IronPigs done in by Sox's 9 hitter

Jonathan Van Every likes that spot for Pawtucket.

By Jeff Schuler | Of The Morning Call

August 25, 2008

When the season began, Pawtucket's lineup featured Jed Lowrie, Boston's fifth-rated prospect, Brandon Moss (No. 11) and Chris Carter (No. 26). Also included was Jeff Bailey, a former second-round pick of Florida, and Bobby Kielty, whose homer helped Boston clinch a sweep of Colorado in last year's World Series.

That didn't leave a lot of room for Jonathan Van Every, who signed with the Red Sox over the winter as a minor league free agent.

So when Van Every did get playing time, PawSox manager Ron Johnson stuck him at the bottom of the order, hitting ninth.

And even though Lowrie and Bailey are with the Red Sox, Moss went to Pittsburgh in the Manny Ramirez deal, and Kielty has since been released, that's where Van Every has stayed, despite the fact that he ranks among the International League leaders with 24 homers and among the team leaders in RBIs.

Sunday night, the league's most dangerous No. 9 hitter did it again, belting a three-run, game-tying double in the eighth, then scoring the winning run on a single to help the PawSox beat the floundering IronPigs 8-5 before a capacity crowd of 10,000 at Coca-Cola Park.

''You get this late in the year, I'm sure he would be absolutely fine going up and hitting four, five or whatever,'' Johnson said. ''But it's kind of a superstition thing right now. When you have players who are having success at a certain spot, why mess with it, you know what I mean?

''Just because we lost some guys doesn't mean he has to come out of his comfort zone. He doesn't owe that to the team and, as it turns out, he's been very valuable that way.''

''That's fine with me,'' said the 28-year-old Van Every, who played his first seven pro seasons in Cleveland's organization. ''As long as we can keep winning ballgames, I see no reason to change it.''

Van Every, hitting .262, followed two walks and an infield single with a drive to right center off Travis Blackley (5-10) that tied the game at 5-5 and gave him 66 RBIs for the season. Moments later, he trotted home on Joe Thurston's single to center. and the PawSox added two ninth-inning insurance runs.

''He just hits us well,'' IronPigs manager Dave Huppert said of Van Every, who now has 12 RBIs and 12 hits, including four homers, in 12 games against his team.

Pawtucket's rally squandered a strong bounce-back outing by Carlos Carrasco. Buffalo roughed up the 22-year-old right-hander for six runs and nine hits in five innings his last time out, but Sunday Carrasco held the potent PawSox to five hits and two unearned runs in 61/3 innings, striking out eight and walking two.

''He bounced back well,'' Huppert said.

Johnson raved about the Phillies' top prospect, who now has a 37 strikeouts and 10 walks, along with a 2.10 ERA, in his first 30 Triple-A innings.

''Oh God, was I impressed,'' Johnson said. ''Very impressive, probably one of the most impressive [guys] I've seen this year as far as stuff -- mid-90s with a breaking ball, pretty good command, pretty good composure.''

The IronPigs built a 5-2 lead against Charlie Zink (14-5) behind Mike Cervenak (double, homer, two RBIs, two runs scored), before Pawtucket came back.

They loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but Hunter Jones struck out Rich Thompson and got Cervenak to pop up on the first pitch for the final out.

Notes: The IronPigs roster will receive one last shuffle for the final week of the season.

Relievers R.J. Swindle and Steve Green, who left in early August to compete for Team Candada in the Olympics, are expected to rejoin the team, perhaps as early as tonight against Pawtucket.

Backup catcher John Suomi has also returned from Reading now that R-Phils catcher Lou Marson is back from playing for Team USA in the Olympics, along with Reading teammate Jason Donald.

Catcher Orlando Guevara will return to Reading as Marson's backup, while relief pitcher Joe Bisenius will also go to Reading for the final week of the season.

Swindle allowed on earned run on two hits in 41/3 innings in the Olympics, striking out nine and walking none. Green threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking three and striking out five.

Team Canada finished 2-5 in the Olympics but all five losses were by one run, falling 1-0 to gold medalist Korea, 7-6 to silver medalist Cuba, and 5-4 to bronze medalists Team USA.

The moves will put the IronPigs roster at the 24-man International League limit. They had been playing one man short since Andy Tracy was promoted to the Phillies on Saturday.