PAWTUCKET — When teammates plaster a shaving-cream pie in your face after a game it can only mean good things.

That’s exactly what happened to Pawtucket Red Sox catcher George Kottaras after his three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the PawSox a dramatic 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Ottawa Lynx last night at McCoy Stadium.

Kottaras, who entered the game with a lowly .195 average this season, went 2-for-4. In addition to his second homer of the season, he had a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Defensively he threw out a would-be base-stealer and almost a second.

“That has to feel so good for him right now,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “I am so happy for that kid. The ball jumps off his bat; it explodes. He’s scuffled, but he showed signs of coming out of it on the road trip.”

Kottaras crushed a fastball off Ottawa reliever Brian Sanches that hit the roof of the concession stand behind the visitors’ bullpen for the victory.

“It felt great,” said Kottaras. “It was a confidence-booster as well. My plan when I go up to the plate is just to have a good at-bat, see the pitches and put something in play. I just try to hit it hard on the barrel and I was able to do it tonight. I’m stressed about my batting average. I’m just trying to go out there and have fun and help the pitchers because that’s my primary goal.”

Although it was Kottaras who ended the game in theatrical fashion, teammate Bobby Scales had an outstanding game. He went 3-for-3, with a single, a RBI-triple and a two-run homer.

“He’s a manager’s dream,” said Johnson. “You get quality at-bats from both sides of the plate and he can play every position in the field. His presence is great in the clubhouse, and it was good to see.”

Web gem by Murphy

Who said David Murphy can’t play left field? A natural center fielder, he’s mostly played left since Jacoby Ellsbury was called up from Double-A Portland earlier last month. But Murphy turned in the defensive play of the game last night on a most impressive play.

With one out and a runner on first in the fourth inning, the Lynx’ Carlos Leon lined a shot right at Murphy. The runner, Joey Hammond, was on the move and at second base when the ball was caught. He attempted to get back to first, but Murphy threw a frozen rope to first baseman Jeff Bailey for the double play to end the inning.

McEwing gets the heave-ho

PawSox third baseman Joe McEwing, a veteran of 754 major-league games with St. Louis, New York Mets, Kansas City and Houston, was ejected from last night’s game at McCoy Stadium.

With runners on first and second, Ottawa pulled a double steal as the lead runner Chris Roberson stole third base. Kottaras, the PawSox catcher, got off a strong throw and it reached McEwing in plenty of time. It was a bang-bang play, but clearly McEwing applied the tag before Roberson’s hand touched the bag. Third-base umpire Andy Vincent called the runner safe. McEwing quickly got in the ump’s face to argue the call. The two were visor-to-visor as Johnson came running out of the dugout and gave his third baseman a hockey-like hip check to get him away from Vincent. At that point McEwing must have said the magic word and was ejected from the game.

The usually well-mannered McEwing walked off the field and was replaced by Chad Spann.

Honor for McCoy Stadium

The PawSox were honored by Access RI, which publishes an annual guide for handicapped/disabled access to restaurants, attractions and more, and McCoy Stadium was recognized by the organization for its shining example of an accessible facility during a ceremony yesterday. PawSox owner Ben Mondor and team president Mike Tamburro and their staff have made McCoy Stadium a handicap-compliant facility.

Around the bases

McCoy Stadium and the PawSox are known for a lot of things, but one thing specifically is the players’ murals around the ballpark. It’s an honor to have your picture hanging on the walls here, joining the likes of Roger Clemens, Fred Lynn, Tim Naehring, Eric Wedge and many more. There is a total of 73 in all and the club just added four more deserving players to the list, including Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Bronson Arroyo and Freddy Sanchez. … With the Red Sox having an off-day yesterday, a few familiar faces were in the crowd at McCoy last night. Ken Macha, who managed the PawSox in 1997 and ’98, and most recently served as manager of the Oakland A’s, was sitting with Mondor. Macha now serves as an analyst for NESN. Also in attendance was former PawSox broadcaster and current Red Sox announcer Don Orsillo.

jmcdonal@projo.com