MOOSIC, Pa. — Rain and a subsequent postponement extended the Pawtucket Red Sox’ season by at least a day yesterday.

The PawSox will be back at PNC Field today at 5:05 trying to extend it again by forcing a fifth and deciding game in their International League semifinal series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

“Nobody wants days off at this point in the season, but if you have to have a rainout, it might as well be a college football Saturday,” PawSox manager Ron Johnson said.

The travels of a professional baseball career has resulted in Johnson following a variety of teams — Southern California, Florida State, Cincinnati and Tennessee. After being informed of the postponement yesterday afternoon just minutes after arriving at the stadium, Johnson was back to his Scranton-area hotel to monitor several games on TV.

With his mind back on baseball today, Johnson will be trying to find a way to put pressure on the Yankees in a game to determine a berth in the league final.

“Our goal is just to create a Game Five,” Johnson said. “I think that could put the advantage back in our court with a deciding game and pressure on them to win in on their home field.”

To create that pressure, the PawSox need to improve their offense.

Dusty Brown’s two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning and the team facing a four-run deficit Friday night represented the first time the team got more than two runs in a game in the best-of-five series, which the Yankees lead, 2-1.

“We made a living all year with the middle of our lineup driving in runs,” Johnson said. “Going into the eighth inning of Game Three, we had one, two and three runs.

“That’s asking a lot of your pitching staff.”

Johnson said that has to change.

“Your work is cut out for you trying to beat a team of this caliber 2-1 or 3-1,” Johnson said.

Johnson pointed out cleanup hitter Chris Carter and ninth-hitter Jonathan Van Every as two keys to getting the offense going. Carter is 2-for-11 without a run scored or an RBI after batting .300 with 24 homers and 81 RBI in the regular season. Van Every is 2-for-7, but does have four walks and a run scored, after hitting 26 homers and driving in 70 runs.

Both teams are expected to stick with their scheduled Game Four starters.

Bartolo Colon (3-1. 2.27) will start for the PawSox against Phil Hughes (1-0, 5.90).

NOTES: Game Five, if necessary, will be tomorrow at 7:05 at PNC Field. … PawSox radio broadcaster Dan Hoard also serves as the announcer for University of Cincinnati football. He was with the Bearcats for their game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., yesterday, but is expected back in Pennsylvania for today’s game.

Next Game

Today

at Scranton/WB,

5:05 p.m.