By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – The chill in the stands matched the frosty approach of the Pawtucket hitters in Sunday’s 6-2 setback to Lehigh Valley. The PawSox (6-5) accumulated six hits, a total that did little to aid the club’s batting average (.231 heading into play).
“We just had a tough day offensively,” was what skipper Ron Johnson chalked it up to.
Pawtucket did have its chances to break through, putting two runners aboard in four consecutive innings. The clutch base knock, however, eluded Johnson & Co.
“Those are RBI situations we just didn’t get,” Johnson said. “We didn’t barrel many balls, it was one of those days when I’m standing at third base and there’s not a lot to do.”
The only runs the PawSox plated came when Chip Ambres scolded a shot past IronPigs third baseman Jorge Velandia for a run-scoring single in the first inning and solo home run by Ivan Ochoa, coming in the ninth. Other than that, offense proved hard to come by.
What’s interesting at this time of year is that how much the wind plays tricks on the hitters. Johnson mentioned a line out to right field Travis Denker made in the ninth inning as a ball that was simply knocked down. The home run Lehigh Valley’s Andy Tracy deposited into the Pawtucket bullpen in the fourth was well-placed because there was hardly any wind in that park of the ballpark (keep in mind Tracy has smashed 273 career homers in the minors).
“The wind is strange here at this time of year. You get to the summer and this becomes a nice ballpark for home runs,” surmised Johnson. “When it’s cool and the wind is coming from the right, balls will go up in the air and they get batted down.”
PawSox starter Enrique Gonzalez did his best to keep the club within striking distance. However he was labeled “tough luck loser” after tossing six innings of two-run ball. Throwing 93 pitches, Gonzalez walked two and struck out four.
“I have been impressed him all year. He gave us another professional outing,” praised Johnson. “He varies his (delivery), changes speeds and throws strikes. He is going to be a guy I have a hard time taking out of games.”
Lehigh Valley protected a 2-1 lead before exploding for four runs in the top of the eighth, victimizing Pawtucket reliever Chris George. George came in not allowing a run in two appearances, spanning 5 1/3 innings. In 1 2/3 innings the IronPigs victimized him for four runs on six hits.
Making his PawSox debut, Robert Coello restored order from a pitching standpoint, working 1 1/3 scoreless frames with a strikeout. Coello, who converted from catcher, arrived Friday after spending time in extended spring training.
“He’s pitched in Independent ball, so I think this is his highest classification,” said Johnson. “That splitter he was throwing was dirty, I was really impressed.”
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EXTRA BASES: Johnson stated that Jonathan Van Every (ankle) is scheduled to fly north today and be available when Pawtucket opens a brief two-game series with Rochester beginning Tuesday. Van Every stroked two triples in an extended spring training game Saturday. … Clay Buchholz (hamstring) is on target to start Wednesday’s matinee vs. the Red Wings. … Sunday marked the 28th anniversary of “The Longest Game.” One of the participants was on hand in Lehigh Valley skipper Dave Huppert. Serving as Rochester’s catcher that historic night, Huppert actually put the Red Wings up 2-1 in the 21st inning with a RBI double. The lead was short-lived thanks to Wade Boggs connecting on his own run-scoring double in the last of the 21st. … The series with the IronPigs wraps up today with Michael Bowden toeing the rubber for the locals. Bowden is yet to get through five innings in each of his first two starts, a result of a high pitch count in both. He’ll be opposed by Kyle Kendrick, who made 30 starts for the Phillies last season.