THE HIGHLIGHTS: The struggling Pawtucket Red Sox are in the midst of a funk that is both ugly and historic.

The PawSox lost for the seventh straight game and the 10th in the last 11 tries Friday night to Indianapolis, 7-3. The franchise's last seven-game losing skid came four years ago, and the PawSox haven't lost seven consecutive games at McCoy Stadium since 1989.

Instead of an anemic offense, the PawSox' chief issue in this game was some horrific control problems from the pitching staff. The Indians managed nine hits but seemingly filled the bases all night thanks to 12 bases on balls and six hit-by-pitches. Pawtucket starter Charlie Zink (4-10) allowed four runs on four hits but walked seven and hit four batters in 4.2 innings to pick up the loss. His control problems were emphasized by his pitch results: 98 pitches and just 44 strikes.

Reliever Jose Vaquedano wasn't much better. He allowed two more runs on two hits and two walks in less than one inning.

Although the first three innings lasted nearly 90 minutes, no runs were scored. Zink walked five and hit three batters but somehow escaped unscathed by not allowing a single hit. That ended in the fourth inning when a double and two walks loaded the bases and Lastings Milledge singled in two runs to give Indianapolis a 2-0 lead.

Zink hit another batter and gave up two hits at the start of the fifth inning as the Indians' lead grew to 4-1. Vaquedano came on to retire the first batter he faced and end the threat. He wasn't as lucky in the sixth, when he surrendered two walks and two singles. Billy Traber came on in relief and a quick wild pitch allowed Milledge to score, and the Indians led, 6-1.

The struggling Pawtucket offense was more aggressive and productive than in recent games and finished with nine hits. The team's first run came when Travis Denker blasted his fourth home run of the season to right field in the fourth inning. Indy starter Tom Gorzelanny (4-3) worked the first six innings and gave up one run on four hits. The PawSox faced a 7-1 deficit heading into the ninth inning but added two runs on four hits before the three-hour, 39-minute contest came to and end.

QUICK TRAVEL: Aaron Bates began Friday in Toronto with the Red Sox but was optioned back to Triple-A on Friday. He boarded a plane at midday and arrived at McCoy Stadium near game time. Bates did not start but did pinch hit in the ninth inning and produced a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Denker.

KNUCKIN' UGLY: The first three innings were downright bizarre. Zink had a no-hitter but base-runners were everywhere. Eight Indians reached base in the three innings, five by walks and three via hit-by-pitches. The Indians eventually broke through with two hits and two runs in the fourth. Zink walked two in the inning.

NEXT UP: Enrique Gonzalez (7-8, 5.57 ERA) will be out to snap the Sox' losing streak in the third game of the series against Indianapolis tonight. First pitch is at 6:05.

kmcnamar@projo.com