Projo Sox Blog

The PawSox have relied on their excellent starting pitching to win their last five games. Today, they could have trotted out a high school pitcher, and they'd still likely have won their sixth in a row.

The PawSox bats opened up on Toledo Mud Hens pitcher Chris Lambert, pounding him for seven runs over three innings. Sean Danielson had a two-RBI double, Iggy Suarez walked to bring home a bases-loaded run, Paul McAnulty a two-RBI single, and Angel Chavez a two-run home run to left.

Pawtucket added another run in the fifth on a Suarez RBI single.

"I'm just hoping this carries over as we go on the road, the little spark that we got going today," Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said.

The pitching wasn't half-bad either. The PawSox got 6.2 strong innings from starter Enrique Gonzalez, who gave up one run before giving way to the bullpen, who finished the rest of the game without incident.

"Not to overlook it, but our pitching's been really, really good," Johnson said.

The PawSox have now won six in a row as they head out to Ohio for an eight-game roadtrip. These four wins over Toledo mark the first time the PawSox have pulled off a four-game sweep of Toledo since 1998.

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The fact that the Pawtucket bats came alive today wasn't nearly as exciting to some players as the way they did it -- top-to-bottom hitting, with the bulk of the work being done by the back end of the lineup.

Second baseman Travis Denker had three hits and a walk, to raise his average to .224. Third baseman Angel Chavez hit a home run, his second in two days, and raised his average to .165. Shortstop Iggy Suarez had two hits and two RBI.

"It was good to see. We've struggled as a club. We've got [Chip] Ambres, who's swinging the bat pretty good, [Chris] Carter's swung the bat well since he's come down here, Carlos Maldanado.... But you take away that, you see a lot of .150's, .160's, .170's," manager Ron Johnson said.

Denker said the players had a meeting several days ago where the topic was not trying to do too much at the plate, and continuing to have quality at-bats despite the struggles.

"We had a meeting the other day, we were talking about doing your part, having good at bats, seeing pitches, and taking good, aggressive swings while not trying to do too much. Because lately we haven't been scoring a lot of runs," Denker said.

When you're struggling, Denker said, it's tough to take things slow -- the inclination is to try to end a slump with a massive home run. Keeping oneself in check can be a constant battle.

"You fight. A little angel," Denker said, pointing to one shoulder, "a little demon," he pointed to his other shoulder.

First baseman Paul McAnulty, a middle-of-the-order run producer for the PawSox, had two hits and two RBI. He hoped today marked a change, as well, and that the entire team can get on the same page now. Everyone's been cold or everyone's been hot. Hopefully we can just keep this rolling after today, and go get them tomorrow," McAnulty said.
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With Rocco Baldelli returning to Boston, centerfielder Jonathan Van Every was optioned back to Pawtucket today after spending over two weeks in the major leagues -- among the most eventful periods in the 29-year-old's baseball life.

In his first game back with Pawtucket after coming off the disabled list with an ankle sprain, he hit his first grand slam to tie the game in the ninth inning. He was called up to the majors the next day, and on April 29, first game this year, he hit his first major league home run -- the game winner, in extra innings, against his old team, the Cleveland Indians. He played centerfield in the Red Sox' first series in the new Yankee Stadium. He became the first position player to pitch for the Red Sox since 2004 -- and didn't even do too badly, allowing a double but notching two outs for a 0.00 ERA.

Van Every was back in the clubhouse this afternoon, and will make the trip to Columbus, returning to his starting role in centerfield.

 Tags  Dan Barbarisi Enrique Gonzalez jonathan van every Pawtucket Red Sox Travis Denker

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