•THE HIGHLIGHTS: The PawSox broke out of an offensive slump and ended a three-game losing streak to the first-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees when they produced 14 hits while taking advantage of eight walks and two hit batters. Gil Velazquez went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI. “It’s August, and a lot of guys are tired,” Velazquez said. “These are the days you have to grind. Once we got it going early in the game, we got that little boost. We had a lot of players on base. That’s when you have to bear down. We were able to have success.” George Kottaras also had three hits and Jonathan Van Every drove in two runs and scored two. Edgar Martinez (6-2) shut the Yankees out for the first four innings and gave up two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

•TIGHTENING THE RACE: The PawSox gave up their International League-North Division lead to the Yankees on Monday, but they could take it back tonight in the final game of six straight between the teams — two at McCoy Stadium and four in Pennsylvania. “This is a good club and we’re on the road,” PawSox manager Ron Johnson said. “We have a chance to even it up and split on the road.” •BOUNCING BACK: Jeff Bailey had a 32-game streak of reaching base by hit or walk come to an end Tuesday when he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Bailey returned to the lineup last night and moved back to the leadoff spot. He went 1-for-4, drew two walks and scored twice.

•TEAM MEETING: The PawSox had a team meeting following Tuesday’s shutout loss. “We had a little talk,” Velazquez said. “We’ve had a little run where we were not doing too well. R.J. told us not to panic and to be ourselves.”

•NEXT UP: Devern Hansack (5-9, 4.04) is scheduled to pitch for the PawSox tonight against Phil Hughes at 7 o’clock.