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June 21, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS – An eight-run fifth inning and six solid innings from left-hander Kason Gabbard snapped a four-game Pawtucket losing streak as the visiting PawSox defeated Indianapolis 9-4 Thursday night.
“We were due!” exclaimed manager Ron Johnson, whose PawSox had lost three in a row to Indianapolis following Sunday's loss in Richmond. “I was over there (in the coach's box at third base) taking it all in. It was like a big old hot fudge sundae. The kid (Jacoby Ellsbury) came up with a big line drive to drive in two runs. It was a nicely played game for us.”
The Indians, who lead the International League West Division and had taken six of seven from Pawtucket prior to Thursday's contest. “Any time you can get one from these guys – I was pleased,” Johnson added.
The Indians (43-29) scratched out a pair of runs off PawSox starter Kason Gabbard in the third. Luis Ordaz led of with a walk and moved to third base on Michael Ryan's single. Carlos Maldonado followed with a base hit to center that plated Ordaz. Matt Kata, the next batter, went down swinging. But the third strike bounced in the dirt for a wild pitch and Ryan raced home to give Indianapolis a 2-0 advantage.
The PawSox (32-38) battered Indians starter Shane Youman (3-6) in the fifth. Bobby Scales started things with a walk and and took second on George Kottaras's base hit. One out later, Ed Rogers doubled to score Scales. When Ellsbury followed with a single to center, both runs scored. Joe McEwing followed with a sinking liner to left. Ryan raced in, but couldn't make the catch as Ellsbury scored and McEwing chugged into third with a triple. David Murphy singled through a drawn-in infield, sending McEwing home to make it 5-2.
After Jeff Bailey popped up for the second out, Murphy scored when Brandon Moss rapped a double off the left field wall. Scales, batting for a second time in the inning, followed with a single to left that scored Moss. Scales took second on the throw home, and Juan Perez relieved Youman. Scales moved to third on Youman's wild pitch and Kottaras walked to put runners at the corners. Perez walked Chad Spann and, when ball four was in the dirt for a wild pitch, Scales ran home to make it 8-2.
The PawSox added another run in the sixth. Ellsbury opened with a walk and took third on McEwing's line single to right center. Murphy forced McEwing at second, with Ellsbury coming home on the play as the PawSox went up 9-2.
Gabbard (7-2) recovered after the rocky third inning, striking out six and doling out five hits along with a pair of walks in six innings of work. Craig Hansen relieved Gabbard in the seventh and gave up solo homers to Ryan and Matt Kata as the Indians closed the gap to 9-4.
Bryan Corey took over for Hansen in the eighth and retired the first two men he first. After Ordaz singles, Craig Breslow entered the game. Breslow struck out Ryan to end the inning and blanked the Indians in the ninth to close out the contest.
Notes: During the contest, rumors began swirling that either David Murphy or Brandon Moss would leave the PawSox to join Boston in San Diego. With Curt Schilling going on the 15-day disables lost earlier this week, the parent club has an open roster spot.
Murphy and Moss were in the PawSox starting lineup Thursday and both played the entire contest. And after the game, they were in the dressing room, preparing for the trip to Louisville, where Pawtucket opens a four game series Friday night.
“I haven't gotten confirmation yet and it probably won't come 'til tomorrow,” said Johnson, “so I really can't get into who it is. I'm probably going to get some calls on the way to Louisville tonight. Obviously, we're not going to leave somebody here. I don't know exactly what's gonna happen. I know there's probably gonna be a move. They (the Red Sox) are not going to play a man short.”
--PETE CAVA
Posted by Corey Bourassa 
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