THE HOME OPENER TONIGHT AT McCOY

APRIL 11^th                ROCHESTER (2-4)     at    PAWTUCKET (5-1)          7:05 pm

 

Rochester Red Wings RHP Kyle Gibson (0-0, 1.80) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox LHP Chris Hernandez (0-0, 2.25)   

Opening Act – The defending International League Champion Pawtucket Red Sox – coming off a 5-1 season-opening roadtrip to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (4-0) and LehighValley (1-1) – make their 2013 McCoy Stadium debut tonight when they play their home-opener against the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.  The PawSox have won 3 straight home-openers (2010, 2011, and 2012) and 7 of their last 9 home-openers since 2004.  They have a chance tonight to make it 4 victorious home-openers in a row which would be a new franchise-mark.  Pawtucket began this year on the road for the first time since the 2009 season.  The PawSox lost their home-opener that year on April 17, 2009 by a 4-3 score to LehighValley – marking the last time the Sox dropped their home-opener.

Start Me Up – Pawtucket’s 5-1 start is their best in franchise-history.  The 1994 PawSox put together the best extended start in club-history going 6-2 after 8 games, 10-3 after 13 games, and eventually 21-5 and then 30-7 (through May 14, 1994).

No Close Encounters – All six PawSox games this season have been decided by 4 runs or more as the Sox five wins have come by 4 runs, 5 runs, 5 runs, 4 runs, and 5 runs again while their only loss was by 9 runs.  Pawtucket and Columbus are the only IL teams not to have played a 1-run game yet this season while the PawSox and Syracuse are the only two clubs not to have been involved in a 2-run game thus far.  Last year Pawtucket was 21-22 in 1-run games and 13-18 in 2-run games as 74 of their 144 games were decided by one or two runs (51%).

The Road Home – Pawtucket went 5-1 on their initial roadtrip of the season that was cut short by one game last night when the finale at LehighValley was suspended by rain.  The game was scoreless after 2-innings when it was suspended – it will be resumed during Pawtucket’s next trip to LehighValley on July 8.  The just-concluded PawSox trip featured a 4-game sweep in Moosic, PA against the Scranton/WB RailRiders over the weekend and a split of the abbreviated 2-game set in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs earlier this week.  Pawtucket’s best roadtrip last season came in their first trip of the year when they went 7-2 through Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse from April 11-19.

This Homestand - The PawSox make their 2013 McCoy Stadium debut tonight when they host the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.  Returning PawSox players will receive their 2012 Governors’ Cup Championship rings in special pre-game ceremonies.  The PawSox play Rochester for four games tonight & tomorrow at 7:05 pm and then over the weekend on Saturday & Sunday at 1:05 pm.  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will visit next for a 4-game set next week with games Monday at 6:15 pm, Tuesday at 12:05 pm, Wednesday at 6:15 pm, and next Thursday at 12:05 pm.

Big Papi at McCoy – Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz will begin a 20-day injury rehab assignment with the PawSox tonight.

Ortiz is recovering from right Achilles’ tendinopathy that originally happened last July 16 while he was running the bases.  David returned for one game on August 24 but was placed back on the DL the next day and missed the remainder of the 2012 season.  Ortiz, who did not appear in any games with the Red Sox during the past spring training, played in a simulated game on Monday in Fort Myers, FL (going 2-for-4) and in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers on Tuesday (again going 2-for-4).

Despite being limited to just 90 games last season he led the majors with a .611 slugging pct. while batting .318 with 23 HR & 60 RBI.  An 8-time American League All-Star, Ortiz has a career average of .285 with 401 HR & 1326 RBI in 1832 games (16 years).  He ranks among the all-time Red Sox leaders in homers (5^th, 343), RBI (6^th, 1088), extra-base hits (5^th, 730), doubles (6^th, 374), walks (6^th, 825), total bases (6^th, 2899), hits (9^th, 1470), runs (9^th, 909), slugging pct. (4^th, .573), and OPS (4^th, .962).

PAW SOX LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK

APRIL 9^th      PAWTUCKET (4-1)  at  LEHIGH VALLEY (2-3)    7:05 pm  

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Steven Wright (0-0) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs RHP Tyler Cloyd (0-1) 

PawSox Suffer First Defeat in 14-5 Loss to Lehigh Valley – Pawtucket jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the 2^nd inning, but could not sustain the advantage as the IronPigs plated the game’s next 13 runs without an answer.  Jeremy Hazelbaker led off the game with a solo homer and Bryce Brentz added a two-run shot later in the 1^st.  The PawSox scored two more in the 2^nd on an RBI single by Jonathan Diaz and a sacrifice fly from Justin Henry.  But, the pitching staff allowed a run in every frame except the 6^th and served up three Lehigh Valley home runs. Both Hazelbaker and Diaz collect two hits in the loss.  Starter Rubby De La Rosa lasted just 2.1 innings allowing 5 runs, all earned, on 4 hits (2 HR) with 3 k’s while throwing 49 pitches.

A History-Making 2012 Season – Pawtucket had a memorable 2012 season…for a couple of different reasons.  The PawSox were the IL wild card winner and made the playoffs for the second year in a row.  They will be attempting to make it to the post-season in 2013 for the third consecutive year which would be a first in franchise-history.

Road-Tripping to Start the Year – The Pawtucket Red Sox will continue their 7-game roadie that featured a 4-game sweep in Moosic against the RailRiders and a 3-game set in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Tonight and finishing tomorrow night at 7:0.

