The 2011 baseball season has officially ended for the Pawtucket Red Sox after falling to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs last night 3-1 at McCoy in game three of the opening round of the International League Playoffs.  Lehigh Valley swept the best-of-five series winning three games to none.

The PawSox offense became a non-factor in the series, scoring a total of five runs over three games.  Of their 18 hits in the series, only six were for extra bases.

The PawSox collected only five singles off Lehigh Valley starter Brain Bass (1-0).  Pawtucket’s lone run was unearned and came in the bottom of the ninth.  Bass struck out two and walked two in going the distance for the Iron Pigs.

The Pawtucket pitching staff was nearly equal to the task over the three games.  Alex Wilson (0-1) pitched well enough to win, giving up three runs on only three hits over seven innings.  He walked one and struck out six. Trevor Miller threw two hitless innings to close the game.

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Former PawSox outfielder Brandon Moss went 3 for 5 and drove in all the Lehigh Valley runs, including the game winner in the bottom of the tenth, to lead the Iron Pigs to a 3-2 win last night in game two of the International League opening round playoffs.  Lehigh Valley now has a two game to nothing lead in the best-of-five series.

Pawtucket got on the board in the top of the first on a RBI double by Lars Anderson.

Moss belted his second home run of the series, a solo shot off PawSox starter Tony Pena, Jr., in the second.  A Moss RBI double in the third gave Lehigh Valley a 2-1 lead.

That’s how things stayed until the top of the eighth when the PawSox knotted the score.  Che-Hsuan Lin started the inning by reaching on a bunt single off Iron Pigs reliever Phillippe Aumont.  Aumont then threw a wild pitch, sending Lin to second.  Jose Iglesias sacrificed Lin to third. Danial Nava drove in Lin with a ground rule double to left.  Unfortunately Nava was stranded at second as Anderson struck out and Hector Luna grounded out to end the inning.

PawSox reliever Randy Williams (0-1) did not help his own cause in giving up with winning run in the tenth.  SS Freddy Galvais led off with a single.  CF Rich Thompson then reached first after Williams could not handle his sacrifice bunt attempt.  LF Scott Podsednick then advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt of his own.  Williams intentionally walked 3B Kevin Frandsen before giving-up the game-winning single to Moss.

Pena gave up two runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings on the mound.  He walked three and struck out two.

The remainder of the series will be played at McCoy, beginning with a do-or-die game three for Pawtucket tonight at 6:05p.m.  Brian Bass (8-10, 3.81 ERA) starts for the Iron Pigs.  Alex Wilson (1-0, 3.43 ERA) will get the ball for the PawSox.

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NOTES:  The winner of this series will be matched-up against defending Governor’s Cup Champion Columbus Clippers.  The Clippers swept away the Durham Bulls, winning game three last night 5-2.

There was one roster move made by the PawSox yesterday as Royce Ring rejoined the team from Portland.  The move was made after Boston called-up Scott Atchison to join the Red Sox bullpen.

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs belted three solo home runs, and it’s pitching staff kept the Pawtucket Red Sox in check, as they held on to a 4-2 win and a 1-0 lead in the  best-of-five opening round series of the International League Playoffs.

C Erik Kratz (2nd inning) and RF Brandon Moss (4th inning) belted homers off PawSox starter Matt Fox.  Brandon Duckworth gave up a home run to SS Freddy Galvis in the seventh.

Fox (0-1) gave up three runs on five hits over five innings.  He walked two and struck out three.

The PawSox offense struggled early against Lehigh Valley starter Dave Bush (1-0),  Bush held Pawtucket scoreless until the sixth when he gave up a lead-off home run to Lars Anderson.  Bush worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits in getting the victory.

Pawtucket’s other run came in the eighth on a Luis Exposito bases loaded ground out.

Game two of the series is tonight at 7:05p.m. at Coca-Cola Field.  Tony Pena, Jr. (9-6, 3.56 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll face Ryan Edell (5-5, 3.27 ERA) for Lehigh Valley.

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NOTES: In the other I.L opening round series the Columbus Clippers took a two game to nothing lead in the best of five series after beating the Durham Bulls 8-3 last night.  The Clippers can wrap-up the series and advance to the Governor’s Cup Championship series with a win tonight in game three in Columbus.

Tonight’s game one of the International League Playoffs between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs has been postponed due to rain.

Game one will now take place tomorrow night at 7:05p.m. at Coca Cola Park.  That means the entire schedule will be shifted one day, with games three, four, and five at McCoy taking place Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Here is the updated schedule with anticipated pitching match-ups:

Game 1 Thursday @ 7:05 p.m. – Allentown, PA
RHP Matt Fox (10-4, 3.96) vs. RHP Dave Bush (1-2, 3.91)

Game 2 Friday @ 7:05 p.m. – Allentown, PA
RHP Tony Pena, Jr. (9-6, 3.56) vs. LHP Ryan Edell (5-5, 3.27)

Game 3 Saturday @ 6:05 p.m. – Pawtucket
RHP Alex Wilson (1-0, 3.43) vs. RHP Brian Bass (8-10, 3.81)

Game 4* Sunday @ 1:05 p.m. – Pawtucket
RHP Charlie Haeger (NR) vs. RHP Scott Mathieson (2-2, 3.28)

Game 5* Monday @ 6:05 p.m. – Pawtucket
LHP Greg Smith (5-4, 4.52) vs. RHP Nate Bump (5-9, 4.97)

*If Necessary

NOTES: The PawSox made a number of roster moves in preparation for the play-off series.  The team transferred P Royce Ring to Portland while calling up P Charlie Haeger.  P  Brandon Duckworth and IF Tony Thomas were activated off the disabled list while Tony Pena, Jr, was activated off the temporarily inactive list.

The Pawtucket Red Red Sox ended its 2011 season on a positive note, beating the Rochester Red Wings 7-3 this afternoon at McCoy.

The PawSox got off to a big start by scoring four runs in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Will Middlebrooks and a three-run shot by C Dan Butler.

The PawSox scored three more runs in the fifth.  Che-Hsuan Lin led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Joey Gathright.  Red Wings starter Eric Hacker issued walked to Daniel Nava and Lars Anderson to force in a run.  Middlebrooks drove in Gathright with a sacrifice fly and Brett Carroll knocked in Nava with a RBI single.

Greg Smith (5-4) gave up two runs and three hits over six innings to get the win.  He walked two and struck out four.

The I.L. North Champion PawSox have an off day tomorrow before embarking on game one of the I.L Playoffs beginning Wednesday at Lehigh Valley against the Iron Pigs. The pitching match-ups have not been announced.  The PawSox play the first two games of the best-of-five series in Allentown before returning home for game three Friday night.

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NOTES: As the PawSox begin post season play, they’ll be without some players who have been instrumental to their success.  The Red Sox today called up Ryan Lavarnway, Kyle Weiland, and Nate Spears to their expanded roster.  Drew Sutton was also designated for assignment to make room for Spears on Boston’s 40-man roster.

The PawSox did call up Ryan Khoury from Portland to help shore-up the PawSox infield corps.