PawSox Take Care of Bulls, 12-7

PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox were determined not to be shut-out for a third straight game. And they meant it.

The PawSox offense came back to life tonight, pounding out three home runs, pulling away from the Durham Bulls, 12-7, before 2,915 fans at McCoy.

With a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh, the PawSox exploded for seven runs, tying their highest offensive output in one inning this season. They also scored seven runs in the second inning in their 17-5 win at Indianapolis on April 18th.

3B Keith Ginter and CF Jonathan Van Every each reached on a walk to lead off the inning. Ginter scored when Bulls’ pitcher Brian Henderson threw low to first on a sacrifice bunt attempt by SS Gil Velazquez. 1B Jeff Bailey drove in Van Every with a single to right. 2B Alex Cora loaded the bases with a single, then RF Joe Thurston drove in Velazquez with a sacrifice fly to right. C George Kottaras then plated Bailey on a fielder’s choice. After DH Sandy Madera reached on a throwing error by SS Reid Brignac, Chris Carter belted a three run homer to deep right off Durham reliever Scott Munter. Entering the season Carter was expected to provide power for the PawSox, but this homer was his first of the season.

“He’s a guy whose got some pop” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, “That was huge for him. I’m sure he feels relieved.”

The PawSox wasted little time in erasing their 20 -nning scoreless streak by scoring three times in the bottom of the first off Bulls starter Kevin Lynn. Bailey led off with a walk and Cora singled to right. After Thurston sacrificed the runners to second and third, Kottaras drove in the first run on a hard ground out to second. Madera plated the second run on a single to right and then scored himself on a double to right center by Carter.

The PawSox scored two more in the third on back-to-back solo home runs by Kottaras (his 7th of the season) and Madera (#3).

“It was nice to get out early.” said Johnson.

Carter was 2 for 4 and drove in four runs. Madera went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and thre runs scored.

Cora began his three game rehab stint with the PawSox by going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, one in the first and another in the seventh. He has been sidelined with a sprained right elbow. Unfortunately he was not able to test his arm as he did not get any defensive chances in the field. Cora is expected to play shortstop tomorrow.

PawSox starter Kyle Snyder (1-1) earned the win, pitching six complete innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked one. The two runs he yielded came on a fielder’s choice by 3B Joel Guzman in the second and a sacrifice fly by DH Dan Johnson in the fourth.

“I felt like I got into a bit of a rhythm” said Snyder, “it’s just a matter of building off each start.”
Edgar Martinez pitched two scoreless innings for the PawSox in relief of Snyder. The Bulls tried to make it interesting, scoring five runs off Abe Alvarez and Eric Hull in the ninth.

The PawSox will get the help from another members of the Red Sox tomorrow afternoon as !B Sean Casey begins a rehab assignment. Tomorrow’s series finale is a matinee (12:05pm). LHP Mike Prochaska (1-2, 9.00 ERA) goes for Durham. RHP David Pauley (2-2, 3.70 ERA) throws for Pawtucket.

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