Che-Hsuan Lin’s two-run homer in the fifth broke up a 1-1 tie leading the PawSox to a 3-2 win over the Syracuse Chiefs last night at McCoy.

The PawSox got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth on a two out single by Will Middlebrooks and a RBI double by Brett Carroll.

The Chiefs tied the game in the fifth on a lead-off double by RF Jeff Frazier, a sacrifice bunt, and a ground out by 2B Steve Lombardozzi.

Jose Iglesias led off the fifth by earning a walk off Syracuse starter Craig Stammen (9-7).  Lin then took the first pitch he saw and drove it over the fence in left to give the PawSox the lead.  It was only the second homer of the season for the PawSox center fielder.

Tony Pena Jr. got the start and earned the win.  Pena (9-5) pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Tommy Hottovy gave up a solo homer to Syracuse LF Corey Brown in the seventh for the second Chiefs run.  Michael Bowden came on in the ninth to earn his 16th save of the season.

Lin, Middlebrooks, and Hector Luna had two hits each to pace Pawtucket.

The finale of the series is tonight at 7:05p.m.   Brad Peacock (3-1, 3.55 ERA) takes the hill for the Chiefs. Alex Wilson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will throw for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

The Syracuse Chiefs scored six runs in the second inning, enough to come away with a 7-4 victory this afternoon at McCoy.  The Chiefs have won the first two games of the four game series with the PawSox.

The Chiefs got the six runs off PawSox starter Felix Doubront (1-5) .  The first run scored on back-to-back doubles to lead-off the inning by RF Jesus Valdez and DH Tug Hulett.  SS Seth Bynum singled Hulett to third.  LF Jeff Frazier then belted a 3-2 pitch deep to left for a three run homer.

The Chiefs were not done.  C Carlos Maldonado walked.  CF  Corey Brown then doubled Maldonado to third.  After Royce Ring replaced Doubront on the mound, 3B Matt Antonelli drove in Maldonado with a sacrifice fly and 1B Chris Merrero singled in Brown for the sixth run of the inning.

Scott Atchison gave up a solo homer to Bynum in the eighth to round out the Syracuse scoring.

The PawSox scored single runs in the fourth and sixth on a ground out by Lars Anderson and a single by Daniel Nava.

The PawSox scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on a Hector Luna two run home run, his 13th homer of the season.

Game three of the series will be tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.  Craig Stammen (9-6, 4.41 ERA) is the scheduled starter for Syracuse. Tony Pena, Jr. (8-5, 3.60 ERA) gets the ball for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

BOSTON- The Syracuse Chiefs were able take advantage of sloppy starting pitching in defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox 3-1 today in the second game of the “Futures at Fenway” double header in Boston.

PawSox starter Kyle Weiland (8-9) labored through his outing.  He did get through five innings, giving up three runs on six hits.  He had trouble commanding the strike zone, walking four while striking out five.  He threw 92 pitches, 51 for strikes.  Weiland said after the game he struggled with cramping in his calf during the fifth and sixth innings.

“It’s kind of been the story the last few outings.” said Weiland, “There’s no excuse.  You should still be able to go out there and get through the rest of your outing.”

“The last few outings I haven’t had the consistency on the release point I had earlier in the year.  It’s just a matter of how you can get back into that rythm.”

“I thought for (Weiland) to give us the five innings he did, we were pretty fortunate.” said PawSox Manager Arnie Beyeler.

Daniel Nava got the PawSox on the board in the bottom of the first by lofting a 3-1 pitch by Syracuse starter Brad Meyers over the PawSox bullpen in right center for a solo home run.

The Chiefs got the run back off Weiland in the second.  3B Matt Antonelli led off the inning with a single.  A passed ball by Luis Exposito allowed Antonelli to advance to second. SS Seth Bynum then drove in Antonelli with a single to center.

Weiland’s lack of command got him in trouble in the fifth. With one out 2B Steve Lombardozzi walked.  After LF Roger Bernadina grounded to first,  Lombardozzi stole third.  1B Chris Merrero walked.  RF Jesus Valdez then singled to center to give Syracuse a 2-1 lead.

Syracuse got to Weiland again in the top of the sixth.  Antonelli led off with a double and was driven in on a RBI single by Bynum.

The PawSox were able to get the lead-off men on base in both the seventh and eighth innings, but double plays wiped out both potential rallies.

“We didn’t get too many guys past second base” said Beyeler, “We didn’t hit too many balls hard today.”

Meyers (5-4) got the win for the Chiefs, going six innings, giving up one run of five hits.  He walked one and struck out four.  He threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Bynum finished the day 3 for 4 with two RBI.  Antonelli had two hits for the Chiefs.

The two teams will return to McCoy for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05p.m.  Yunesky Mava (2-8, 5.37 ERA) goes for Syracuse.  Felix Doubront (1-4, 3.68 ERA) will throw for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE

NOTES: In the first game of the double header the Binghamton Mets scored four runs in the top of 11th inning to come away with a 6-4 win over the Portland Sea Dogs.  The bright spot for the Sea Dogs was the performance of LF Alex Hassan. The Milton, MA native went 3 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBI.

