By Josh Maurer & Will Flemming

After a quick two hour northern commute from Louisville, the PawSox team bus pulled in front of the Indianapolis hotel around 1:30 this morning for a four-game series against the Indians.

Aside from Saturday’s shutout loss in Louisville, this has been an offensively charged, and well pitched, road trip for the PawSox. Here are some of the team and individual accomplishments over the first four games of the trip.

In the PawSox three wins against the Bats, Pawtucket scored 26 runs on 48 hits — not one was a home run.

Despite having enough offense to overcome some poor pitching, the PawSox received a quality start in all three wins (Duckworth, Hernandez, and Buckner).

Billy Bucker became the first Pawtucket pitcher to go 7.0+ innings since Justin Germano tossed 8.0 innings scoreless on June 30 at Lehigh Valley. It was his final start before being called-up to Boston.

Bucker went seven innings for the first time this year with the PawSox, his second time overall including his final start on May 30 with the Sea Dogs. (Kelly O’Connor)

Daniel Bard finished off a 1–2–3 eighth inning last night with a 95 mph strikeout (11 pitches, 8 strikes). It marked the third time this year Bard has pitched in back-to-back days.

finished off a 1–2–3 eighth inning last night with a 95 mph strikeout (11 pitches, 8 strikes). It marked the third time this year Bard has pitched in back-to-back days. Jose Iglesias is looking better and better at the plate. Monday night the PawSox shortstop drew two walks in back-to-back games for the first time in 2012. He now has six walks and 10 strikeouts in 18 games this month.

Helped by drawing more walks recently, Iglesias has raised his on-base percentage to .305. In 101 games with the PawSox in 2011, Iglesias had a .285 OBP. (Kelly O’Connor)

Since the All-Star break, Iglesias has reached base in 9-of-11 games with five runs batted in, five walks, and six strikeouts. (On July 13, Iglesias did not reach, but only had one at-bat because of fouling a ball of the inside of his left knee.)

Monday night, Chris Carpenter, part of the Theo Epstein compensation from the Cubs, became the first PawSox pitcher in 2012 to hit 100 mph. After watching four games in Louisville, and also asking around, the radar gun in Louisville is usually pretty accurate.

The PawSox go from playing the worst team in the International League to playing the best team. Zach Stewart, part of the Kevin Youkilis deal with Chicago, makes his first road start of the year for the PawSox tonight at 7:05 from Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis. Our pre-game coverage begins at 6:50.

Talk with you then.

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith

agoldsmith@pawsox.com