Wings Top PawSox 5-1

The PawSox will have to wait at least one more day before they can celebrate clinching a playoff berth.

Rochester starter Phillip Humber kept the PawSox bats in check, throwing a complete game five hitter as the Red Wings beat the PawSox 5-1 last night at Frontier Field.

With the Toledo Mud Hen's victory, the PawSox' magic number to clinch a playoff spot in the International League playoffs remains at one. They also now trail Scranton/Wilkes Barre by 2 1/2 games in the IL North Division.

In going the distance Humber (9-8) struck out eight and walked no one. The only PawSox run against him came on newly acquired catcher David Ross' solo home run in the fourth.

Offensively the Red Wings got all the runs they needed in the third when they scored four runs off PawSox starter Edgar Martinez (7-3). With one out DH Alejandro Machado reached on a single and advanced to second on a ground out by RF Howie Clark. 1B Garrett Jones knocked in Machado with a single to right. After LF Bobby Kielty walked, 3B Luke Hughes cleared the bases with a double to center. Hughes scored one batter later as SS Trevor Plouffe lined an RBI single to left.

Jones added another run in the fifth by belting a solo homer to left, his 21st of the season, off PawSox reliever Beau Vaughan.

Martinez pitched only 3 1/3 innings giving up four runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out three. Despite giving up the homer to Jones Vaughan pitched well, throwing 3 2/3 innings yielding only one hit. He struck out three and walked no one. Marcus McBeth struck out two batters in pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Both Ross for Pawtucket and Jones for the Wings led their teams with two hits each.

The PawSox did commit three errors in the game, but none of of them contributed in any great way to the Red Wings' runs.

The two teams close out their brief two game series tonight (7:05 pm). Michael Bowden (0-3) still seeks his first Triple A win for Pawtucket. He'll be opposed by Brian Bass, making his debut for the Red Wings.

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