PawSox head to playoffs on winning streak

(WPRI) - The PawSox will roll into the playoffs riding a four-game winning streak after defeating Rochester 7-3 on a Labor Day matinee Monday at McCoy Stadium.

A pair of early homeruns by two players with 15 combined games of Triple-A experience this season provided Pawtucket with all the offense they needed to cap the 2011 regular season campaign.

Will Middlebrooks started the scoring for Pawtucket with his second-inning homer that was his second home run in three games. He has now collected six RBI in his last three games after collecting just one in his first 12 games with Pawtucket.

24-year old catcher Dan Butler replaced Ryan Lavarnway on the roster when Lavarnway was recalled to Boston, and he cracked a three-run homerun four batters after Middlebrooks to put Pawtucket ahead 4-0. Butler struck out swinging in his last two at-bats of the ballgame, but his homerun was the big blast that keyed Pawtucket’s victory.

Greg Smith started for Pawtucket and allowed just three hits in six innings for the win. The three hits, and the only two runs he allowed, came to the first three batters of the third inning. Toby Gardenhire followed Dustin Martin’s leadoff single with a homerun to cut Pawtucket’s lead in half.

Pawtucket will begin their pursuit for the 2011 Governor’s Cup beginning Wednesday night on the road. After enjoying a day-off Tuesday the PawSox will travel to either Lehigh Valley or Gwinnett for the International League semifinals.