By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – For the first time in five seasons, McCoy Stadium will be open for business beyond the regular season. The Governors’ Cup playoffs take flight this evening as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, champions of the International League’s North Division, faces Pawtucket, the wild-card entrant.
The PawSox host the first two games of the best-of-five opening round series, both starting at 7 o’clock. The series shifts to PNC Field on Friday for Game 3 with Games 4 and 5 to follow, if needed.

The PawSox will look to bolt out of the gate and take advantage of their 46-26 home record. “We’ve had some success at home, but all it means is that you’ve got to go to Scranton and grab a game,” said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson. “We feel we can do that.”
The pitching rotation for the series is as follows: Knuckleballer and IL Pitcher of the Year Charlie Zink faces Chase Wright in Game 1. Wright is better known as the Yankees pitcher who surrendered home runs to four consecutive Red Sox batters last season in Fenway Park. Zink faced the Junior Yankees three times this season, going 2-1.
On Thursday, Ian Kennedy faces Devern Hansack. Kennedy held the PawSox to two runs over seven innings on Aug. 3. Hansack will be making his second appearance since coming off the disabled list last Saturday.
Friday features Kei Igawa and his 14 Triple-A wins against PawSox newcomer Adam Mills. Mills assumes the roster spot of Chris Smith, who was called up to Boston on Tuesday. Drafted in the eighth round of the 2007 Draft, Mills began the season with Single-A Lancaster before moving to Double-A Portland in midseason. The 23-year-old Mills had made a combined 26 starts this season, going 7-9 with a 4.24 ERA. Mills’ arrival likely means Boston has decided to keep Clay Buchholz in Portland for the Sea Dogs’ postseason run.
Friday night will also see Michael Bowden throw two innings/35 pitches in relief. The PawSox are expected to option Miguel Asencio to Portland in order to create room for Bowden. 
Should the need for a fourth game arise, Phil Hughes is scheduled to pitch for the Junior Yankees. Hughes worked in Monday’s regular-season finale, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings against Syracuse with eight strikeouts.
Going for the PawSox is Bartolo Colon. Given that Colon’s 30-day rehab stint runs out today, the Red Sox are expected to call up the former Cy Young winner and immediately option him to Pawtucket.
Saturday’s fifth and deciding game has Edgar Martinez in line to start for the PawSox. Right now the Yanks’ starter has yet to be named.
The other Governors’ Cup series gets underway tonight with Louisville, the champion for the IL West, hosting Durham, the champs from the IL South.
The PawSox and Yankees split the 16 meetings during the 2008 season, though it should be noted Scranton won five of the eight games the two clubs played in August. This marks the first playoff meeting between the PawSox and Yankees’ Triple-A affiliates since the 1991 Governors’ Cup finals when Pawtucket was swept in three games by the Columbus Clippers (then the Yankees’ top farm team).
This marks the 12th time the PawSox have appeared in the postseason. Plenty of good seats are still available by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com