PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Pawtucket’s first year manager Gary DiSarcina said on Sunday that he’s team’s 9-1 stretch to start the season could easily be 1-9 in a few weeks.

They’re now only eight losses away from that prediction.

Entering Monday night scoring five runs in each of their first 10 games of the season, the PawSox only mustered three runs to the LeHigh Valley IronPigs’ eight in the first game of the clubs’ four game series at McCoy.

The IronPigs got off to an early lead in the second inning when first baseman Josh Fields blasted a first-pitch, 93 mph fastball from PawSox starter Allen Webster to the berm out in left-center field.

Webster settled down after Fields’ solo home run, though.

With the help of his changeup, his self-proclaimed best pitch, and fastball, which sat around 93-95 and topped out at 97 on McCoy’s radar gun, he dispatched 12 of the 16 subsequent batters he faced, including six of the seven strikeouts. The 23-year-old didn’t walk a single batter over his five innings of work in which he tossed 55 of his 84 pitches for strikes.

In his last official start of the year on April 5, Webster walked three batters over five innings in a no decision effort against the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

“He pitched well,” DiSarcina said. “He fell in love with his changeup a bit, but for the most part he did okay. He kept us in the game… He’s got to learn to be a little bit efficient with his pitches to get to the sixth, seventh inning to help save the bullpen.”

The IronPigs negated Webster’s efforts, and Oscar Villarreal’s two scoreless innings of relief there after, by scoring five runs off Chris Carpenter in the eight and two runs off Anthony Carter in the ninth.

“You can’t fall behind 3-1, 3-2 against good hitters, they’re going to take good passes on you,” DiSarcina said on the bullpen’s struggle. “The whole bullpen has done a good job. Shoot, you’re 9-1 (9-2), so they were due to get hit around a bit.

Mark Hamilton drove in two in the third inning, and the third run was enabled to get around on a fielding error by IronPigs’ center fielder Tyson Gillies.

David Ortiz was scratched from the lineup with what DiSarcina called “mild left heel pain.”

The PawSox continued their hot streak yesterday with a  doubleheader sweep against the Rochester Red Wings. The two clubs meet  again today for the last game of their four game series at McCoy, where Pawtucket looks to extend its record to 9-1.

Here are the lineups:

Rochester Red Wings (2-7)

LF Clete Thomas
C Chris Hermann
1B Chris Colabello
DH Jeff Clement
RF Brandon Boggs
CF Joe Benson
2B Ray Olmedo
3B Mark Sobolewski
SS Doug Bernier

LHP Andrew Albers (0-0, 1.93 ERA)

Pawtucket Red Sox (8-1)

2B Brock Holt
SS Jose Iglesias
DH Mark Hamilton
C Ryan Lavarnway
RF Bryce Brentz
CF Mitch Maier
1B Brandon Snyder
3B Drew Sutton
LF Jeremy Hazelbaker

LHP Jeremy Kehrt (0-0, 0.00 ERA – first start of the year)

David Ortiz was scratched due to illness. He’s 3 for 7 in two rehab appearances with three singles, three RBI and a strikeout. He’ll return for Monday’s 6:05 p.m. game.

The PawSox are looking for their second four-game sweep of the young season and a five game winning streak. A victory today would give the club its first five-game winning streak since they won six last August 25-30.

Before their 3-0 start at McCoy this week, Pawtucket last won their first three home games of the season in 1991. Today they have a chance to go 4-0 at home for the first time in franchise history. Their best start at McCoy to start the year was 9-2, which happened in 1986.

Since last night’s affair between the Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket Red Sox was postponed due to rain, the two clubs will meet for a doubleheader today at McCoy. Here are the lineups for game one of the twinbill:

Rochester Red Wings

C Chris Hermann
DH Oswaldo Arcia
LF Chris Colabello
1B Jeff Clement
RF Joe Benson
CF Clete Thomas
2B Brian Dinkelman
3B Mark Sobolweski
SS Ray Olmedo

SP Sarison Martis (0-1, 6.00 ERA

Pawtucket Red Sox

2B Brock Holt
SS Jose Iglesias
DH David Ortiz
C Ryan Lavarnway
RF Bryce Brentz
1B Brandon Snyder
3B Drew Sutton
CF J.C. Linares
LF Jeremy Hazelbaker

SP Terry Doyle (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

The PawSox are 6-1 entering today’s doubleheader, which is their best start in franchise history. The 1994 PawSox had the best extended start of the season when they went 10-3 after 13 games. They eventually went 21-5 and then 30-7 after May 14.

Pawtucket was 2-0-3 in five doubleheaders last year.

The PawSox begin their 2013 International League season tonight and PawSox Blog is along for our fifth year covering the team.

Operating PawSox Blog is a hobby for me and at times it’s been difficult to provide the coverage of the PawSox I had hoped when the site launched.

We plan to handle the 2013 much like we did in 2012.  I will attend as many home games and possible and provide pre-game and post game coverage of those games.

When I’m not at McCoy or the team is on the road, I will use this space to provide links to the reporters who were at the game and can describe what happened better than I could.

We have the benefit this season of having Kevin Perreira on board as a contributor.  Kevin was the PawSox writer for the Examiner and now writes for Sox Prospects.  Kevin plans to attend as many PawSox home games as possible this season and, when he can, he will fill this space with game reports and features.  In the event Kevin and I are both at McCoy Kevin will focus on writing while I will contribute photos and post game audio.

We hope to do more with PawSox Blog in 2013.  As always I appreciate the support of those of you who take the time to visit the site.  Here’s to a productive 2013 season!

The Pawtucket Red Sox scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to come away with a 7-6 win over the Rochester Red Wings yesterday afternoon at McCoy.  The PawSox ended the four game series winning three of four.

BOX SCORE

Gomez Rescues PawSox (PawSox.com)
PawSox Journal:  Gomez Powers Pawtucket to Another Win (Providence Journal)
PawSox Team with Area Schools for Education Program (Providence Journal)
Gomez to the Rescue as PawSox Edge Red Wings (Pawtucket Times)
PawSox Rally Late to Drop Red Wings, 7-6 (Examiner)
Inside Daniel Nava’s Surge (45 Miles from Fenway)
Nava Provides Outfield Depth (ESPN Boston)

UP NEXT:  The PawSox open up a four game series with the two-time defending Triple A Champion Columbus Clippers with game one tonight at 7:05p.m.  Chris Seddon (3-1, 4.18 ERA)  gets the start for Columbus.  Doug Mathis (1-2, 6.15 ERA) will go for Pawtucket.