The Pawtucket RedSox are undefeated–unless they have to play the IronPigs. The IronPigs took another from the 8-2 PawSox this afternoon as the sounds of screaming school children filled our computers, streaming audio and video of an early afternoon game.
Jon Pettibone got the start for the IronPigs and struggled with his control at times. He made a lot of good pitches for strikes, but narrowly missed some others which led to two walks and seven hits over the first four innings, to go with three strikeouts. This yielded four runs–earned–for Pawtucket.
Pettibone was to face off against knuckleballer Steven Wright who flummoxed us pretty good on the home end of this home-and-home April series. However, Wright was a late scratch with speculation that he may be called to Boston. Chris Hernandez was moved up to take the start against the IronPigs.
The change in pitchers was fortunate for young outfielder Leandro Castro, who was due to get a day off. He was added to the lineup batting second and playing Right Field. He e to crush a long drive to center which required a Revere-esque play by Pawtucket Center Fielder Mitch Maier. Then, he added a three run line-drive home run and a double with run scored.
Tommy Joseph also added a three-run dinger, and Overbeck had a round-tripper as well. Justin Friend relieved Pettibone and went two and 2/3 yeilding two more runs for the Red Sox AAA affiliate. While he doesn’t normally pitch that many innings, the IronPigs are preparing for a “bullpen” day tomorrow with Cesar Jimenez getting the start.
Tyson Gillies got two hits to get his average back to triple digits; however, was picked off twice while on base. The first time, he was sent on a hit and run but left early and got nabbed. The second time was a more traditional pick-off at first. I’ve gotta feel for Tyson as it seems he’s trying too hard. Perhaps it’s time for a day off for him as he continues to try to adjust to his new batting instruction as well as the AAA game. We’re still pulling for him!
Jake Diekman worked a clean 1.1 with but one walk to go with two strikeouts. With the score now 8-6, it was up to Michael Stutes to close down the heart of the order–although three-hole hitter and rehab player David Ortiz was lifted for a pinch hitter after going oh-for-four. Gillies with a nice play in Center, then Lavarnway with a can of corn to Castro and a three pitch K of Brentz. Save Stutes!
The ‘Pigs are now above .500 for the first time in the Brundage era! They’ll face off again with the PawSox tomorrow at 6:15PM.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I didn’t see any of the game today but I was listening on the radio while out on the road. Matt Provence couldn’t believe the grounder Michael Martinez hit to Justin Henry at third was ruled an error in the third inning and speculated it could be changed but then after Castro hit the home run he said there’s no way the official scorer will change it now because the 3 runs were unearned due to the E-5 and to change it to a hit would make the runs earned on the stats of the PawSox pitcher.
I have to side with Matt. Had the 3B made the play cleanly, he never would have been able to throw out the speedy MiniMart: He was too off balance to make such a long throw. Easily could have been a double down the line. Should have been scored an IF single.