By BRENDAN MCGAIR
Sports Writer

PAWTUCKET – Owners of the best record in all of Triple-A, the PawSox reaped the benefits as five players were named to the All-Star Team on Wednesday.

Pitcher Charlie Zink, infielder Joe Thurston and outfielders Jeff Bailey and Chris Carter were elected to start while outfielder Jonathan Van Every was named a reserve. The five selections is a club-record.

The Triple-A version of the Midsummer Classic takes place July 16 in Louisville.

Needless to say, Pawtucket Ron Johnson was pleased to learn his club will be well-represented. Johnson expressed his wishes to see a few others make the squad, most notably starting pitcher David Pauley (league-best 10 wins) and catcher George Kottaras (16 home runs), but as he said “you can’t get everybody in, but I’m happy for the guys who are going.”

“We have so many guys deserving,” said Thurston. “I’m excited for all us who are going, but you have to ask ‘How come Pauley isn’t going?’”

All the position players chosen share this in common: spending time in varying degrees and capacities in Boston this season. An IL All-Star for the second time in his career, Thurston was the first member of the quartet to get summoned to Boston (April 16).

Van Every followed on May 14 while Bailey had his contract purchased on May 30. Carter was added to the roster on June 3 and made his big league debut the night of the Tampa Bay-Boston “Baseball Brawl.”

Their All-Star status signifies there hasn’t been a drop-off in production since the group returned to the minors. Entering Wednesday’s action, Thurston was tops in the IL with a .324 average (nine points higher than his closest competition) while Bailey ranks fourth in the league with 22 home runs.

“It’s a compliment that they’ve gone up to Boston and have come back and continue to play well,” said Johnson.

“I’m honored,” said Carter, who has 16 home runs and 57 RBI to date. “I feel that we are feeding off of each other. You see the talent in the locker room and when you see those guys do well, it helps me out.”

“You may not get a chance to play much [if called to Boston], but you want to help out [in Pawtucket just so you can get back up there,” said Thurston. “When you see other guys do well, it becomes contagious.”

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Turns out the PawSox can’t win 'em all. Syracuse pushed across the go-ahead in the ninth inning (on a two-strike, two-out bunt) to nip Pawtucket, 6-5.

The hometowners returned to McCoy Stadium Wednesday winners of 11 of their past 12 games and 17 of 20. Yet Syracuse’s Danny Sandoval, a former IL batting champ, dropped a perfect bunt that caught everyone in the stadium by surprise. Scott Lydon, who drew a walk and stole second on a pitchout, scored the game-winner.

“I tip my hat on a play like that,” said Johnson.

PawSox starter Edgar Martinez lasted just three-plus innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Miguel Asencio pitched four innings of one-run ball.

Chad Spann launched his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth. Catcher Dusty Brown recorded a triple and two RBI in three trips. 

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EXTRA BASES: Mike Timlin, who figures to be activated in time for Boston’s holiday series in New York, threw a bullpen session Wednesday. …  Bobby Kielty was reinstated from the disabled list Wednesday. He had been on the DL since June 9 with a left oblique strain. He doubled in his first at-bat. … To make room for Kielty, Bryan Pritz went on the seven-day DL with a right shoulder strain. It marks the second time this season, with the same injury, Pritz has been forced to the sideline. … The brief two-game set with the Chiefs wraps up tonight with Zink facing Scott Richmond (0-0, 1.50 ERA). Lehigh Valley comes to McCoy beginning Friday with former Met and Oriole Kris Benson starting for the Iron Pigs. Despite rumors that he may get the nod Saturday in Yankee Stadium, Clay Buchholz is still on track to pitch for the PawSox that night. Buchholz threw in the bullpen as former Red Sox Bruce Hurst, in town as a pitching coordinator looked on.