Pawtucket’s Joe Thurston, left, tags out Oklahoma’s Nelson Cruz on a failed steal in the seventh inning of last night’s All-Star Game.

AP / Ed Reinke

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Until the late innings, Louisville Slugger Field was more like Louisville hitless field during the annual Triple-A All-Star Game last night.

But the All-Stars from both the Pacific Coast League and International League came alive over the final three innings — combining for 10 hits in those frames — as the PCL escaped with a 6-5 comeback win.

Two Pawtucket Red Sox nearly carried the night for the I.L. as Chris Carter hit a dramatic late homer and Joe Thurston finished 3-for-4.

“I just wanted to have good at-bats,” Thurston said. “I had been in a couple of other All-Star Games and had never had a hit until tonight. I had a lot of family watching me, so it was great to have three hits.”

Thurston, who started at second base and batted leadoff for the I.L., had a memorable night thanks to his three hits. But it was an at-bat in the seventh inning that played a key role in helping the I.L. stars snap a scoreless tie and build a 2-0 lead, an advantage they would watch evaporate in a fateful six-run ninth by the PCL.

In the seventh, the first two batters reached base against Edwin Moreno—the PCL’s seventh pitcher.

With one out, Thurston came to bat and worked a full count against Moreno and then fouled off five straight pitches. After 13 pitches, Moreno walked Thurston to load the bases. Six pitches earlier, Thurston missed a two-RBI hit by inches when his pop fly down the left-field line dropped foul.

Thurston’s at-bat spelled the end for Moreno, who was lifted for J.R. Mathes. The I.L. then scored its first run when Andrew McCutchen, a super-prospect for Pittsburgh with Indianapolis, hit a slow chopper to second that second baseman Chris Barnwell muffed. A second run scored on a ground ball by Mike Hessman to make it 2-0.

The three other PawSox — Chris Carter, who started at DH; Jeff Bailey who started in left field; and Jonathan Van Every, who spelled Bailey in the fifth — finished a combined 1-for-9. But it was Carter who nearly helped the I.L. forge a comeback in the bottom of the ninth after it had watched a 2-0 lead disappear in the smoke of the six-run rally by the PCL.

With one out and Thurston on first after his third hit, Carter came to bat after the I.L. had scored to cut the lead to 6-3. He crushed a 1-1 fastball from Luis Pina, the winning pitcher, well over the 405-foot mark in center field, bringing a sellout crowd to its feet as the lead was cut to 6-5. Van Every brought even more noise two pitches later when he flied to the warning track in right to end the game.

“This was a great game and that ninth inning really got the fans into it,” Thurston said. “We came close to tying it up.”

Bailey said his goal was to get at least one hit, but did reach in the first on a walk. He was 0-for-1, but said he considers it a great privilege to be named to the All-Star team.

“It is a privilege because your peers are telling you are at the top of this level,” Bailey said. “This isn’t the goal. Obviously the goal is to get to the big leagues and stay up there. Most of us have been up there, but have obviously not stayed up there — but that’s the goal. Still, it’s a great honor to play in this game.”

Van Every echoed Bailey’s sentiments with regard to importance of being an All-Star.

“It’s definitely an honor because you are playing with the best that Triple-A has to offer,” Van Every said. “I’m just trying to have a good time and enjoy the company of all these great players here.

Both Bailey and Van Every participated in the home-run derby on Monday night. Both were eliminated in the first two rounds.

“The home-run contest was hard,” said Van Every, “because people don’t realize how hard it is to hit a home run when you are trying to hit one. It’s easier in games because you aren’t thinking about it. Still, I had a great time here.”

Thurston got hits in each of his first two at-bats.

He led off the game with a solid single to right and with one out Carter, who started at designated hitter, popped out. Bailey, the I.L.’s left fielder, walked to load the bases, but PCL starter Willie Callazo retired Brent Clevlen on a popup to end the threat. Thurston singled to right again in the third but failed to score.

After garnering only three hits through the first eight innings, the PCL awoke in the ninth, scoring six runs on five hits and one I.L. error. Jamie D’Antona, Matt Brown (2-for-3) and Mark Saccomanno had consecutive RBI singles to key the rally.

McCutchen earned MVP honors for the I.L. with his 2-for-2, two RBI performance at the plate. Brown was named MVP for the PCL going 2-3 with an RBI, walk, and a run scored. I.L. starting pitcher David Purcey from Charlotte pitched a perfect two innings and was named pitcher of the game.