LYNX: CLAW PAST THE PAW SOX

Lynx righty J.D. Durbin whittled down that ERA considerably today by throwing eight innings of five-hit ball to beat Pawtucket 2-1 (boxscore, play-by-play) today.

Momentum in baseball only goes as far as the next day's starting pitcher, but the Lynx are back at .500 (20-20) and have 10 games in a row vs. sub-.500 teams. That said, a well-pitched game from a starter who'd been struggling -- Durbin (1-3) cut his ERA almost two full runs to 4.94 -- can pick up everyone's confidence.

Righty Zack Segovia (1-4, 4.53, 1.34 WHIP) is throwing tomorrow night in his first start since having the bullpen blow it for him last Wednesday, which suggests he's due to have his luck even out and pick up the W. He is matched up vs. Pawtucket's best pitcher, righty David Pauley (1-1, 3.51, 1.02 WHIP), who's been tough to hit and was pushed back a day so the comeback kid Jon Lester could pitch Saturday.

Durbin got a chance to try for the complete-game shutout with a two-run lead entering the ninth, but came out after a leadoff double. Lefty Matt Smith came in for the save, but couldn't save the shutout since a groundout and a sac fly brought in Pawtucket's Chad Spann. The Lynx have had three different pitchers record saves in their past three wins.

And how about Joe Thurston? Thurston, who got a two-strike single off PawSox starter Runelvys Hernandez (0-3, 2.45) during Ottawa's decisive two-run third inning, has raised his average 24 points across the past four days.