Game 34- Bulls vs. PawSox, May 7, 2008

The Pawtucket Red Sox have not scored a run in their last 20 innings. They look to end that, and their two game losing streak tonight as they face the Durham Bulls in game three of a four game series at McCoy. Kevin Lynn (0-1) pitches for Durham against Kyle Snyder (0-1) for Pawtucket.

Here's a pre-game look...

Durham Bulls (14-17)

LINE-UP
Fernando Perez CF
Elliot Johnson 2B
Justin Ruggiano RF
Chris Richard 1B
Dan Johnson DH
Joel Guzman 3B
Reid Brignac SS
John Rodriguez LF
Mike DeFelice C

The Bulls enter the game on a 4-4 clip over their last eight games. All four of those wins have been shutouts. Durham has a league leading 6 shutouts thus far this season.

Righty Kevin Lynn gets the spot start for the Bulls tonight, replacing JK Ryu who is sidelined with triceps tendonitis. Over his last three releif outings Lynn has gone five innings, giving up two runs on five hits.

The Bulls bullpen has been stretched thin as of late but has done well so far in this series. The relief corps has pitched nine scoreless innings over the first two games giving up only four hits. Closer Grant Balfour has been stellar. Since coming off the disabled list Saturday, he has nine strikeouts over four innings of work.

Pawtucket Red Sox (17-16)

LINE-UP
Jeff Bailey 1B
Alex Cora 2B
Joe Thurston RF
George Kottaras C
Sandy Madera DH
Chirs Carter LF
Keith Ginter 3B
Jonathan Van Every CF
Gil Velazquez SS

The PawSox hope some support from Boston will help them get back to their winning ways. Red Sox IF Alex Cora will be in the PawSox line-up tonight as part of a three-game rehab assignment. He will bat second and play second base.

"We're gonna take it day-by-day with him" said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson before the game, "He feels real good."

The PawSox look to find their feel at the plate, being shut out the last two nights and collecting a total of seven hits. It was rhe first back-to-back shutouts for the PawSox since 2006.

"All we can do is go on from here" Johnson said, "Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint."

Snyder makes his fourth start of the season tonight coming off a hard luck loss last time out against Syracuse. He threw six innings, giving up only one, unearned run. He struck out six and walked none.

We are at McCoy and will be providing updates every couple of innings or so...Enjoy the game!