The Road Home – The PawSox will make their 2013 McCoy Stadium Thursday, April 11 when they host the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.  Returning PawSox players will receive their 2012 Governors’ Cup Championship rings in special pre-game ceremonies on Thursday night.  The PawSox play Rochester for four games April 11 and 12 at 7:05 pm and then over the weekend on April 13 & 14 at 1:05 pm.  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will visit next for a 4-game set from April 15-18 with games at 6:15 pm, 12:05 pm, 6:15 pm, and 12:05 pm.

Big Papi at McCoy? – Multiple media reports have speculated that injured Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz could continue his rehab (heel injuries) with the PawSox as early as next week when the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium from April 11-18.  We will keep you posted as we get further information on. 

Last Year vs. Lehigh Valley – Pawtucket and Lehigh Valley finished the 2012 season-series knotted at 8 victories apiece. The PawSox went 5-3 at home vs. the IronPigs but 3-5 here in Allentown. 

Stats vs. Lehigh Valley - The PawSox hit .259 in the 16 games vs. the IronPigs with 16 HR while Sox pitchers were 8-8 with a 2.83 ERA vs. Lehigh Valley with 10 HRA. The PawSox out-scored the IronPigs by a 75-49 margin during the 2012 the season-series.  

All-Time vs. the IronPigs – The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have met 80 times in the regular-season since Lehigh Valley entered the International League in 2008. The PawSox hold a 45-35 advantage. That does not include Pawtucket’s 0-3 mark vs. Lehigh Valley in September of 2011 in the IL Playoffs which was the first playoff meeting between the clubs (and the first post-season appearance in the young history of the IronPigs).  

10-6 Good Buddy - The PawSox won the 2011 season-series over Lehigh Valley by a 10-6 margin (finishing 6-2 at home at McCoy Stadium and 4-4 in Lehigh Valley). Lehigh Valley had gone 10-6 vs. the PawSox in both 2009 and 2010 – winning 10 times as many games against the PawSox in both those years than they did in all of 2008 (1-15) – their first year in the International League. The PawSox won the first nine games (ever) vs. Lehigh Valley in 2008 before losing on July 5, 2008 at McCoy, 5-2. That was their only loss that year vs. the IronPigs as the Sox finished 15-1 vs. Lehigh Valley – their most victories in a single-season against any single IL club ever.

PAW SOX STILL UNDEFEATED…DeLa ROSA GOES TODAY

APRIL 8^th      PAWTUCKET (4-0)  at  LEHIGH VALLEY (1-3)    7:05 pm

 

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Rubby De La Rosa vs. Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs RHP B.J. Rosenberg 

Doyle Leads PawSox to Sweep of SWB with a 6-2 Win – While starter Terry Doyle threw just 44 strikes of his 87 pitches, he allowed just one hit and pitched around 5 walks in 6.1 innings of work. He was the first PawSox starter to earn a decision in 2013.  Ryan Rowland-Smith (just up from Extended Spring) added 1.2 innings allowing a run and Anthony Carter allowed a run in the 9^th.  The offense built a 5-0 lead after four innings thanks to a two-run single by Ryan Lavarnway, a sac-fly by Drew Sutton, an RBI double by Mark Hamilton and an RBI single by Justin Henry.  Hamilton added another RBI hit in the 7^th to snag a 6-0 lead. He finished 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and Jeremy Hazelbaker was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

A History-Making 2012 Season – Pawtucket had a memorable 2012 season…for a couple of different reasons.  The PawSox were the IL wild card winner and made the playoffs for the second year in a row.  They will be attempting to make it to the post-season in 2013 for the third consecutive year which would be a first in franchise-history.

Road-Tripping to Start the Year – The Pawtucket Red Sox will continue their 7-game roadie that featured a 4-game sweep in Moosic against the RailRiders and a 3-game set in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs next Tonight through Wednesday night (all at 7:05 pm).

The Road Home – The PawSox will make their 2013 McCoy Stadium Thursday, April 11 when they host the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.  Returning PawSox players will receive their 2012 Governors’ Cup Championship rings in special pre-game ceremonies on Thursday night.  The PawSox play Rochester for four games April 11 and 12 at 7:05 pm and then over the weekend on April 13 & 14 at 1:05 pm.  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will visit next for a 4-game set from April 15-18 with games at 6:15 pm, 12:05 pm, 6:15 pm, and 12:05 pm.

Big Papi at McCoy? – Multiple media reports have speculated that injured Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz could continue his rehab (heel injuries) with the PawSox as early as next week when the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium from April 11-18.  We will keep you posted as we get further information on.  

Last Year vs. Lehigh Valley – Pawtucket and Lehigh Valley finished the 2012 season-series knotted at 8 victories apiece. The PawSox went 5-3 at home vs. the IronPigs but 3-5 here in Allentown.  

Stats vs. Lehigh Valley - The PawSox hit .259 in the 16 games vs. the IronPigs with 16 HR while Sox pitchers were 8-8 with a 2.83 ERA vs. Lehigh Valley with 10 HRA. The PawSox out-scored the IronPigs by a 75-49 margin during the 2012 the season-series.  

All-Time vs. the IronPigs – The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have met 80 times in the regular-season since Lehigh Valley entered the International League in 2008. The PawSox hold a 45-35 advantage. That does not include Pawtucket’s 0-3 mark vs. Lehigh Valley in September of 2011 in the IL Playoffs which was the first playoff meeting between the clubs (and the first post-season appearance in the young history of the IronPigs).  

