Boston Red Sox: Charlie Zink Looks Great in 13-Inning PawSox Loss

Charlie Zink would have been justified in suing the Pawtucket Red Sox’ relievers for non-support.

Zink extended his streak of solid performances only to have Jose Vaquedano and Jon Switzer cough up a two-run lead in the ninth inning Thursday night against the Louisville Bats.

But just when it appeared that the Celtics-Lakers game would end first, George Kottaras grounded a single to right field with one out in the 13th inning for a 4-3 victory.

Zink worked 7 2/3 innings and allowed six hits and one unearned run, replete with one walk and five strikeouts.

That performance underscored Zink’s superb pitching of late.

Even though he got stuck with a no-decision, the 28-year-old right-hander is 7-1 over his last 13 starts with a dazzling 1.72 ERA (15 earned runs in 78 1/3 innings). In three of those starts, he was working on three days rest.

Granted, Zink has “expanded” his repertoire by adding a fastball and curveball instead of only relying on his knuckleball. But the fact he threw 73 of 104 pitches for strikes against the Bats indicates why he may be “pitching” himself back onto Boston’s radar screen.

The only speed bump Zink confronted came in the fourth.

Ryan Hanigan was nicked by a pitch, and after Zink retired the next two Bats, Adam Rosales reached on a third-strike passed ball charged to catcher George Kottaras (and you wonder why Jason Varitek doesn’t catch Tim Wakefield).

Alvin Colina’s single to center scored Hanigan. But when Rosales tried to score from second, he was thrown out by diminutive Sean Danielson.

Zink was in complete control afterward, and seemingly in an eye blink, retired the next seven Bats in a row.

Earlier, Pawtucket gave Zink all the scoring it appeared he would need when Joe Thurston jumped all over a 3-2 pitch by Justin Mallett and pulled a three-run shot into the right-field bullpen for his sixth homer of the season.

Pawtucket’s bullpen imploded in the ninth, due in large part to Vaquedano’s ineffectiveness.

On his first pitch, he plunked Jerry Gil and then was tagged for a single by Rosales.

Vaquedano sandwiched a pair of popouts to shortstop around a single by Luis Bolivars which loaded the bases. Andy Griffin’s single scored Gil with the tying run and prompted manager Ron Johnson to yank Vaquedano in favor of Switzer.

Drew Anderson then faked everybody at McCoy Stadium out of their socks by dropping a bunt down the third base line and beating it out for a game-tying single.

Finally in the 13th, with Tyler Pelland on the mound for Louisville, Thurston reached on a drag bunt and advanced to second on Jed Lowrie’s single.

Chris Carter grounded into a fielder’s chose that erased Lowrie but Kottaras, who had been mired in a deep slump, mercifully ended the marathon.

EXTRA BASES: Lowrie’s fourth inning single extended his hitting streak to 14 games, during which he’s batting .397 (22-for-56) with five doubles, one triple, one homer and eight RBI … Lowrie missed the previous 12 games with an injured left wrist … Van Every has hit safely in six of his last seven games at a .400 clip (10-for-25) with three home runs and eight RBI … Despite his game-winning hit, Kottaras continues to flounder at the plate … Over his last 22 games, Kottaras is hitting a frigid .154 (12-for-78) with only one homer and seven RBI … Lincoln Holdzkom (4-1) earned the victory by blanking the Bats on two hits over the last two innings … Louisville out-hit Pawtucket 12-9 but stranded 13 base runners.