PawSox Top Bats in 13, 4-3

George Kottaras singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the PawSox a 4-3 win last night at McCoy. The PawSox have now taken two of three over the Bats in this four game series.

Joe Thurston got the PawSox going in the 13th with a bunt single off Bats reliever Camilo Vazquez (0-1). Jed Lowrie followed with a single, advancing Thurston to second. A Chris Carter fielder's choice put runners on first and third. Kottaras then belted a sharp single to right to end the game.

It looked like the PawSox would not need to go extra frames as they held a 3-1 lead heading into the top of the ninth. But PawSox relievers Jose Vaquedano and Jon Switzer could not hold the lead, with Vaquedano giving up a bases loaded walk to Andy Green and Switzer yielding an RBI infield single to Drew T. Anderson to knot the score at 3-3.

The PawSox bullpen meltdown wasted another masterful performance by starter Charlie Zink. Zink had great command of his knuckleball, pitching 7 2/3 innings. He gave up one unearned run on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Lincoln Holzkom (4-1) took the win for Pawtucket, pitching two scoreless innings.

Thurston (2 for 4) continued his hot streak at the plate. He accounted for the other three Pawtucket runs by belting a three-run homer off Louisville starter Justin Mallet in the third.

Jed Lowrie had three hits (3 for 6) in the game to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

With the win, combined with a Scranton/Wilkes Barre loss, the PawSox are now only one game behind the Yankees in first place in the IL North Division.

The two teams will wrap up their four game series tonight (7:05 pm). LHP Matt Maloney (6-3, 4.64) takes the mound for Louisville. He'll be opposed by RHP Devern Hansack (2-8, 6.11) for the PawSox.

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