10-6 Good Buddy - The PawSox won the 2011 season-series over Lehigh Valley by a 10-6 margin (finishing 6-2 at home at McCoy Stadium and 4-4 in Lehigh Valley). Lehigh Valley had gone 10-6 vs. the PawSox in both 2009 and 2010 – winning 10 times as many games against the PawSox in both those years than they did in all of 2008 (1-15) – their first year in the International League. The PawSox won the first nine games (ever) vs. Lehigh Valley in 2008 before losing on July 5, 2008 at

PAW SOX LOOK FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WIN TO OPEN SEASON TONIGHT

APRIL 5^th      PAWTUCKET (1-0)  at  SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE (0-1)    7:05 pm

 

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Allen Webster (NR) vs. Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders RHP Dillan Betances (NR) 

 

PawSox Home Past RailRiders – Pawtucket used a five-run 10^th inning, including two homers, to slug their way past Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on opening night, 8-4. Trailing 2-0 into the 5^th, the PawSox tied the game on a two-run homer by Brandon Snyder (playing in his first game in the Boston Org.) and took the lead thanks to a two-out RBI single by Brock Holt. The ‘Riders would tie the game in the 7^th on a sacrifice fly by Thomas Neal.  In the 10^th, Jeremy Hazelbaker launched a one-out solo homer to grab the lead for good.  Ryan Larvanway and Bryce Brentz each added RBI doubles and Justin Henry blasted a two-run homer.  Starter Steven Wright went four innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. The bullpen of Graham Godfrey, Jose De La Torre, Alex Wilson and Anthony Carter allowed just 2 runs in the final 6 inning of the game. The staff walked 11 in the game and struck out 14.   

Happy New Year – The defending International League Champion Pawtucket Red Sox and the newly-named Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders begin their rendezvous with destiny tonight at 7:05 pm at new-look PNC Field in Moosic, PA with the 2013 season-opener to help start the 130^th year of the International League.  The PawSox will be bidding for their 8^th straight Opening Night victory this evening.  Their last loss in a season-opener came in 2005 when Red Sox Hall of Famer Curt Schilling (making a rehab start for the PawSox) suffered a 7-5 defeat in Indianapolis.  Since then the PawSox have captured their last seven season-openers (5 at home and 2 on the road).

A History-Making 2012 Season – Both Pawtucket and Scranton/WB had memorable 2012 seasons…for a couple of different reasons.  The PawSox were the IL wild card winner and made the playoffs for the second year in a row.  They will be attempting to make it to the post-season in 2013 for the third consecutive year which would be a first in franchise-history.  The Scranton/WB Yankees won the 2012 IL North division for the 6^th time in the last 7 years despite playing on the road all season while PNC Field was being renovated.   (The only season Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has not won the IL North between 2006-2012 came in 2011 when the PawSox were division champs).  The Sox and Yanks met in the IL semi-final playoffs last September with Pawtucket taking the series, 3 games to 1.  The PawSox then went on to sweep the Charlotte Knights to capture their first Governors’ Cup Championship in 28 years (since 1984).

One Year Ago (Almost) – 364 days ago the PawSox beat Buffalo, 4-2 at McCoy Stadium in the 2012 season-opener to debut with a victory for the 7th year in a row.  Justin Germano was the starter and winner while a pair of players who would soon find their way to Boston keyed the offense with 2B Pedro Ciriaco (4 hits, 2 RBI) and 3B Will Middlebrooks (3 hits, 2 doubles) leading the way.

History-Making Opening Acts – The PawSox have now won eight straight season-openers as they have continued to build onto this new club-record (prior to this current streak their longest Opening Day winning streak was all of two games – in 1990 & ’91).  The winning streak began with a 3-2 win vs. Indianapolis on April 6, 2006 at McCoy.  In 2007 the PawSox opened in Charlotte on April 5 and rolled to a 7-4 victory.  The PawSox won their third Opening Night game in a row (a franchise first) with a 3-0 shutout at home against Indianapolis behind Bartolo Colon and three relievers on April 3, 2008 (equaling their earliest start to a season ever).  In 2009 the PawSox earned their fourth consecutive Opening Night victory with a 6-4 triumph in Buffalo on April 9.  Their Opening Night winning streak reached five in a row with an 11-3 rout of Rochester on April 8, 2010 at McCoy. The Sox made it six consecutive with a well-played, 2-1 victory over Rochester on April 7, 2011 at McCoy.  And last year the PawSox again opened at home and again began victorious with a 4-2 decision over Buffalo.

More Good News – Pawtucket has also won 9 of their last 10 season-openers – their only loss during this stretch an Opening Day 7-5 setback at Indianapolis on April 7, 2005 with Curt Schilling suffering the defeat.  Over a longer span, the PawSox have come up winners in 9 of their last 11 season-openers following an 8-game Opening Day losing streak that stretched from 1993-2001.

Next Year is Here - The Pawtucket Red Sox will start the 2013 season with this 7-game roadtrip that features this 4-game series in Moosic against the RailRiders (tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night all at 7:05 pm and Sunday at 1:05 pm) followed by a 3-game set in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs next Monday through Wednesday nights (all at 7:05 pm).

The Road Home - The PawSox will make their 2013 McCoy Stadium Thursday, April 11 when they host the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.  Returning PawSox players will receive their 2012 Governors’ Cup Championship rings in special pre-game ceremonies on Thursday night.  The PawSox play Rochester for four games April 11 and 12 at 7:05 pm and then over the weekend on April 13 & 14 at 1:05 pm.  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will visit next for a 4-game set from April 15-18 with games at 6:15 pm, 12:05 pm, 6:15 pm, and 12:05 pm.

