Hansack, Offense Tame Herd

Davern Hansack put together a solid pitching performance and the offense banged out 14 hits as the PawSox beat the Buffalo Bisons, 8-3 this afternoon at Dunn Tire Park. The win earned Pawtucket a split of their two game series with the Bisons as well as a split on their four game road trip.

Hansack (6-10) worked 6 1/3 innings before being removed from the game after being struck by a batted ball. He gave up two runs (courtesy of a two-run home run by C Yamid Haad) on three hits. He walked three and struck out three. There was no word as to the severity of Hansack's injury when he left the game.

Beau Vaughan worked one inning, giving up a solo homer to Brad Snyder. Jon Switzer worked a perfect 1 2/3 innings to close out the game.

After being shut out yesterday, the PawSox bats regained their form today. All but one player in the Pawtucket line-up had at least one hit. George Kottaras broke out of his slump by collecting a team-high three hits. Joe Thurston, Dusty Brown, Josh Wilson, and Sean Danielson had two hits each. Brown drove in two runs with his 12th homer of the season in the seventh. Danielson had a double and a triple and also drove in two runs.

The PawSox got the best of Buffalo starter Bryan Billington (4-8). Billington gave up six runs (5 earned) on 10 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 6 in taking the loss. Brian Slocum pitched two innings, gave up Brown's homer, but was able to retire five PawSox via a strikeout.

With the win the PawSox have reduced their magic number in securing a playoff spot to 5 games.

The PawSox have a rare day off tomorrow before returning home to McCoy Tuesday for a brief, three game homestand against the Syracuse Chiefs. Brian Wolfe (2-2) will pitch for Syracuse. He'll be opposed by Charlie Zink (13-4) for Pawtucket.

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