SWB will see PawSox in playoffs

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees finally found an opponent for the Governors' Cup semifinals. And it's a familiar one at that in the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Nelson Figueroa hurled eight solid innings for Pawtucket against his former teammates in a 2-0 win Saturday night at McCoy Stadium, forwarding the home team into the postseason

The PawSox, who came into the game needing a win or a Lehigh Valley loss, clinched the wild card slot with the victory.

Pawtucket will host the opening two games of the series on Wednesday and Thursday nights before the action heads to Frontier Field in Rochester on Friday for game three. If required, games 4 and 5 will be played on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday (6:05) at Frontier.

Providing the semifinals go the distance, the two Northern Division rivals will have met nine times in 10 days. Pawtucket holds an 8-6 advantage thus far in the season series.

The PawSox received a pair of solo home runs from catcher Dan Butler in securing the second game of a season- closing four-game set.

Figueroa, who the Sox acquired on July 24 from SWB, allowed four hits, struck out six and issued a lone free pass in upping his slate to 12-5 overall and 5-3 with Pawtucket.

"He was tough on us tonight," said SWB manager Dave Miley of the 38-year-old Figueroa.

Before the two clubs ramp up the action in the second season there is a matter of completing the regular campaign.

LOB – Yankees 4, Pawtucket 4 2B – Joseph (24), Hazelbaker (3) HR – Butler 2 (3)