Big Papi at McCoy? – Multiple media reports have speculated that injured Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz could continue his rehab (heel injuries) with the PawSox as early as next week when the PawSox return to McCoy Stadium from April 11-18.  We will keep you posted as we get further information on.

 

PAW SOX SET TO OPEN 2013 SEASON

APRIL 4^th      PAWTUCKET (0-0)  at  SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE (0-0)    7:05 pm

 

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Steven Wright (NR) vs. Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders LHP Vidal Nuno (NR)  

Happy New Year – The defending International League Champion Pawtucket Red Sox and the newly-named Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders begin their rendezvous with destiny tonight at 7:05 pm at new-look PNC Field in Moosic, PA with the 2013 season-opener to help start the 130^th year of the International League.  The PawSox will be bidding for their 8^th straight Opening Night victory this evening.  Their last loss in a season-opener came in 2005 when Red Sox Hall of Famer Curt Schilling (making a rehab start for the PawSox) suffered a 7-5 defeat in Indianapolis.  Since then the PawSox have captured their last seven season-openers (5 at home and 2 on the road).

A History-Making 2012 Season – Both Pawtucket and Scranton/WB had memorable 2012 seasons…for a couple of different reasons.  The PawSox were the IL wild card winner and made the playoffs for the second year in a row.  They will be attempting to make it to the post-season in 2013 for the third consecutive year which would be a first in franchise-history.  The Scranton/WB Yankees won the 2012 IL North division for the 6^th time in the last 7 years despite playing on the road all season while PNC Field was being renovated.   (The only season Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has not won the IL North between 2006-2012 came in 2011 when the PawSox were division champs).  The Sox and Yanks met in the IL semi-final playoffs last September with Pawtucket taking the series, 3 games to 1.  The PawSox then went on to sweep the Charlotte Knights to capture their first Governors’ Cup Championship in 28 years (since 1984).

One Year Ago (Almost) – 364 days ago the PawSox beat Buffalo, 4-2 at McCoy Stadium in the 2012 season-opener to debut with a victory for the 7th year in a row.  Justin Germano was the starter and winner while a pair of players who would soon find their way to Boston keyed the offense with 2B Pedro Ciriaco (4 hits, 2 RBI) and 3B Will Middlebrooks (3 hits, 2 doubles) leading the way.

History-Making Opening Acts – The PawSox come into tonight having won seven straight season-openers as they have continued to build onto this new club-record (prior to this current streak their longest Opening Day winning streak was all of two games – in 1990 & ’91).  The winning streak began with a 3-2 win vs. Indianapolis on April 6, 2006 at McCoy.  In 2007 the PawSox opened in Charlotte on April 5 and rolled to a 7-4 victory.  The PawSox won their third Opening Night game in a row (a franchise first) with a 3-0 shutout at home against Indianapolis behind Bartolo Colon and three relievers on April 3, 2008 (equaling their earliest start to a season ever).  In 2009 the PawSox earned their fourth consecutive Opening Night victory with a 6-4 triumph in Buffalo on April 9.  Their Opening Night winning streak reached five in a row with an 11-3 rout of Rochester on April 8, 2010 at McCoy. The Sox made it six consecutive with a well-played, 2-1 victory over Rochester on April 7, 2011 at McCoy.  And last year the PawSox again opened at home and again began victorious with a 4-2 decision over Buffalo.

More Good News – Pawtucket has also won 8 of their last 9 season-openers – their only loss during this stretch an Opening Day 7-5 setback at Indianapolis on April 7, 2005 with Curt Schilling suffering the defeat.  Over a longer span, the PawSox have come up winners in 9 of their last 11 season-openers following an 8-game Opening Day losing streak that stretched from 1993-2001.

Next Year is Here - The Pawtucket Red Sox will start the 2013 season with this 7-game roadtrip that features this 4-game series in Moosic against the RailRiders (tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night all at 7:05 pm and Sunday at 1:05 pm) followed by a 3-game set in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs next Monday through Wednesday nights (all at 7:05 pm).

PAW SOX PLAYING TWO TONIGHT

AUGUST 30^th           PAWTUCKET (75-63)   vs.  GWINNETT (61-77)      5:05 pm   DH     

 

G1 Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Billy Buckner (7-6, 4.22)   vs. Gwinnett Braves RHP Randall Delgado (4-2, 4.58)  

G2 Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Tony Pena, Jr. (1-9, 5.04)  vs. Gwinnett Braves RHP Julio Teheran (7-8, 5.20)  

 

The Road Ends Here – The Pawtucket Red Sox play their final road games of the 2012 regular-season tonight when they face the Gwinnett Braves in a make-up doubleheader at 5:05 pm at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia.  The PawSox are 36-34 on the road this season as they bid for their second straight year with a winning road record.  The Sox had a 42-29 away mark in 2011 to establish a new club record for most road wins in a season.  The PawSox had a losing road record in 2010 at 28-44.

Double Your Pleasure – Pawtucket is 1-0-3 in their four doubleheaders this season.  They split their most recent twinbill on August 15 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at McCoy Stadium as the Yankees won the opener as the “home” team, 5-1 before the Sox earned the split with a 5-2 victory in the nightcap taking their rightful spot as the home team in that game.  The PawSox split a scheduled doubleheader way back on April 7 at home vs. LehighValley, swept a make-up doubleheader at home vs. Durham on April 23, and split a make-up twinbill in LehighValley on June 2.  Both games tonight will be 7-innings.

