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Game Story: Tigers 6, Red Sox 5 »
July 8, 2007
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Pawtucket Red Sox went their separate ways for the annual three-day All-Star break after suffering a 6-4 loss yesterday to the Rochester Red Wings.
A three-run uprising by Rochester in the eighth, fueled by Brian Buscher’s two-run double off reliever Craig Breslow, was the key inning.
“We’ll get three days to clear the mind,” said veteran infielder Joe McEwing, “clear the thoughts, and make some adjustments. We’ll get out in the second half, and go get ’em.”
Catcher George Kottaras, who helped Pawtucket erase a three-run deficit in the seventh, was in agreement.
“It will be good to take a step back and recoup,” said Kottaras, who will get to spend the break with his family in nearby Toronto. “Recoup mentally and physically. I can’t lose focus too much, but it will be good to do that.”
PawSox starter Devern Hansack made a premature getaway. He was ejected in the fifth inning complaining about a line-hugging double by Rochester’s Chris Heintz, which in his view should have been ruled foul.
Asked whether he had said the “magic word,” Hansack nodded in the affirmative.
Up until then, he had pitched well, allowing just four hits and a walk, while striking out five. He allowed two unearned runs, including one on a wild pitch in the third that put Rochester up, 2-0.
Meanwhile, PawSox hitters did little against Wings starter Nick Blackburn, who has been one of the stingiest hurlers in the International League. Blackburn, who had allowed just one earned run in a span of 52 innings, faced just two hitters over the minimum through six scoreless frames.
But the PawSox finally came alive in the seventh, erupting for three runs, to knot the score, 3-3.
Michael Tucker and Brandon Moss each singled off Blackburn to open the frame, before Tucker was doubled home by Bobby Scales.
Kottaras’ groundout and a sacrifice fly by Chad Spann accounted for the other two runs.
But the respite didn’t last long.
Rochester regained control in the eighth, when Barry Hertzler hit lead-off man Tommy Watkins.
Breslow, who is one of three PawSox headed to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque, came in and got the next two outs, then allowed three straight hits, including Buscher’s big blow.
In the ninth, Spann doubled in Moss to cut the margin to two runs. But that was as close as it would get, as Wings’ closer Bobby Korecky picked up his 22nd save.
“We’re right on the verge,” said Ron Johnson, Pawtucket’s ever-optimistic skipper. “We have an opportunity to do some things.”
AROUND THE BASES: Besides Breslow, Moss and RHP Travis Hughes will be headed for Albuquerque. …After the game, RHP Chris Smith was reassigned to Double-A Portland. Smith, who is making the transition from starter to reliever, was 0-0, 1.80 in two appearances with Pawtucket. … The PawSox’ next action will be Thursday, when they’ll begin a four-day visit to Syracuse. It’s entirely possible that Boston’s top pitching prospect, right-handed starter Clay Buchholz, will be with the club. Buchholz is currently with Portland, where he’s gone 7-2 with a 1.76 ERA.
--DAN HICKLING
Posted by Chris Venditto 
at 6:40 PM to PawSox
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