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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – Say this about the 2008 edition of the Pawtucket Red Sox: these boys can mash!
Pawtucket entered Sunday with 77 home runs as a unit, good for second in the International League. The locals added three to their total Sunday, but it wasn’t enough in a 9-5 loss to Buffalo before 8,912 spectators.
Chris Carter, Jeff Bailey and Jed Lowrie all went yard with Carter’s blast clearing everything in right field. Yet the power couldn’t cover up the fact Pawtucket committed three errors and allowed 14 hits to the Bisons.
“The errors put us in a tough situation,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “We made some mistakes and [Buffalo] took advantage of them.”
Carter blasted his 12th homer, his second in as many days, in the first, a two-run shot that got Pawtucket on the board. Buffalo scored seven runs between the fourth and sixth innings, the bulk of the damage coming against starter Devern Hansack, who dropped to 2-8. In five innings Hansack allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. The native of Nicaragua walked two and struck out no one.
“I told Devern that he has to go through this right now. They say that what kills you makes you stronger,” said Johnson. “It’s just one of those things right now.”
Bailey connected for his team-best 18th home run, making it 4-3 Buffalo in the fifth. That was the score when Hansack departed, but Pawtucket’s bullpen couldn’t keep the deficit close.
Hunter Jones came on in the sixth and proceeded to give up three runs on five hits. Making his second appearance since coming off the disabled list last Friday, Lincoln Holdzkom was touched for two insurance runs in the ninth when he gave up a two-run single to catcher Wyatt Toregas.
A day game after a long travel day isn’t usually the best recipe, but the PawSox showed plenty of fight in the later innings. The hometowners trailed 7-3 before piecing together a rally in the eighth. Joe Thurston, who was guilty on two of the errors, led off with a single, which was followed by a two-run shot by Lowrie, his second.
Pawtucket continued to put the pressure on Buffalo. Carter and Bobby Kielty doubled and walked, respectively, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the presence of catcher George Kottaras.
Buffalo turned to Jeff Stevens to fan the flames, and the righty did just that. He struck out Kottaras on a full count, then got out of the inning by getting Keith Ginter to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
Pawtucket’s first two batters reached in the ninth as Chad Spann singled and Sean Danielson walked. Stevens settled down, recording the next three PawSox en route to picking up his first save.
With Jake Westbrook done for the remainder of the season, the Cleveland Indians certainly qualify as a club in need of pitching. That perhaps explains why 36-year-old John Halama was signed last week and immediately sent to Triple-A.
At the time the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was Halama’s employer. Though the one-time Red Sox (Halama pitched in 30 games with Boston in 2005 before getting released in July) was tagged by Carter and Bailey, he gave the Bisons six solid innings. Halama gave up three runs on four hits, striking out four while walking two.
“He’s a veteran guy who knows what he’s doing out there,” said Johnson.
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EXTRA BASES: The series with the Bisons concludes tonight with Clay Buchholz getting the start for the locals. Buchholz will look to build off last Wednesday’s start when he tossed five shutout innings against Charlotte. He left the game in a scoreless tie after reaching his pitch limit (82 pitches). Buchholz is yet to post a decision in three starts with the PawSox. … Tonight is Legends Night at McCoy with Tommy Harper and Lou Merloni paying a visit. Harper is a special consultant with the Sox and is currently watching as Jacoby Ellsbury is making a run at the club’s single-season record for stolen bases. Merloni, a longtime fan favorite, is currently making a name for himself as a media force in Boston. The pair will sign autographs and pose for pictures at the Cox Fan Center from 7-8:30 p.m.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 June 2008 )
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