PawSox Strike Late, Take Out Iron Pigs

The Pawtucket Red Sox scored all their runs over the last three innings, overcoming an early deficit to beat the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, 8-5 yesterday in Allentown, PA.

The PawSox were held in check over the first six innings of the game by the masterful pitching of LHV starter Carlos Carrasco. Pawtucket finally broke the string by scoring two unearned runs off Carrasco in the seventh on a ground out by Joe Thurston and a single by Jason Lane.

The PawSox took the lead with four runs in the eighth, all against Iron Pigs reliever Travis Blackley (5-10). The big hit in the inning was Jonathan Van Every's three-run double to center. Van Every would score two batters later on Thurston's RBI single up the middle.

Pawtucket added two runs in the ninth on a Keith Ginter sacrifice fly and a Gil Velazquez RBI triple.

The PawSox banged out 11 hits in the game, with Lane, George Kottaras, and Velazquez collecting two each.

Charlie Zink (14-5) started the game for the PawSox, and despite giving up all five Lehigh Valley runs (four were earned), he pitched long enough to earn the win. Zink threw seven innings, scattering five hits while walking three and striking out two. He did surrender a solo home run to 3B Mike Cervenak in the third inning.

Lincoln Holdzkom and Hunter Jones pitched the final two inning without giving up a run. Jones earned his eighth save of the season.

With the win the PawSox snapped a two game losing streak. They are currently 1-2 on this six game road trip with game two with the Iron Pigs set for tonight (7:05 pm). Davern Hansack (6-10) returns to action to pitch for the PawSox. He'll be opposed by lefty Brian Mazzone for the Iron Pigs.

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