Game 7- Iron Pigs Vs PawSox, April 9, 2008

The PawSox and Iron Pigs play their third game of this four game series tonight at 6:15 at McCoy. I will not be at the game. Here are some notes on tonight's pitchers, Lehigh Valley IronPigs RHP Ron Chiavacci (0-0, 1.50) and Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Charlie Zink (0-1, 12.00)

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (0-6)

RHP RON CHIAVACCI

Chiavacci was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent 11/20/07. An anchor of Western Division Champion Toledo’s rotation, Chiavacci finished the 2007 season 3rd in the I.L. in wins (12),4th in strikeouts (126) and 5th in ERA (3.39) -- in all he finished 12-6 in 26 G, 23 GS (151.1 ip, 148 h, 64 r, 57 er, 43 bb, 126 k). He was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 44th round of the 1998 Draft. The Kutztown University product had the honor of starting the exhibition game versus the Phillies 3/30 (L, 5 ip, 4 h, 3 r, 2 er, 2 bb, 5 k). He held Ryan Howard 0-2 with a strikeout (looking).

• Chiavacci vs. PAW in 2007: 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 2 gs (12.2 ip, 12 h, 3 r, 3 er, 1 bb, 10 k, .245)

Pawtucket Red Sox (4-2)

RHP CHARLIE ZINK

► Struggled in his 2008 debut, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 4 hits and 4 walks in 3 IP in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Indy.
► Ranked 3rd among Red Sox minor leaguers with a career-high 11 wins last year between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. Finished with a combined record of 11-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 24 starts. Zink was 2-3 with the PawSox with a 5.89 ERA in 8 starts.
► In 16 starts for Portland last year, Zink was 9-3 with a 3.98 ERA (92.2 IP, 41 ER). If you eliminate his last start for Portland (12 ER in 4 IP on 7/29), Zink’s ERA drops to 2.94. Charlie was selected to take part in the Eastern League All-Star Game, but did not pitch in the rain-shortened game.
► Led the PawSox in wins in 2006, going 9-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 23 games (15 starts). Allowed 3-or-fewer earned runs in 13 of his 15 starts.
► Entered 2008 with a career minor league record of 43-39 and an ERA of 4.34 in 7 pro seasons.
► Began pro career as a conventional-style pitcher, before becoming a knuckleballer in 2003.
► Was undrafted coming out of college. Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent on April 1, 2002.
► Was coached by Luis Tiant at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

We'll have more at game's end.