The winning streak for the Pawtucket Red Sox has ended at eight, as the PawSox fell to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs last night at McCoy 9-3.

The teams were knotted at 1-1 before the Iron Pigs exploded for three runs in the sixth.  They tacked on four more in the eighth on a grand slam by DH Andy Tracy.

PawSox starter Ramon Ramirez (4-5) took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.  He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

T.J. Large surrendered Tracy’s grand slam in the eighth.  Santo Luis gave up the Iron Pigs final run in the ninth.

Lars Anderson belted a solo home run for the PawSox in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1.  Gustavo Molina also hit a solo homer for Pawtucket.

The series with Lehigh Valley wraps up tonight at 7:05p.m.  Ty Taubenheim (2-3, 4.36 ERA) starts for the Iron Pigs. Kris Johnson (5-13, 5.08 ERA) takes the mound for Pawtucket.

NOTES:  Now that we are at September 1st, the Red Sox can begin to expand their roster.  Yesterday Dustin Richardson and Robert Manuel were called up to Boston, along with rehabbing big leaguers Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Eric Patterson.  The PawSox are expected to remain below its 24 man roster limit for the time being.

Bubba Bell, Lars Anderson, and Aaron Bates drilled home runs, lifting the Pawtucket Red Sox to a come from behind win over the Rochester Red Wings, 6-5 last night at McCoy.  The win is the PawSox’ eighth in a row.

Bell hit a solo shot in the first and Anderson followed with a solo homer in the third.  Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, Bates blasted a three-run shot to give Pawtucket a 5-4 lead.

The PawSox tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI double by Dusty Brown.

PawSox starter Fabio Castro (7-9) earned the win although he did struggle at times.  Castro gave up four runs over five innings.  He yielded eight hits, two of which were Rochester home runs, a two-run homer by SS Brendan Harris in the first and a solo homer by 1B Brock Peterson in the third.  Castro walked two and struck out two.

The PawSox bullpen again kept the Red Wings in check, with Michael Bowden, Tommy Hottovy and Chad Paronto pitched scoreless ball.  Fernando Cabrera did give up one run in the ninth, but secured his 20th save of the season.

The PawSox now open up a two game series with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs beginning tonight (7:05p.m.) at McCoy.  Drew Carpenter (7-11, 4.16 ERA) takes the mound for the Iron Pigs.  Ramon Ramirez (4-4, 5.15 ERA) will throw for Pawtucket.

NOTES:  The Red Sox announced last night the release of PawSox outfielder Jeremy Hermida.  Hermida started the season in Boston and was designated for assignment on July 31st.

BOX SCORE

The Pawtucket Red Sox have now won a season-high seven games in a row, edging the Rochester Red Wings last night at McCoy 2-1.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Lars Anderson walked with one out.  he moved to second on a passed ball by Rochester catcher Jose Morales.  Anderson moved to third on a Jeremy Hermida ground out then scored with Jack Hannahan at the plate on a wild pitch by Red Wings starter Matt Fox (6-9).

The PawSox took the lead in the fourth on consecutive sinlges by Bubba Bell, Jarrod Salatalamacchia, and Anderson and a sacrifice fly by Hermida.

The PawSox again were aided by solid pitching.  Starter Rich Hill (3-0) picked up the win, giving up a single run on four hits in seven innings.  He walked one and struck out six.  Dustin Richardson and Robert Manuel did not give up a hit the rest of the game.  Manuel picked up his 13th save.

The teams complete their two game series tonight at 7:05p.m.  David Bromberg (1-3, 3.45 ERA) takes the hill for Rochester.  He faces Fabio Castro (6-9, 4.84 ERA) for the PawSox.

NOTE: Prior to the game the PawSox handed out their seasonal awards.  Manuel was awarded the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher Award while Bell received the award for team MVP.

The Pawtucket Red have struggled on the road all season.  Until now.

The PawSox beat the Rochester Red Wings this afternoon 6-3 at Frontier Field, completing a four game sweep and ending their 10 game road trip at 8-2.   The PawSox have now matched a season high winning their last six in a row.

Pitching again ruled the day for Pawtucket.  Starter Adam Mills (4-9) got the win, giving up three runs on eight hits over five innings.  He walked one and struck out three.

The bullpen did the rest, holding the Red Wings scoreless on two hits over the final four innings.  Robert Coello and Tommy Hottovy pitched hitless ball while Fernando Cabrera gave up the two hits while earning his 19th save.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a big game offensively for Pawtucket, blasting a three run homer to left in the first off Rochester starter Chris Province (0-1).  Eric Patterson collected two hits and scored three times for the PawSox.  Lars Anderson collected two hits and drove in two while Bubba Bell also chipped in with a pair of hits.

The two teams now move to McCoy to open up a short two game series tomorrow night (7:05p.m.).  Matt Fox (6-8, 4.08 ERA) throws for the Red Wings. Rich Hill (2-0, 3.57 ERA)  takes the mound for Pawtucket.

BOX SCORE

The Pawtucket Red Sox winning streak is now five after the PawSox shutout the Rochester Red Wings last night 2-0 at Frontier Field.

The story of last night’s game was the job put in by the Pawtucket pitching staff, holding the Wings scoreless on a total of five hits.  Kris Johnson (5-13) got the start and the win, throwing six innings, giving up four hits.  He walked one and struck out six.

Chad Paronto, Dustin Richardson, and Robert Manuel gave up only one hit in the final three innings.  Manuel notched his 12th save.

Rochester starter Cole DeVries matched Johnson in his 5 1/3 innings, throwing scoreless ball while giving up three hits.  He struck out four and did not walks a batter.

The PawSox broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the seventh.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia reached on an error.  After Lars Anderson struck out Jeremy Hermida replaced Saltalamacchia on the base paths on a fielder’s choice.  Hermida would score  following consecutive singles by Jack Hannahan and Niuman Romero.

Pawtucket added  an insurance run in the ninth on a Saltalamacchia single, and Anderson double, and a Hermida sacrifice fly.

Josh Reddick continued on his torrid pace, going 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

The PawSox will look for a sweep in the series finale this afternoon at 1;05p.m.  Adam Mills (3-9, 5.05) will face Rochester’s Kyle Gibson (0-0, 1.72)

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