He throws a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance, then allows a bloop single to Natale, which promptly pulls the Yankees within two.
Eduardo Nunez walks, loading the bases and putting the tying runs on base, and a ground-rule double temporarily saves the day for the PawSox, as only Natale is able to score.
Jorge Vasquez has a chance to do some damage, but Cabrera fan him on three pitches to end the game. That one was close.
Ninth inning, 2 Outs, Pawtucket 6-2: Southpaw Tommy Hottovy enters to finish this one out, riding a 4 2/3-inning scoreless streak over his first three Triple-A appearances since being promoted on June 21. After striking out his first two hitters, he's pulled in favor of the closer. Better safe than sorry.
In his first-ever appearance at McCoy Stadium, Hottovy fans Reegie Corona on a shoulder-high fastball, does the same to P.J. Pilittere then allows a two-out double to Greg Golson, who is 2-for-4 tonight.
But he makes things interesting by walking Justin Christian, and before pinch-hitter (and former PawSox standout) Jeff Natale has a chance to take a hack, Torey Lovullo brings out closer Fernando Cabrera.
End 8th, Pawtucket 6-2: Bubba Bell, one of Pawtucket's two All Star selections, leads off the eighth, promptly grounding out on the first pitch.
Bell came into Wednesday's game riding a seven-game hitting streak, going 14-for-23 in that span. Looks like that streak is coming to an end tonight.
Middle 8th, Pawtucket 6-2: Chad Paronto replaces Fabio Castro for the eighth, entering the game with a 3-5 record, a 4.68 ERA and one save. The 34-year-old is in the midst of his 15th professional season.
Prized prospect Jesus Montero — recently named an IL All Star — falls to 0-for-4 on the evening after making the first out against Paronto.
End 7th, Pawtucket 6-2: Niuman Romero is having a solid night, going 2-for-2 with a walk and scoring two runs. This time up, he grounds out to first for the second out of the inning.
Next up is Jorge Jimenez, who is riding a four-game hitting streak but boasts just four hits over those four games. He pops out to right, so it's likely that streak is coming to an end.
Middle 7th, Pawtucket 6-2: Justin Christian smokes a one-out single to get something going for the Yankees against Fabio Castro in the seventh.
Once again, Marcus Thames comes up with a runner on, but this time, he can't produce, fanning on a 94-mph fastball.
Castro has five K's in two innings.
End 6th, Pawtucket, 6-2: Right-hander Jason Hirsch is now on the mound for the Yankees, replacing Romulo Sanchez, who went five innings and allowed six runs (five earned) with four walks and four strikeouts.
Twenty-five-year-old Hirsh is the tallest pitchers on the staff at 6-foot-8.
Hirsh is about to retire the side, but Ryan Kalish reaches after Hirsh and catcher Jesus Montero get tangled chasing a popup in front of the plate. But he strikes out Tug Hulett to get out of the mini-mess.
Middle 6th, Pawtucket 6-2: Fabio Castro replaces Felix Doubront to start the sixth, returning to the PawSox today after a brief stint in Boston (he didn't see any action).
Aside from a flare to shallow left by Reegie Corona, Castro's inning is smooth and features two strikeouts.
Castro has been deemed Dustin Pedroia's all-time favorite teammate because he's an inch shorter than the second baseman.
End 5th, Pawtucket 6-2: Niuman Romero scores on a wild pitch, sliding in behind home plate and evading the tag of Romulo Sanchez to increase the Pawtucket lead to four.
Romero reached after doubling to center and is now 2-for-2 with a single, a double and a walk.
After issuing a free pass to Bubba Bell, Romulo Sanchez has racked up a league-high 47 walks.
Middle 5th, Pawtucket 5-2: Felix Doubront allows back-to-back singles for the first time tonight, and as a result, he has his first rough inning of the night, allowing Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to put two on the board.
The Yankees put men on first and second with none out, and Milton, Mass., native P.J. Pilittere is up when Reid Gorecki and Reegie Corona pull off the double-steal. Doubront then walks Pilittere to load them up, but he strikes out No. 9 hitter Greg Golson looking on a curveball.
But the good fortune doesn't last. Doubront walks home a run, bringing up the dangerous Marcus Thames. He strikes, sending a base hit into left field and scoring Corona to bring the Yankees within three.
Then, he fans Eduardo Nunez and Jesus Montero, New York's top minor-league prospect. Three K's for Doubront, but three base hits as well.
End 4th, Pawtucket 5-0: The PawSox hit into their second double-play of the night — this one courtesy of Tug Hulett — to help Romulo Sanchez work around a one-out walk to Ryan Kalish.
Kalish came off the DL on June 26 and found himself mired in a bit of a slump, but after his two hits on Tuesday night and another one tonight, it may be safe to say that he's emerging.
Middle 4th, Pawtucket 5-0: Felix Doubront is cruising now, retiring the side once again. The Yankees have had just two baserunners this evening.
