Game 64- Bisons vs. PawSox, June 7, 2008

The PawSox are back home tonight at McCoy to begin a three game series witn IL North Division foe the Buffalo Bisons. RHP Matt Ginter (3-5, 4.58) goes for the Bisons against RHP Charlie Zink (6-2, 2.60) for the PawSox.

I am here on press row...here is a first hand preview...

Buffalo Bisons (28-34)

LINE-UP

Josh Barfield 2B

Jorge Velandia SS

Michael Aubrey 1B

Todd Linden RF

Jordan Brown DH

Aaron Herr 3B

Brad Snyder CF

Jason Cooper LF

Yamid Haad C

The Bisons start the day in fourth place in the IL North, 9 1/2 games behind Scranton/Wilkes Barre. They are 8 1/2 games behind the PawSox in third place. The Bisons hold a 5-4 edge over the PawSox this season.

Ginter, a former PawSox pitcher, makes his 11th start of the season for Buffalo. He was a tough luck loser his last outing, last Monday against the Columbus Clippers. In that game he pitched 6 innings, yielding 5 runs, only one of which was earned. He gave up five hits...walking two and striking out three.

OF Brad Snyder enters the game hitting in eight of his last nine games, hitting an even .500 over that stretch.

Pawtucket Red Sox (37-26)

LINE-UP

Jeff Bailey 1B

Joe Thurston LF

Jed Lowrie SS

Chirs Carter DH

Dusty Brown C

Chad Spann 3B

Sean Danielson RF

Gil Velazquez 2B

Jonathan Van Every CF

The PawSox were able to gain ground on their two closest rivals in the IL North as both Scranton and Syracuse lost last night. Pawtucket remains in third place, one game out of first and a 1/2 game out of second. The PawSox finished their recent road trip through the Carolinas at 4-4, winning their last two games.

The team has not had much time to rest as it arrived at McCoy early this afternoon from their trip to Charlotte. But the good news is that the PawSox will be able to enjoy their home fans for a while. They play 15 of their next 19 at McCoy. Entering the game with the best home record in the league, it's a perfect time for the team to make some headway in the standings.

"I don't want to put expectations on us like that" said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, "Its a marathon. We're gonna go out tonight and try to win inning by inning."

Zink was scheduled to pitch last night in Charlotte but was held back until tonight. Johnson said the move was just a way to re-shuffle the rotation and also get a look at Edgar Martizez (last night's starter) in a starting role.

Zink makes his 13th start tonight. He was removed early in his last outing in Durham after enduring two lengthy rain delays. In 11 of his starts Zink is 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA.

Jed Lowrie enters tonight's action with an 8 game hitting streak, over which he is batting .452 with three doubles, a triple, and 5 RBI's