There's quite a bit of anticipation in the air as the PawSox wrap-up their home stand with the finale tonight (7:05pm) of a three game set with the Syracuse Chiefs. Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell is expected to be in the line-up as the DH as the PawSox look to take the rubber game of the series. RHP Kane Davis (2-1, 2.78) throws for the Chiefs against RHP Chris Smith (0-2, 2.40) for Pawtucket.
I will be on hand at McCoy tonight and will provide updates throughout the game...and complete coverage at game's end. For now, some pre-game notes..
Syracuse Chiefs (14-8)
LINEUP
Buck Coates CFWayne Lydon DH
Russ Adams RF
Hector Luna 3B
Curtis Thigpen C
Chip Cannon 1B
Eric Nielsen LF
Jorge Velandia SS
Pedro Lopez 2B
The Chiefs have won nine of ten and remain one game behind Scranton Wilkes/Barre in the IL North.
Davis is making his 5th start of the season and is coming off arguably his best performance of the year in the Chiefs' 2-1 win over Lehigh Valley on April 20th. Over 8 innings he gave up only one run on five hits with one walk.
Syracuse has gotten a strong performance out of its bullpen this season. The relief corps has only allowed three of 19 inherited runners to score all season.
The Chiefs have thrived when they have the lead. They are 9-0 when leading after 6 innings, 11-0 when leading after 7 innings, and 13-0 when leading after 8 innings. Conversely they 0-2, 0-3, and 0-2 when trailing after the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings respectively.
Pawtucket Red Sox (12-9)
LINEUP
Joe Thurston 2B
George Kottaras C
Mike Lowell DH
Brandon Moss 1B
Chris Carter LF
Keith Ginter 3B
Jeff Bailey RF
Gil Velazquez SS
Jonathan Van Every CF
Lowell spoke to reporters before the game and said he is ready to get back to play. His left thumb is wrapped and will probably stay so for some time. He will DH tonight, play third in the PawSox first game in Buffalo tomorrow, then DH again Sunday in Buffalo.
Other roster moves, Joe Thurston returns to the PawSox after a short stint in Boston. RP Bryan Corey was called back up to Boston today.
RP Craig Hansen has also been added back to the PawSox roster. He pitched two innings Wednesday night in a losing effort for Boston. He enters tonight's game on a scoreless string that has lasted 12 1/3 innings.
Smith has pitched well in three starts but has yet to earn a win. He has been the victim of a lack of run support. The PawSox have scored a total of 6 runs in his three outings. In his last outing, a 7-0 loss to Buffalo, Smith gave up only 2 runs on 5 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
More Later....
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