HIGHLIGHTS: Mother Nature forced a 28-minute delay at McCoy Stadium last night, but the stormy weather did not cool off the PawSox’ hot bats. Pawtucket continued its stranglehold over the International League by winning its league-best 49th game with a dominating 6-1 win over Richmond (38-41). Pawtucket teed off for nine hits and received multi-hit efforts from Dusty Brown (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 run scored, and 1 walk) and Sean Danielson (2-for-3, 1 RBI), as well as top-notch pitching from Devern Hansack (3-8) who limited Richmond to just two hits in eight innings while fanning four, walking none, and not allowing a run.

Brown started the PawSox onslaught in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI double down the third base line. Bryan Pritz then drove-in Keith Ginter with an RBI fielder’s choice to the shortstop to make it 2-0.

Jed Lowrie crushed his third home run of the season to right field to give Pawtucket a 3-0 cushion in the bottom of the fourth. That was the start of a four-run fourth inning for the PawSox. Brown continued his strong day in the fourth inning with a two-run triple down the right-field line. He scored on Danielson’s RBI single up the middle. That was enough offense for Hansack and reliever Jose Vaquedano (1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts).

NOTES: Pawtucket coach Ron Johnson gave Jonathan Van Every, who hit .318 with four home runs and eight RBI last week to earn the International League Batter of the Week award, the night off and started Danielson (centerfield) in his place. In addition, Gil Velazquez, who entered last night’s game hitless in his last 18 at-bats, started at second base while George Kottaras (designated hitter/catcher) got a rest. Danielson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Velazquez was 1-for-3…Pawtucket has hit at least one homer in 17 of their last 19 games (34 home runs during that stretch).

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: Clay Buchholz (2-1, 2.00), who is 2-0 in his last two starts with a 0.00 ERA (11 innings, 7 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts), pitches for Pawtucket and faces Richmond righty Jerome Gamble (0-1, 4.50 ERA) at 7 p.m.

roblee@projo.com