HIGHLIGHTS: The wind was blowing out at McCoy Stadium yesterday afternoon and so were the baseballs. PawSox hitters drilled six home runs. Jeff Bailey went 2-for-5, including a solo homer and a three-run shot. George Kottaras, Keith Ginter, Gil Velazquez and Jonathan Van Every contributed the other round-trippers en route to victory. Pawtucket starter Charlie Zink improved to 6-2 with a solid eight-inning performance. The knuckleballer allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

KEY TO THE GAME: Zink walked two and hit a batter to load the bases to start the game, but was able to work his way out of the jam relatively unscathed. Scranton scored only one run via sacrifice fly. That stop proved crucial as Pawtucket scored twice in the bottom of the first inning.

THEY SAID IT: “Awesome,” Kottaras said of Zink’s outing. “He was in some jams and worked out of them with minimal damage. He’s been pitching really well for us recently, and it’s good to see him do that.”

TRAGEDY: Former PawSox pitcher Geremi Gonzalez was killed Sunday when he was struck by lightning at a beach in Venezuela. He was 33. Gonzalez pitched for Pawtucket at the start of the 2005 season before being called up to Boston. PawSox manager Ron Johnson was informed of Gonzalez’s death during yesterday’s game. “It absolutely crushed me,” he said. “He was one of my favorite people. I loved him. He was a great teammate.”

Johnson recalled prior to the 2005 season he had heard some not-so-flattering stories about Gonzalez’s character. The manager was told to watch for any kind of red flag, but he learned those stories were hearsay.

“I came here that year looking for stuff,” said Johnson. “He turned out to be one of my favorite all-time people. It’s such a sad story. He was great. What a competitor, probably one of the best I have ever seen.”

Gonzalez is the third former PawSox player to be killed in recent years. Former pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident last summer and former outfielder Dernell Stenson was killed during a carjacking.

NOTES: Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz will make his second rehab start for Pawtucket on Friday in Durham. … Outfielder Bobby Kielty (hand) is working out with Single-A Lancaster and is expected to play 2-3 games before he rejoins the PawSox in 8 to 10 days, assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks. … Switch-hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie has missed nine games with a sore left wrist. He was able to take batting practice yesterday, but he feels a little discomfort when hitting from the right side. Johnson is hoping to pencil Lowrie into the lineup on Friday or Saturday in Durham. … Former PawSox manager Ken Macha was in attendance yesterday. He sat with Red Sox legend Frank Malzone and PawSox owner Ben Mondor.

UP NEXT: Pawtucket pitcher Kyle Snyder (groin) will be activated from the disabled list and will start today against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees go with righty Dan Giese (4-2, 1.01).

jmcdonal@projo.com