Four of a Kind – The PawSox have picked a terrific time to rattle off their first 4-game winning streak in more than 10 weeks – since a 5-game winning streak from June 12-17.  Pawtucket beat Charlotte, 4-3 and 5-4 last Saturday & Sunday and they have won here in Gwinnett on Monday, 3-1 and Wednesday, 9-4.  As a result, the Sox have gone from –½ GB in the IL Wild Card Race to +1½-games ahead.  Pawtucket’s Magic Number to clinch the wild card is 5 (and it even could be 4 dependent on tie-breakers as the PawSox currently hold a slight edge in the second tiebreaker criteria over LehighValley).

Post-Season Getting Closer - The International League regular-season will end in five days (on Monday afternoon) as the PawSox try to hold onto their slim advantage in the wild card race for the final playoff spot.  Pawtucket regained the lead on Sunday by a ½-game over Lehigh Valley after the IronPigs had taken a ½-game lead last Friday & Saturday.  The PawSox have upped that advantage to 1½ -games over the Pigs.  Lehigh Valley hosts 1^st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre again tonight but the Yankees will be the home team in Allentown, PA.  At +5½-games over the 2^nd-place PawSox, the Yanks have a Magic Number of 1 to clinch the IL North Pennant…which would be their 6^th IL North title in the last 7 years.  Charlotte (IL South) and Indianapolis (IL West) have already clinched their division and will meet in one of the Governors’ Cup semi-final series.  Scranton/WB will take on most likely either the PawSox or the IronPigs in the other semi-final series.

This Series – The Sox and the Braves have been involved in a bit of a whacky series this week.  It began on Monday night as scheduled with the PawSox winning, 3-1.  Tuesday’s game was originally slated for a 7:05 pm start, but the Braves tried to beat the effects of Hurricane Isaac and decided to move the game time up to 2:05 pm.  That strategy backfired as the rains came earlier than expected forcing postponement of that game.  To make matters worse, the weather was ideal later that evening.  The Braves had also decided on Monday night to not play on Wednesday night and instead try a doubleheader on Thursday evening.  However, with Tuesday’s rain-out, the clubs took advantage of a sunny Wednesday afternoon to play a single game yesterday with the PawSox scoring 5 runs in the top of the 9^th to come out on top, 9-4.  Tonight’s twinbill might be affected by the weather as rain showers are in the forecast, but every effort will be made to play as these are Gwinnett’s final home games for 2012.

Homecoming – The PawSox return home to McCoy Stadium tomorrow (Friday) for a wrap-around Labor Day weekend 4-game series against the 1^st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees that in all likelihood will determine Pawtucket’s playoff fate and Scranton’s playoff opponent.  Pawtucket’s final four games of the regular-season will take place on Friday at 7:05 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 6:05 pm (with fireworks to follow the game on Sunday), and the finale on Labor Day Monday afternoon at 1:05 pm.  The PawSox hope to keep the Yankees right here following Monday’s regular-season finale as the teams would begin their playoff series on Wednesday (September 5) at 7:05 pm at McCoy.

PAW SOX HEADING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH

AUGUST 23^rd              PAWTUCKET (71-61)   vs.  CHARLOTTE (77-55)        7:15 pm      

 

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Zach Stewart (3-4, 4.13) 

Charlotte Knights LHP Charles Leesman (11-9, 2.59)  

 

Southbound for the Final Trip – The Pawtucket Red Sox begin their final roadtrip of the season when they start a crucial 8-game southern trip tonight with the opener of a 4-game series against the Charlotte Knights at 7:15 pm at Knights Stadium.  The PawSox will take on the almost certain IL South champion Charlotte Knights for games tonight, tomorrow night, and Saturday night all at 7:15 pm and the finale on Sunday afternoon at 2:15 pm.  Charlotte, who has a 9½-game lead atop the IL South, could clinch their division during this series as their Magic Number is 3.  The Sox will move further south next week for a 4-game set in Georgia against the Gwinnett Braves (Monday – Thursday nights all at 7:05 pm).  The PawSox will return to McCoy one week from tomorrow (Friday, August 31) for a wrap-around Labor Day weekend 4-game series against the 1^st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees that in all likelihood will determine their playoff fate.

Dirty Dozen – The PawSox have 12 games remaining and their lead in the IL Wild Card race is just a ½-game over Lehigh Valley while Columbus is -3 GB, Norfolk is -3½ GB, and Rochester is -5 GB.  Among Pawtucket’s final dozen games they will play 8 against division-leaders – these 4 in Charlotte and 4 vs. Scranton/WB at home from August 31 – September 3.  The Knights and the Yankees both appear playoff bound and they currently own the 2^nd and 3^rd best records in the entire league respectively just barely behind Indianapolis.

Wild One – While five teams are fighting for one spot in the wild card race with the PawSox the current front-runner the other playoff semi-final series appears all but set as it should be IL West Champ Indianapolis (up by 11-games) vs. IL South Champ Charlotte (+9½-games).

Playoffs? – Pawtucket has lost 4 of their last 6 games but they still cling to the wild card lead (by a ½-game) after falling into a tie with LehighValley on Saturday.  The current PawSox skid has, however, dropped them from 1-game out in the division race on August 15 to a current season-high deficit of -5½ GB of front-running Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  The International League’s four-team postseason playoffs begin two weeks from yesterday.  If things ended right now then Pawtucket would be the IL Wild Card and Scranton/WB would be the IL North Champ.  The teams would meet in the Governors’ Cup semi-finals which would begin with Games 1 & 2 on September 5 & 6 at McCoy Stadium.  Scranton/WB would be the home team for the final three games from September 7-9 with those games played at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY (the final two games if necessary).