Aside from his last outing when he allowed three runs, Doubront has not allowed more than a run in his three other starts.
End 3rd, Pawtucket 5-0: Romulo Sanchez rebounds nicely from a very tough second, earning his firs 1-2-3 inning of the night.
After going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and two walks on Tuesday, Lars Anderson is now 0-for-2 on the night.
Middle 3rd, Pawtucket 5-0: A bloop single to short right can't derail Felix Doubront. The one-out offering from No. 9-hitter Greg Golson is all for naught, as he's stranded at first when Doubront fans Justin Christian and gets Marcus Thames to ground out to second.
Thames is now 0-for-2 on his first rehab assignment.
End 2nd, Pawtucket 5-0: Big trouble for Romulo Sanchez in the second, and Juan Apodaca takes advantage, drilling the first homer of his Triple-A career.
Sanchez issues a one-out walk to Lars Anderson, which comes back to bite him when Ryan Kalish sends a long single into left. Kalish steals second, and Tug Hulett promptly sends a two-run double into short right.
Hulett takes third on a passed ball, then Juan Apodaca drills a 3-2 offering to left. He flips the bat on the way out of the box, and that could come back to bite him in his next at-bat.
Middle 2nd, Pawtucket 1-0: Last time out, Doubront ran into a bit of trouble in the second inning, allowing two runs on two hits.
He avoids the pitfall this time around, working around a two-out, ground-rule double by Jorge Vasquez to get out of the frame.
End 1st, Pawtucket 1-0: Weird little series of events for the PawSox. Niuman Romero leads off with a single, and after Yanks first baseman P.J. Pilittere mishandles a Jorge Jimenez grounder, he reaches, too.
The ball trickles into right, and Reid Gorecki fires to third. It's not in time to get Romero, but Jorge Vasquez gets Jimenez at second.
One of Pawtucket's two IL All-Stars brings in Romero with a sacrifice fly to left.
Middle 1st: Marcus Thames was activated for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for today's game, beginning his rehab assignment from a hamstring injury.
But he's 0-for-1 thus far, just the second out in an easy 1-2-3 first for Felix Doubront.
5:58 p.m.: A couple of injury updates from Pawtucket, still pertaining to that uber-difficult catching situation.
The news is good on both Dusty Brown and Mark Wagner, both of whom are still recovering from hand injuries.
"If I were a betting man, I'd say they're within 15 days," Torey Lovullo said before the game. "Things are going to change against drastically, and we're very encouraged by Dusty's news that he didn't need any extra surgery."
As for Wagner, he's closer to returning to the cages as well.
"Wags is starting his return to a hitting program, and within a few days, he'll be getting some live at-bats," Lovullo said.
5:44 p.m.: Red Sox fans may recall Felix Doubront after he made his debut against Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers at Fenway Park on June 18. In that outing, the southpaw picked up a win after going five innings and allowing six hits and five runs (three earned).
Tonight, Doubront takes the mound in Pawtucket opposite Romulo Sanchez (4-6).
Doubront was promoted from Double-A on May 20, and in eight starts with Portland, he went 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA.
5:37 p.m.: Lineups are in on this lovely afternoon at McCoy Stadium, and one noticeable absence is Josh Reddick.
Reddick dove for a fly ball in center on Tuesday night, and after missing it, he rolled on top of it. Manager Torey Lovullo said he was scratched primarily as a precaution, not because his injury is anywhere near serious.
"He's fine," Lovullo said. "He could've played, but he's been going hard between sleepless nights and traveling and a bunch of craziness. We're just going to give him a day off."
Ryan Kalish, who's still in recovery from a right hip flexor strain, is in center in Reddick's place after DHing on Tuesday.
Lineups are as follows.
Pawtucket
1. Niuman Romero, SS
2. Jorge Jimenez, 3B
3. Bubba Bell, RF
4. Ryan Shealy, DH
5. Lars Anderson, 1B
6. Aaron Bates, LF
7. Ryan Kalish, CF
8. Tug Hulett, 2B
9. Juan Apodaca, C
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
1. Justin Christian, LF
2. Marcus Thames, DH
3. Eduardo Nunez, SS
4. Jesus Montero, C
5. Jorge Vasquez, 3B
6. Reid Gorecki, RF
7. Reegie Corona, 2B
8. P.J. Pilittere, 1B
9. Greg Golson, CF
10 a.m.: Can Pawtucket keep riding the momentum?
After dropping four of its last five, the PawSox’ offense came alive at McCoy Stadium on Tuesday night, pounding Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a 7-1 win, and they’ll try to make it two straight on Wednesday night.
Last week, Pawtucket won two straight on the road — also against the Yankees — but before that, the PawSox hadn’t racked up consecutive wins in over a month. However, judging by the way the offense clicked on Tuesday, scoring runs shouldn’t be a problem — and on Wednesday, neither should solid pitching.
Yankees right-hander Romulo Sanchez (4-6, 4.36 ERA) takes on Felix Doubrount (2-2, 2.08 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.