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PawSox closing in on Scranton |
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Thursday, 21 August 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – PawSox manager Ron Johnson has seen signs that Jeff Corsaletti, owner of a .193 average heading into the middle game of a three-game set with Syracuse, was about to break out of his hitting woes.
As if on cue, Corsaletti, for one night, got out of his slump. The 25-year-old drove in four runs, three coming on a home run, as Pawtucket moved closer to wrapping up a playoff spot with an 8-5 win over Syracuse Wednesday night.
The victory trimmed Pawtucket’s magic number to three. Toledo, the closest competition in the wild-card race, defeated Norfolk, 8-5. The race for the division crown is also far from settled. Thanks to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s loss to Rochester, Pawtucket moved to 1 ½ games in the IL North.
David Pauley earned his league-best 14th win after tossing 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Joe Thurston finished with two hits, two walks and two stolen bases. With
Corsaletti arrived in Pawtucket immediately following the All-Star break. He was selected an Eastern League All-Star after batting .311 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI for Double-A Portland.
Making the adjustment from Double-A to Triple-A pitching is regarded a tough assignment because of the fact Class AAA features so many pitchers who have big league experience. That perhaps explains why Corsaletti has been unable to get on track.
He did drill a game-ending two-run home run back on August 1 to give Pawtucket a 8-7 win over Rochester, but hits have been few and far between. Prior to Tuesday, Corsaletti was in the midst of a 1-for-11 slump.
After collecting two hits in three trips Tuesday, Corsaletti followed up with a game-changing round tripper. With Pawtucket clinging to a 3-2 lead in the fifth, Corsaletti lost a Chris George offering into the right field bleachers.
Pauley was motoring along, retiring 12 consecutive Chiefs to begin the game. Syracuse starter Brian Wolfe matched Pauley through three innings before wildness caught up with the Chiefs right-hander in the fourth.
Wolfe’s night was through after he walked two of the first three batters he faced. Only 38 of his 70 pitches went for strikes, an unbalanced ratio that was helped out by four walks.
While the fourth was a productive one for the PawSox, which went up 1-0 on a Corsaletti sac fly, it was a particularly long one for Pauley to sit through. In addition to seven Pawtucket players batting, Syracuse made a pitching change.
The Chiefs feasted on Pauley to begin the fifth, banging out three straight hits, two of them doubles. The hits allowed Syracuse to grab a 2-1 lead, but Pauley reestablished himself. He retired three straight to fifth and lasted until the seventh before giving way to the PawSox bullpen.
Making his third appearance since coming off the disabled list, Kyle Snyder was stretched out to 2 1/3 innings, giving up one run. Johnson brought on Hunter Jones to nail down the game’s final out. Facing the tying run, Jones nailed down his seventh save with a strikeout.
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EXTRA BASES: The good news for Jonathan Van Every is that the outfielder did not experience any reoccurring side effects from the oblique strain that kept him down for 11 games. The bad news is that Van Every has a new injury to contend with. His neck stiffened up Monday and didn’t feel much better the next day. “We’ll hold him back until he can go at 100 percent,” said Johnson. … Chris Carter, on the disabled list since August 9 (strained oblique) has been cleared to resume baseball-related activities. “Just dry swings right now with the hopes of getting in the cage soon,” said Carter. Johnson said Carter could return to the lineup in a week’s time. … Bartolo Colon takes the mound tonight with the hopes he can work 3-4 innings/50 pitches. Colon’s last outing was cut short to one inning after experiencing a tummy ache. Colon will be opposed by Syracuse lefty Ricky Romero (1-2, 3.52 ERA) … Sandy Madera (sore foot) returned to the lineup for the first time since Saturday. … Syracuse second baseman Danny Sandoval and catcher Curtis Thigpen were ejected in the sixth after arguing Thurston’s avoidance of a pickoff attempt. The ejections kept on coming for the Chiefs in the seventh. Manager Doug Davis was booted by the home plate umpire. … Peter Manfredo Jr. was present at McCoy Wednesday to throw out the first pitch. “The Pride of Providence” is slated to fight Friday night as part of “August Annihilation” at Twin River.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 23 August 2008 )
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