then struck out.  After Jeff Mandel replaced Hyde Hector Luna drove a two-run single to center.

Pawtucket erupted for eight runs in the ninth.  Luis Exposito and Jose Iglesias led off with singles and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Lin.  Atahualpa Severino replaced Mandel and gave up an RBI single to Spears and a two run double to Nava.  Anderson then drove in Nava with a single.  A Luna single and Will Middlebrooks walked loaded the bases.  Two batters later Exposito drove a 2-2 pitch to the opposite field in right for a grand slam.

The PawSox first two runs came in the third on a Lin ground out and a Spears double.

Every batter in the PawSox line-up had at least one hit, with Exposito leading the way with three.

Kyle Weiland got the start but did not earn a decision.  He worked six innings, giving up two runs on six hits.  He walked three and struck out one.

With the loss last night by Lehigh Valley, the PawSox and Iron Pigs are in a virtual tie for first in the I.L. North Division.

As Hurricane Irene makes its way north, the PawSox will be playing a double header tonight at Scranton-Wilkes Barre against the Yankees.  No game will be played on Sunday.  Matt Fox (8-4, 4.21 ERA)  and Adam Warren (6-6, 3.29 ERA) will throw in one game.  It’s unclear who will pitch in game rwo.

BOX SCORE

The Syracuse Chiefs have now won four of the last five games over the Pawtucket Red Sox following last night’s 3-1 win at Alliance Bank Stadium.

The two teams were tied at 1-1 until the Chiefs took the lead for good scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh off Pawtucket reliever Junichi Tazawa (1-1).  SS Matt Antonelli led off with a double and scored two batters later as 3B Seth Bynum blasted a two-run homer to right.

The PawSox run came in the top of the second on a solo home run to center by Lars Anderson.

Greg Smith made his second start for the PawSox and again looked sharp.  Smith worked six innings, giving up one run on four hits.  He walked two and struck out four.

Chiefs starter Tom Millone (11-6) was just a little better, getting the win by giving up one run over seven innings.  He walked one and struck out eight.

With the loss the PawSox are now one game behind Lehigh Valley for first place in the I.L. North Division.

The two teams wrap-up their two game series in Syracuse tonight at 7:00p.m. Kyle Weiland (8-9, 3.48 ERA) will start for the PawSox.  He faces Brad Meyers (5-4, 3.62 ERA) for the Chiefs.

BOX SCORE

NOTES:  Ryan Kalish continues to battle the injury bug, being placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained right trapezius.