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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – All that stands between the International League picture being completely in-focus is one itty bitty detail.
Namely who goes in as the Northern Division champ and who becomes the wild-card entry. Thanks to Pawtucket’s 2-0 silencing at the hands of Buffalo Friday, it’s growing more and more likely it’s going to be the wild-card route the PawSox travel down.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which entered last night with a three-game lead, was able to trim its magic number down to a single game. The PawSox will have to hope for some serious luck over the next three days to have the best-of-five first round series begin in Scranton, but plan on the Governors’ Cup series to commence next week with the first two games at McCoy.
Four Buffalo pitchers combined on the three-hit shutout, the Pawtucket base knocks belonging to Chris Carter, George Kottaras and Gil Velazquez.
“I’m not going to sit here and say those guys didn’t do well because they are good hitters,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson after he club fell to 82-56, which leaves his club one win shy of setting a franchise-best. “We just got whooped tonight.”
The role of tough-luck loser fell onto the shoulders on knuckleballer Charlie Zink. All Zink allowed was a solo home run to the Bisons’ Todd Linden, which broke up a scoreless game in the sixth, and an unearned run in the seventh when second baseman Josh Wilson couldn’t squeeze a short fly near the right field foul line.
Throwing 104 pitches, Zink worked eight innings, allowing seven hits. He walked three and struck out three.
Pawtucket’s feelings weren’t hurt when Buffalo starter Scott Lewis was lifted after just 72 pitches. Lewis held the PawSox in check over six innings, allowing two hits with zero walks and six strikeouts. Aided by two double play balls, Lewis faced the minimum 18 batters.
The Buffalo trio of Jeff Stevens, Rich Rundles and Bubbie Buzachero finished the job, combining to strike out five in three innings.
Kyle Snyder tossed a scoreless inning in what could very well be his final outing with the PawSox, wriggling his way out of a two-on jam in the ninth.
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The Red Sox have called up pitching prospect Michael Bowden, who will start tonight in Fenway Park. David Pauley was the slated starter, but he will instead be pushed back to the bullpen.
Pauley will likely be the designated long man, the same role he held when Tim Wakefield came off the disabled list Tuesday night. Pauley hasn’t pitched since August 20.
The 21-year-old Bowden takes the place of Sean Casey, who landed on disabled list (neck). Bowden began the season at Double-A Portland before being promoted to Pawtucket in July. With the PawSox he's 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 29 and walked only five in 40 innings pitched for Pawtucket.
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Johnson reflected on what’s been a special season for the PawSox during his pregame confab with the media. “The two things you focus on coming out of spring training is giving the young guys the opportunity to develop and put the six-year free agent types in a position that they can be helpful.
“But when you can add winning into the equation, that’s a pretty good year. (Heading to the playoffs) is the icing on the cake and shows what a quality season they’ve all had.”
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EXTRA BASES: Two days after he was designated for assignment, Joe Thurston was spotted in the PawSox clubhouse. Johnson expects Thurston, currently third in the IL with a .314 average, to go unclaimed and be activated today. … . Catcher David Ross’ contract was purchased from Pawtucket and he was added to the 25-man roster. Ross appeared in six games in short stay with the PawSox, batting .250 with a home run and three RBI. … Taking Ross’ roster spot was Devern Hansack, who was on the disabled list with a right forearm contusion. There’s a possibility Hansack may return to the hill tonight. Right now Eric Hull is penciled in as the starter. … The plan is to have Bartolo Colon work five innings/75 pitches on Sunday when Lehigh Valley comes to town. … Cleveland Indians DH Travis Hafner, currently on the 60-day disabled list, is on a rehab assignment with Buffalo. He wasn’t in the lineup Friday, meaning the odds are high he’ll be in there tonight. … Last night saw the IL establish a new single-season attendance record. The league entered 10,000 shy of the circuit’s all-time standard of 6,815,633, set in 2002. The IL is averaging 7,220 fans per outing in its 125th season in operation. The addition of Lehigh Valley has been warmly received as the IronPigs welcomed nearly 600,000 fans. … Clay Buchholz pitches for Double-A Portland today. If Portland can nail down second-place in the Northern Division of the Eastern League, it would face Trenton, the Yankess ‘ Class AA affiliate in the first round. … Sunday’s game features fireworks afterwards while Monday has the traditional Last Game Celebration.
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