BOSTON- Welcome to Fenway Park as the PawSox get set to play the back end of the annual “Futures of Fenway” double header.  It’s also the opener of a four game series with the Syracuse Chiefs. The PawSox enter the game one game ahead of Lehigh Valley for first place in the I.L. North Division.

The PawSox are 2-1 in three appearances as part of the “Futures at Fenway” series.  In 2006 they defeated the Rochester Red Wings 5-4.  In 2008 the PawSox beat the Charlotte Knights 5-2.  In their last appearance the PawSox fell to the Norfolk Tides in 2009 by a score of 7-3.

Here are the line-ups:

Syracuse Chiefs (56-67, 4th Place IL North Division)

Steve Lombardozzi 2B
Roger Bernadina LF
Chris Merrero 1B
Jesus Valdez RF
Jhonatan Solano C
Matt Antonelli 3B
Seth Bynum  SS
Jeff Frazier DH
Corey Brown CF

Brad Meyers (4-4, 3.79 ERA) P

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (72-54, 1st Place IL North Division)

Che-Hsuan Lin RF
Ryan Kalish CF
Daniel Nava DH
Lars Anderson 1B
Will Middlebrooks 3B
Hector Luna 2B
Brett Carroll LF
Luis Exposito C
Jose Iglesias SS

Kyle Weiland (8-8, 3.40 ERA) P

Although it’s a thrill for both teams to get a taste of the majors by playing at Fenway, it’s not always a good thing in terms of preparing for a game.  Both teams are not allowed to use the Fenway clubhouses and will not be able to take part in the normal pre-game routine of batting practice on the field.

“Your routine kind of gets messed up on days like this.” said PawSox Manager Arnie Beyeler, “The clubhouse situation, waiting for another game to get over.  But once the guys get playing, getting an inning our two into the game, it’s baseball.”

Weiland is no stranger to Fenway, starting for Boston July 10th against the Orioles.  He did not earn a no decision in that game, going four innings and giving up six runs.  He walked two and struck out six.

“He’s familiar with the surroundings here.” said Beyeler.  ”He’s also pitched during one of the Futures games before.  He’s a good guy to have out there.”

Middlebooks will make his first start in the field for the PawSox at third base.  Middlebooks was called up from Portland by Pawtucket last night and was 0 for 4 as the DH.

Luna is the hottest PawSox batter at the moment, hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 games with an average of .465.

We will be providing updates from Fenway via Twitter.  Come back here for a complete wrap after the game.

The Pawtucket Red Sox received an impressive pitching performance from a new acquisition and their offense was helped by four errors as the PawSox came away with a 7-1 win over the Columbus Clippers last night at McCoy.  The win earned Pawtucket a split of the four game series with the Clippers.

Earlier in the day the PawSox acquired LHP Greg Smith as a free agent from Scranton Wilkes-Barre.  He started for Pawtucket and was spectacular, pitching six innings giving up one run on seven hits.  Smith (4-3) struck out four and did not walk a batter in earning the win.

The PawSox scored three runs in the bottom of the second off Columbus starter Mitch Talbot (1-2).  The first run scored on back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning by Hector Luna and Brett Carroll.  Luis Exposito walked before Talbot struck out Jose Iglesias and Che-Hsuan Lin.  With Nate Spears at the plate Talbot committed a balk, advancing the runners to second and third.  Spears then cleared the bases with a line drive single to center.

Two of the Clippers miscues led to three more runs for Pawtucket in the fourth.  With one out Iglesias reached base on an error by Columbus 3B Jared Goedert.  Lin then drove in Iglesias with a double to center.  After Spears grounded out, Daniel Nava reached on a walk.  Lars Anderson then reached first and drove in Lin by beating out a ball hit to second baseman Cord Phillips.  The throw to first was handled by Talbot, who threw the ball away at third allowing Nava to score.

A throwing error by Goedert, a wild pitch, and a Luna RBI single resulted in the PawSox’ final run of the game being scored in the seventh.

Luna finished the night with three more hits, following-up a three hit performance against the Clippers on Thursday.

The PawSox head to Fenway Park today to play the back end of the Futures at Fenway double header as they open a series with the Syracuse Chiefs.  Game time will be approximately 4:30p.m.  Brad Meyers (4-4, 3.79 ERA) gets the call for the Chiefs.  Kyle Weiland (8-8, 3.40 ERA) will be get the start for Pawtucket.

Join us as we will be on hand for all the action from Fenway.

BOX SCORE

NOTES: Prior to the game the PawSox called up 3B Will Middlebrooks from Portland.  The top hitting prospect in the Eastern League according to Baseball America, Middlebrooks went .302 with 18 homers and 80 RBI in 96 games with the Sea Dogs.  Middlebooks made his debut for Pawtucket last night, going 0 for 4 as the DH.