Pawtucket Red Sox Blank Indianapolis Indians 3-0 in IL Opener

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Former American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings to help Pawtucket post a 3-0 victory over Indianapolis before an Opening Night-crowd of 11,981 Thursday evening at McCoy Stadium.

Pawtucket scored all the runs it would need in the third.  DH Jeff Bailey roped a lead-off single to left before CF Jonathan Van Every clobbered a two-run homer to the same spot.  1B Brandon Moss capped the frame moments later with an RBI double to right after SS Jed Lowrie drew a two-out base on balls.

Colon (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO), who has made 306 big league starts since 1997, earned the win.  The two-time Major League All-Star allowed only two baserunners and faced just one over the five-inning minimum.

Red Sox RHP Craig Hansen (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO) and RHP Dan Kolb (1.0 IP, 1 BB) were
ADVERTISEMENT credited with holds, while RHP Lee Gronkiewicz (1.0 IP) breezed through a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Indianapolis RHP Bryan Bullington (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO), who earned the team’s Comeback Player of the Yeard Award in 2007, suffered the loss.

Indians RHP Marino Salas (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and RHP Mike Thompson (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined for three scoreless innings of relief after the former Ball State University star departed.

Adam Boeve registered the Tribe’s only hit -- a second-inning single -- in his first career start at first base.

The shutout comes after Pawtucket blanked just three opponents in 2007.

The teams continue their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 p.m.  RHP Ty Taubenheim is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP David Pauley is expected to get the nod for Pawtucket.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley.  The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

Opening Night at Victory Field is Friday, April 11, when the Indians entertain Norfolk at 7:15 p.m.  If the game starts with a temperature of below 60 degrees, everyone in attendance will receive a FREE ticket to another home game in April.

Season-ticket packages are available by visiting IndyIndians.com or calling 317-269-3545.  Single-game tickets are available by going on-line, visiting the Victory Field Box Office or calling Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151.

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