Holding On – The PawSox 2^nd-place spot is precarious as their ½-game edge is in jeopardy with Lehigh Valley playing at Rochester this evening and ace Tyler Cloyd (12-1) on the mound.  The Sox have been in either 1^st-place or 2^nd-place since July 16 when they were in 3^rd-place in the division.  That also marks the last time the PawSox did not hold the lead in either the IL North or the IL Wild Card. The Sox did drop into a tie for 2^nd-place with Lehigh Valley last Saturday but moved back alone in 2^nd-place on Sunday.  From July 17-31 the PawSox were either in 1^st-place by a ½-game or in 2^nd-place by a ½-game every day during that stretch.

Postseason Hopes – Pawtucket is trying to capture back-to-back IL North regular-season titles for the first time in franchise-history but their chances appear slim as they are presently -5½ GB of front-running Scranton/WB which is their largest deficit of the season.  Pawtucket’s largest 1^st-place lead of the season was +5-games from June 15-17.  The PawSox, who lead the wild card race, last earned the IL Wild Card
playoff berth in 2008 when they lost in the 1^st round of the playoffs to IL North Champion Scranton/WB.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, meanwhile, is bidding for their 6^th IL North title in the last 7 years. They won five straight North Division crowns from 2006-2010 before the Sox broke that streak last year.

Head to Head - The PawSox have 12 games remaining in the regular-season while Scranton/WB and LehighValley both have 11 games left (the Yanks and Pigs have a scheduled off-day on August 28 while the Sox play everyday for the remainder of the season).  The Sox have 8 road games left and finish the regular-season with 4 at home.  Head-to-head match-ups between the three top teams in the division will go a long way in determining who emerges with a playoff spot(s) as the PawSox face Scranton/WB for a 4-game set to end the regular-season from August 31 – September 3.  Furthermore, the Yankees and IronPigs will play 5 more games against each other starting this weekend during a stretch from August 25-30 with all 5 games in Allentown, PA (the first 3 with Lehigh as the home team and the last 2 with Scranton/WB as the home team).

Remaining Schedule for IL Playoff Contenders –

                                PawSox                  Scranton/WB                        Lehigh Valley                        Columbus              Norfolk

Aug. 23                  @ Charlotte           @ Buffalo                              @ Rochester                         vs. Toledo             @ Durham

Aug. 24                  @ Charlotte           @ Buffalo                              @ Rochester                         vs. Toledo             @ Durham

Aug. 25                  @ Charlotte           @ LehighValley                   vs. Scranton/WB                 @ Indy                   @ Durham

Aug. 26                  @ Charlotte           @ LehighValley                   vs. Scranton/WB                 @ Indy                   @ Durham

Aug. 27                  @ Gwinnett           @ LehighValley                   vs. Scranton/WB                 @ Indy                   OFF

Aug. 28                  @ Gwinnett           OFF                                        OFF                                        @ Louisville          vs. Durham

Aug. 29                  @ Gwinnett           vs. LehighValley                 @ Scranton/WB (in LVY)   @ Louisville          vs. Durham

Aug. 30                  @ Gwinnett           vs. LehighValley                 @ Scranton/WB (in LVY)   vs. Louisville        vs. Durham

Aug. 31                  vs. Scranton/WB @ Pawtucket                         vs. Syracuse                         vs. Louisville        vs. Gwinnett

Sept. 1                    vs. Scranton/WB @ Pawtucket                         vs. Buffalo                             vs. Louisville        vs. Gwinnett

Sept. 2                    vs. Scranton/WB @ Pawtucket                         vs. Buffalo                             @ Toledo              vs. Gwinnett

Sept. 3                    vs. Scranton/WB @ Pawtucket                         vs. Buffalo                             @ Toledo              vs. Gwinnett

PAW SOX ON NESN TONIGHT

AUGUST 20^th              ROCHESTER (65-64)    vs.   PAWTUCKET (70-60)        7:05 pm      

 

Rochester Red Wings RHP Esmerling Vasquez (8-5, 2.85) vPawtucket Red Sox RHP Nelson Figueroa (10-4, 3.87)  

 

Monday Night Baseball – The Pawtucket Red Sox play their final Monday night home game of the season this evening and the game will be televised on NESN when they host the Rochester Red Wings in the opener of a 2-game series at 7:05 pm at McCoy Stadium.  The Red Sox and Red Wings play tonight and tomorrow night at 7:05 pm in their final two meetings of the season against each other as Rochester looks to cut into Pawtucket’s slim wild card lead (the Sox lead Lehigh Valley by 1-game while Rochester is -4½ GB in the wild card chase).  By the way, the PawSox have one other Monday game at home but that will be a 1:05 pm start on Labor Day Monday, September 3 in the final 2012 regular-season game two weeks from today.  After tomorrow Pawtucket will have just 4 regular-season home games remaining (August 31–September 3 all vs. the 1^st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees).

