Red Wings get early jump on PawSox

(WPRI) - Pawtucket fell behind early on Tuesday night in Rochester as the Red Wings scored 5 runs in the first inning,beating to the first place PawSox 8-6.

Starter Greg Smith (4-4) was tagged with the defeat. Smith surrendered a three run homer to Brian Dinkleman in the first after former Red Sox farmhands Ray Chang and Aaron Bates knocked in runs.

Chang added an RBI single in the second. Jair Fernandez hit his first homer of the year against Jason Rice in the sixth.

Pawtucket scored 4 times in the fifth inning on a two run double by Ryan Lavarnway, an RBI double by Daniel Nava and a run scoring base hit by Lars Anderson. In the seventh, Anderson sacrificed Nava home and in the ninth a final run scored as Lavarway grounded into a double play.

Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew began rehab assignments with the PawSox. Drew went 3-3 with three singles and Youkilis was 1-4 with 1 walk.

The PawSox (77-60) remain alone in first place with just 5 games remaining on the schedule. The final regular season road game will be played on Wednesday night in Rochester at 7:05 p.m. Kyle Weiland (8-9, 3.46) faces Liam Hendriks (3-4, 5.23).