PawSox Pawtucket Red Sox

PawSox/Tides Pre-Game Notes: May 31, 2011

We are at McCoy tonight for game two of the four game set between the PawSox and the Norfolk Tides.  Norfolk took game one of the series yesterday 5-4 in 13 innings.

Red Sox starter John Lackey is slated to make a rehab start for the PawSox.  He has been sidelined since May 11th with a right elbow strain.

Here are the line-ups:

Norfolk Tides (18-33, 4th Place IL South Division)

Matt Angle CF
Tyler Henson LF
Brandon Snyder 1B
Josh Bell 3B
Rhyne Hughes DH
Blake Davis RF
Brendan Harris SS
Nick Green 2B
Michael Hernandez C

Mike Ballard (2-4, 5.08 ERA) P

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (25-25, 3rd Place IL North Division)

Che-Hsuan Lin RF
Tony Thomas 2B
Darnell McDonald CF
Hector Luna 1B
Daniel Nava DH
Brent Dlugach 3B
Luis Exposito C
Jose Iglesias SS
Matt Sheely LF

John Lackey (NR) P

The PawSox enter the game losers of four of their last five.

Lackey will be limited to four innings or 70 pitches.  If all goes well he is expected to return to the Red Sox rotation this Sunday.

Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald is also rehabbing with Pawtucket tonight.  He has been on the DL since last Thursday with a left quadriceps strain.  PawSox Manager Arnie Beyeler says he expects to move McDonald around the outfield over the next ten days he’s with the club.

The Red Sox have activated Bobby Jenks and have optioned Michael Bowden back to Pawtucket.  Bowden was called up to Boston on Sunday when reliever Franklin Morales was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Red Sox have announced that pitcher Kevin Millwood will be added to the PawSox roster tomorrow and will make his 2011 debut against the Tides.  The addition of Millwood will put the PawSox at the 24 player roster limit.

We will be providing updates all evening on Twitter.  Join us after the game for a complete wrap-up.

Observations While Back Home

I am back from my vacation and ready to follow the PawSox over the final 2+ months of the season.

A few thoughts on the team just past the halfway point…

  • It amazes me that the PawSox are still contending despite their poor offensive numbers.  Pawtucket is last in the IL in hitting (.235) and next to last in runs scored (264, Buffalo is last).
  • Conversely, the PawSox are successful based on their continued stellar work on the mound.  Pawtucket is third in team ERA (3.49) and  second in hits allowed (603).

It will be intersting to see if the PawSox can ride their pitching prowess to a playoff berth.

The PawSox can make up some ground on first place Scranton as the two teams begin a five-game split series beginning tomorrow night.  The first two games will be at McCoy with the next three in Scranton.  We may learn much more about the immediate future of this team based on the outcome of these five games.

PawSox Break Scoreless Streak, Take 3-2 Lead Over Bisons

The PawSox went 39 1/3 innigs of scoreless ball before scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 leadover the Buffalo Bisons tonight at McCoy.

Pawtucket scored their runs on a 2-run double by Chris Carter to deep center driving in Jonathan Van Every and Chip Ambres who each reached on singles.  Two batters later Carter scored on an RBI single to center by Paul McAnulty.

PawSox starter Charlie Zink stands to pick-up the win.  He gave up both Buffalo runs in the third but then settled down.  He has worked six innings, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out four.  He threw 91 pitches, 59 for strikes.  Billy Traber has relieved Zink to start the seventh.