PawSox Bats Rebound, Take Out Yankees

One day after being shut out by Yankees' pitching, the PawSox offense broke out, collecting 14 hits in their 11-5 win last night over Scranton/Wilkes Barre at PNC Field. The win puts the PawSox 1/2 behind the Yankees in second place in the IL's North Division.

The Pawtucket offensive attack was well shared, with C George Kottaras and 3B Gil Velazquez leading the way with three hits apiece. DH Dusty Brown and SS Josh Wilson each contributed two hits to the PawSox' cause.

Pawtucket wasted little time scoring off Yankees starter Alfredo Aceves (1-1), knocking in four runs on seven hits off him in the first four innings. The PawSox got one run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Velazquez and cashed in with three in the fourth on a two-run double by Jonathan Van Every followed by a run scoring double by Jeff Bailey.

The PawSox would score two more runs in the sixth on a bases loaded, two-run single by Brown off Yankees' reliever Scott Patterson.

Pawtucket put the game away with a five-run outburst in the ninth. Yankees reliever Scott Strickland began the inning by walking Jeff Corsaletti and hitting Wilson with a pitch. Velazquez drove in Corsaletti with his second double of the game. After Bailey walked and Steven Jackson came in to relieve Strickland, Joe Thurston knocked a two-run double to right. Sean Danielson contributed with an RBI single to center and Kottaras followed with a run scoring double to right.

Equally impressive as the PawSox' offense was the pitching performance of starter Edgar Martinez (6-2). Martinez pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits in earning the win. He struck out four and walked two. Jon Switzer replaced Martinez and threw 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Hunter Jones did struggle in the ninth, giving up three runs on three hits with the big blow coming on a two-run homer by the Yankees' Nick Green.

The two teams will wrap-up their four game series and their six-game stretch tonight (7:00 pm) Davern Hansack (5-9) will pitch for Pawtucket. Yankees starter Phil Hughes is scheduled to make a rehab start tonight for Scranton.

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