PawSox Come Back to Nip Chiefs 5-3

The PawSox gave up a lead in the eighth, but stormed back to get two runs in the ninth, good enough to edge the Syracuse Chiefs, 5-3 last night. The win earned Pawtucket a sweep of the Syracuse end of the four game home-and-home series. The PawSox also ended their five-game road trip with a 4-1 record.

The PawSox did all their damage in the ninth with two outs. Three consecutive singles by Dusty Brown, Sean Danielson, and Jonathan Van Every broke the 3-3 tie. After Jeff Bailey walked to load the bases, Joe Thurston was hit by a pitch from Chief's reliever Mike Gosling (3-4) giving Pawtucket an insurance run.

The PawSox found themselves in comeback mode all night, erasing deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth. The first three Pawtucket runs scored on a Chris Carter sacrifice fly in the fourth and a George Kottaras two-run homer in the seventh, his 16th of the season.

PawSox starter David Pauley was in line to earn his 11th win of the year, but reliever Lincoln Holdzkom could not hold the lead in the eighth. Wayne Lydon began the inning by grounding a single past short them stealing second. A Danny Sandoval sacrifice bunt put Lydon at third with one out. After Ben Coats walked, Matt Watson laced an RBI single to right, tying the game.

Jon Switzer came on in relief of Holdzkom and ended the Syracuse rally without any other runs crossing the plate.

Pauley pitched seven innings giving up two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out four in earning the no decision. Switzer (4-1) picked up the win. Hunter Jones came on to close the game, gathering his fifth save on 2008.

Keith Ginter and Danielson each had two hits for Pawtucket. Jed Lowrie's double in the fourth extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Lydon and Sandoval collected two hits each for the Chiefs.

The McCoy portion of the home-and-home series with the Chiefs begins tonight at McCoy as LHP Bill Murphy (5-5) takes the mound for Syracuse against RHP Edgar Martinez (3-1) for the PawSox.

Keep in mind that there will be earlier starting times for this week's four-game home stand at McCoy. Games Wednesday through Friday begin at 6:15pm while Saturday's finale will begin at 6:05pm. A fireworks display will follow each game of the home stand.

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