By Josh Maurer & Will Flemming

After soaking in their only off-day of the month, the PawSox are back home tonight where they open up an eight-game homestand against Toledo and Norfolk.

Pawtucket’s 5–3 rain-shortened win Tuesday against the Tides salvaged the recent road trip at 4–4, keeping the PawSox with the top record in the I.L. at 29–18. Their 15 road wins are also the best in the league.

PawSox Notebook:

Because he spent time behind Tim Federowicz in Portland and Luis Exposito in Pawtucket, Ryan Lavarnway appeared as the designated hitter in 62-of-133 (47%) games he played in last year. Now a full-time catcher, Lavarnway DH’d for just the second time all year on Tuesday.

in Portland and in Pawtucket, appeared as the designated hitter in 62-of-133 (47%) games he played in last year. Now a full-time catcher, Lavarnway DH’d for just the second time all year on Tuesday. Junichi Tazawa has surrendered five runs over his last two appearances — all unearned. If you combine his work with Pawtucket and Boston this year, Tazawa has allowed just two earned runs over 25 1/3 innings (0.71 ERA). Since both his earned runs came in the same outing (May 6 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), the right-hander has not allowed an earned run in 15-of-16 appearances.

Tazawa has been lights out for the PawSox — and Red Sox — this season. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be much room currently in the Red Sox bullpen. (Kelly O’Connor).

In his first season in Triple-A, Alex Hassan continues to lead the PawSox in on-base percentage (.373) despite ranking 7th among current batters in hits (29), and 8th in batting average (.234). He’s tied with Lars Anderson for the team-lead in walks (24), and paces all PawSox hitters by getting plunked by four pitches. Hassan lead the entire Red Sox farm system with a .404 OBP last season.

continues to lead the PawSox in on-base percentage (.373) despite ranking 7th among current batters in hits (29), and 8th in batting average (.234). He’s tied with for the team-lead in walks (24), and paces all PawSox hitters by getting plunked by four pitches. Hassan lead the entire Red Sox farm system with a .404 OBP last season. After an April batting average of exactly .200 (17-for-85) with one extra-base hit, Jose Iglesias is batting a club-best .360 over his first 18 games in May. He already has four extra-base hits (including his second-career home run), and is the active monthly leader in OBP (.375) and on-base plus slugging (.828).

is batting a club-best .360 over his first 18 games in May. He already has four extra-base hits (including his second-career home run), and is the active monthly leader in OBP (.375) and on-base plus slugging (.828). In 22 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, former major league All-Star Scott Podsednik was batting a slim .203 with no homers, one extra-base hit, and four RBIs. The Red Sox then purchased his contract from the Phillies and assigned him to Pawtucket. In nine games with the PawSox Podsednik hit .323 with a home run and six RBIs and was called-up the the bigs on Tuesday. Yesterday the “Podfather” played in his first major league game since 2010 and hit a home run for the Sox in Baltimore. Sometimes you just never know what can happen.

Podsednik’s solo homer in the eighth inning helped the Red Sox edge Baltimore 6–5 Wednesday. Notice former PawSox Luis Exposito catching for the Orioles. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The PawSox are not only back home tonight, they’re also back on TV. I’ll be joined by former PawSox and Red Sox reliever Ken Ryan for tonight’s game aired in Rhode Island on the Ocean State Network. Righty Ross Ohlendorf (3–3, 4.64) will be opposed by lefty Adam Wilk (2–3, 2.64). First pitch from McCoy is set for 7:05.

Talk with you then.

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith

agoldsmith@pawsox.com