Pawtucket Red Sox

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PawSox journal: For the record, a top-notch effort by the players and record-keepers

10:03 PM EDT on Saturday, July 25, 2009

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

PAWTUCKET — Bill Wanless, the Pawtucket Red Sox' vice president for public relations, has spent a lot of time recently going over the records book. He did it again Saturday night, this time for the right reasons for his team.

More often than not, Wanless has been reporting on bad streaks as the PawSox lost 15 of 18, primarily because of terrible offensive troubles.

The Pawtucket players gave Wanless reason to check more records Saturday night, this time because they hit so well in a 13-11 victory over Columbus. Among the reports:

By the time Pawtucket had scored five runs in the second to take a 6-1 lead, they had their biggest lead in any game since June 17, when they beat Charlotte, 9-3.

When Ivan Ochoa and Chris Carter homered during a five-run second inning, Pawtucket had equaled its season-high for home runs — in a game. The PawSox have yet to hit three home runs in a game this season.

When Pawtucket added four more runs in the third to get its lead to 10-1, it marked only the second time this year the team reached double figures in runs. The high was a 15-5 victory over Syracuse on June 14. Interestingly, that game was played in Cooperstown, N.Y. This weekend, of course, is Hall of Fame weekend with many Sox fans in Cooperstown for Jim Rice's induction into the Hall.

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With his team struggling so badly to score runs, manager Ron Johnson tried a new lineup. The moves included having Jeff Natale hit leadoff and moving catcher Mark Wagner to the two hole.

As a catcher, Wagner would not seem like a typical No. 2 hitter. But he looked comfortable when he ripped a shot just inside the line that went for a double in the first. He also reached on an error in Pawtucket's five-run second.

Johnson said he had one reason above others to try Wagner higher in the order than he has ever been before. Wagner came in hitting .186 in 43 at-bats since being promoted from Portland.

"I'd like him to get as many at-bats as I can," Johnson said. "Maybe this gets him an extra at-bat.

Natale enjoyed being at the top of the order. He had three hits.

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The PawSox pulled off one of the weirdest double plays of the season.

With runners on second and third and one out in the seventh, Michael Brantley hit a popup in front of the plate. It was in fair territory, but not high enough for first baseman Aaron Bates to get it. Wagner staggered under it and caught it about knee high. Tony Graffanino, the runner at third, took a step toward the plate.

Wagner rifled a throw to third baseman Angel Chavez to nail Graffanino before he could get back to the bag.

pkenyon @projo.com

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