Playoffs? – Pawtucket snapped their 3-game losing streak yesterday to regain the wild card lead (by 1-game with 14 games remaining) after dropping into a tie with LehighValley on Saturday.  The International League’s four-team postseason playoffs begin in 17 days.  If things ended right now (and the regular-season will finish two weeks from today) then Pawtucket would be the IL Wild Card and Scranton/WB would be the IL North Champ (the Yankees have a 4-game lead on the Sox).  The teams would meet in the Governors’ Cup semi-finals which would begin with Games 1 & 2 on September 5 & 6 at McCoy Stadium.  Scranton/WB would be the home team for the final three games from September 7-9 with those games played at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY (the final two games if necessary).  Of course, the final 14 games remaining will determine all of this and it might come right down to the last game of the regular-season (or beyond) two weeks from today.  The wild card race remains tight as Pawtucket has regained the 1-game edge on LehighValley while Columbus is -3½ GB, Norfolk is 4-games out, and Rochester is -4½ GB in the chase for the wild card.  The other playoff semi-final series appears all but set as it should be IL West Champ Indianapolis (up by 10-games) vs. IL South Champ Charlotte (+10-games) as both clubs have sizable leads in their respective divisions.

Postseason Hopes – Pawtucket is trying to capture back-to-back IL North regular-season titles for the first time in franchise-history but they are presently -4 GB of front-running Scranton/WB for the past two days – their largest deficit of the season.  Pawtucket’s largest 1^st-place lead of the season was +5-games from June 15-17.  The PawSox, who lead the wild card race, last earned the IL Wild Card playoff berth in 2008 when they lost in the 1^st round of the playoffs to IL North Champion Scranton/WB.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, meanwhile, is bidding for their 6^th IL North title in the last 7 years. They won five straight North Division crowns from 2006-2010 before the Sox broke that streak last year.

Head to Head - The PawSox, Scranton/WB, and LehighValley all have 14 games remaining in the regular-season.  The Sox have 6 at home and 8 road games left in the season.  Head-to-head match-ups between the three top teams in the division will go a long way in determining who emerges with a playoff spot(s) as the PawSox face Scranton/WB for a 4-game set to end the regular-season from August 31 – September 3.  Furthermore, the Yankees and IronPigs will play 5 more games against each other starting this coming weekend during a stretch from August 25-30 with all 5 games in Allentown, PA (the first 3 with Lehigh as the home team and the last 2 with Scranton/WB as the home team).

Win Some, Lose Some – In the last month, the PawSox had not been able to win more than two in a row or lose more than two in a row until their recent 3-game losing skid (Thursday & Friday to Scranton/WB and Saturday to Buffalo).  Their last 3-game losing streak had occurred from July 12-14 (all three at home to Buffalo).  The Sox win on Sunday enabled them to avoid losing four straight for the first time since in almost two months since their season-high 9-game losing streak from June 18-26.  Pawtucket’s last 3-game winning streak came from July 15-17.   In the past month, the Sox have won back-to-back games five different times (including this past Monday & Tuesday) but have not been able to make it three straight.

PAW SOX LOOK TO CLIMB BACK INTO FIRST PLACE

                               

AUGUST 16^th         PAWTUCKET (69-57) vs. SCRANTON/WB (70-56)   @ McCoy       7:05 pm    

 

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Tony Pena, Jr. (1-9, 5.38)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees LHP Justin Thomas (1-1, 3.38)

 

Back to Regular Programming (Kind Of) – The 2^nd-place Pawtucket Red Sox and the 1^st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees play game four of their 5-game series at McCoy Stadium tonight at 7:05 pm following a strange doubleheader last evening in Pawtucket.  In G1 last night Scranton/WB rallied as the “home” team for a 5-1 win.  In G2 the PawSox were the home team and that fact came in handy when the game was called due to rain after 4½-innings with Pawtucket ahead (and winners) 5-2.  The PawSox have thus won 2 of the first 3 games in this important 5-game set that continues tonight and concludes tomorrow night with the Yankees the “home” team again in both games.

High Five – The PawSox came into this 5-game series trailing the Yanks by 2-games in the IL North.  The Sox cut that deficit to 1-game with a 9-7 victory in the series opener Tuesday night.  The doubleheader split last night kept the teams separated by that 1-game margin.  These two rivals will still meet 6 more times (including tonight) over their final 18 games of the regular-season including a season-ending 4-game set here at McCoy over the wrap-around Labor Day weekend from August 31 – September 3 that may have huge post-season implications.

Playoff Preview? – The International League’s four-team postseason playoffs begin three weeks from last night.  If things ended right now then Pawtucket would be the IL Wild Card and Scranton/WB would be the IL North Champ.  As such, the teams would meet in the Governors’ Cup semi-finals which would begin with Games 1 & 2 on September 5 & 6 at McCoy Stadium.  Scranton/WB would be the home team for the final three games from September 7-9 with those games played at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY (the final two games if necessary).  Of course, neither club is guaranteed anything in this tight playoff race with 18 games remaining.  The wild card race has LehighValley -2 GB of the PawSox, and Columbus & Rochester both -4½ GB in the chase for the wild card.  The other playoff semi-final series appears all but set as it should be IL West Champ Indianapolis vs. IL South Champ Charlotte as both clubs have 10-game leads in their division.

Postseason Hopes – Pawtucket is trying to capture back-to-back IL North regular-season titles for the first time in franchise-history.  Pawtucket’s largest 1^st-place lead of the season was +5-games from June 15-17.  Their largest deficit of the season was -3 GB from July 3, 5 & 6 as well as April 15 & 16.   The PawSox last earned the IL Wild Card playoff berth in 2008 when they lost in the 1^st round of the playoffs to IL North Champion Scranton/WB.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, meanwhile, is bidding for their 6^th IL North title in the last 7 years.  They won five straight North Division crowns from 2006-2010 before the PawSox broke that streak last season.

Vagabonds - The Yankees have played on the road all season during the year-long renovation of PNC Stadium in Moosic, PA.  (The original IL schedule had this series slated to be played at Scranton/WB before being rearranged to accommodate the construction crews).  And the Yankees have the lead in the division despite the majority of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s “home” games being held in Rochester in 2012 with others in Syracuse, LehighValley, Batavia, NY, Buffalo, and Pawtucket this week.

Head to Head - The PawSox, Scranton/WB, and LehighValley all have 18 games remaining in the regular-season.  The Sox have 10 at home – although the next 2 they are the “away” team – and 8 actual road games) as they bid to defend their IL North title from 2011.  Head-to-head match-ups between the three top teams in the division will go a long way in determining who emerges with a playoff spot(s) as the PawSox face Scranton/WB 6 more times (2 more this week and a 4-game set to end the regular-season from August 31 – September 3).  Furthermore, the Yankees and IronPigs will play 5 more games against each other during a stretch from August 25-30 with all 5 games in Allentown, PA (the first 3 with Lehigh as the home team and the last 2 with Scranton/WB as the home team).

PAW SOX BACK AT MCCOY TONIGHT

AUGUST 6^th           LEHIGH VALLEY (63-54)    at   PAWTUCKET (64-52)     7:05 pm      

 

Lehigh Valley IronPigs RHP Scott Elarton (5-8, 5.06)

Pawtucket Red Sox RHP Zach Stewart (2-2, 3.76)

 

Will We Meet Again? – The 1^st-place Pawtucket Red Sox and the 3^rd-place Lehigh Valley IronPigs face each other for the last time in the regular-season tonight when they play the finale of this 4-game set (and their 6-game home and home series) at 7:05 pm at McCoy Stadium.  Four weeks from today the regular-season will end (after a Labor Day afternoon game here vs. Scranton/WB) and there is a distinct chance that the PawSox and IronPigs could meet again in an International League semi-final playoff series for the second straight post-season.  Right now it would be Pawtucket as the IL North Champ vs. Scranton/WB as the IL Wild Card but that could change as early as tonight as the Sox, Yanks, and Pigs are all separated by just a ½-game in the IL North standings.  Last year the PawSox finished in 1^st-place (2-games ahead of LehighValley) but were then swept in 3 straight by the Pigs in the IL semi-final playoffs.

View From the Top – In five days thus far this month, the PawSox have been alone in 1^st-place twice (Friday & Sunday) and in a virtual tie for 1^st-place with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 1, 2, and 4.  From July 17-31 the PawSox were either in 1^st-place and +½-game or in 2^nd-place and –½-game in the division every day during that stretch.  Lehigh Valley despite winning 3 of 5 games against the Sox the past five days, has remained in 3^rd-place but they are within just a ½-game of the Yankees for the coveted wild card.

Pig Pen - Pawtucket has lost 3 of 5 to LehighValley since last Wednesday but with a win tonight would even this 6-game home and home series at 3 wins each and also finish the season-series with the IronPigs at 8 victories apiece.  Pawtucket trails, 7-8 with one game remaining.  The clubs split the first two games here at McCoy with the Sox rolling 7-1 on Friday but LehighValley rebounding for a 7-3 victory Saturday.  Yesterday the Sox gained the upper hand in this 4-game set at home by rallying for a 6-5 victory in 10-innings.  The PawSox were swept in a 2-game set at LehighValley last Wednesday and Thursday nights (by scores of 3-2 in 10-innings and 2-1).

Chasing the Pigs – Lehigh Valley is one of just three teams the PawSox have a losing record against this season as the Sox are   7-8 vs. the IronPigs thus far (finishing 3-5 in Allentown, PA and 4-3 in Pawtucket with the finale on tap for tonight).  Pawtucket also trails Charlotte (1-3) and finished 3-5 vs. Louisville (the only other teams they have a losing record against to this point).

This Homestand – The PawSox are 2-1 on this 6-game homestand that will take a brief respite tomorrow when the Sox enjoy their first scheduled off-day since the All-Star break (July 9-11).  Pawtucket resumes play on Wednesday night with the opener of a 2-game set vs. Syracuse here at McCoy (Wednesday at 7:05 pm and Thursday at 12:05 pm).  The PawSox will spend the wrap-around weekend in New York with a 2-game series in Rochester on Friday & Saturday nights before moving to Buffalo for 2-games on Sunday and Monday nights.  Pawtucket will be right back to McCoy for a huge 9-game homestand one week from tomorrow (August 14-21) that will feature 5-games vs. Scranton/WB (including a make-up doubleheader on Aug. 15 at 5:35 pm) along with the Future’s at Fenway game on August 18 at approximately 4:35 pm.

Not Much of a Difference a Year Makes – Pawtucket is two games off their pace from last season after 116 games as they had a 66-50 record last year compared to 64-52 this season.  However, last August 10 the Sox fell to 66-51 and were in a tie for 1^st-place with Lehigh Valley.  They own a 1-game lead at this point this season.  The PawSox went 17-12 last August (and 4-0 last September) and from August 7 on last year they remained either tied for 1^st or alone in 1^st for all but one day the remainder of the season (2^nd-place, -1 GB on August 24).

Win Some, Lose Some – The PawSox are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but they have won 13 of their last 21 games and are 15-11 following a 4-16 tailspin from June 18 – July 6.