By Kevin Winter SportsTicker Staff Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Suffering through one of their most difficult seasons in franchise history, the Pawtucket Red Sox saw their once-silent bats wake up during a seven-game homestand this week.

After falling, 7-1, to Louisville in the opener July 11, Pawtucket established a franchise record with eight home runs in an 18-4 thumping of the Bats.

Angel Santos led the charge, going 5-for-6 with a pair of homers and four RBI, while Jeff Abbott had a two-run homer in both the first and second innings. Kevin Brown, Rob Ryan and James Loften each added homers while Dernell Stenson belted a grand slam.

The homers were a season high in the minor leagues. The last team to hit eight in a game was New Britain of the Class AA Eastern League on August 19, 2001.

The Red Sox bounced back four games later by scoring 10 runs against the league's best pitching staff in a 10-1 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

Wilton Veras, who was promoted from Class AA Trenton in the Eastern League on July 16, drove in four runs and Ryan added a three-run homer as Pawtucket reached double digits for only the fifth time this season.

MINOR LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

Calgary (Pacific Coast League) outfielder Abraham Nunez hit a leadoff home run in the top of the 10th inning to help the Cannons edge the Edmonton Trappers, 6-5, on July 13. Three days later, Nunez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Cannons over New Orleans, 9-8.

Iowa (International League) second baseman Bobby Hill hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 12th inning in a 3-2 victory against Salt Lake on July 13. Hill's third homer of the season gave the Cubs just their fourth win in 10 extra-inning games this season.

Las Vegas (Pacific Coast League) catcher Dave Ross collected four home runs in back-to-back wins July 16-17 and had six homers in four games from July 13-17. Ross, who was optioned from Los Angeles on July 12, had a solo shot in the third inning and snapped a tie with a leadoff shot in the ninth during a 5-4 win over Tucson on July 13. On July 16, Ross smacked a two-run homer in the fourth and led off the seventh with his eighth homer. The following night, he had a two-run homer in the fourth and crushed a three-run blast with two outs in the ninth.

Ross became the third player in the minors to have multi-homer games on consecutive nights. Ryan Thompson hit two homers on back-to-back nights for Indianapolis of the International League on April 15-16 and recent draft pick Ryan Shealey did it for Casper of the rookie-level Pioneer League on June 23-24.

New Orleans (Pacific Coast League) outfielder Jason Lane recorded a season-high seven RBI with a three-run triple and grand slam in the Zephyrs' 10-0 shutout of Oklahoma on July 11. He homered and drove in five runs five nights later in a 9-8 loss to Calgary. The 25-year-old Lane, who last season led the Texas League in RBI (124) and extra base hits (76), collected a career-high eight RBI on June 6, 2001 for Round Rock.

Oklahoma (Pacific Coast League) third baseman Hank Blalock, shortstop Kelly Dransfeldt and first baseman Travis Hafner each smacked two-run doubles during a 10-run first inning as the Red Hawks crushed Memphis, 15-5, on July 15.

Portland (Pacific Coast League) outfielder Randy Rigsby hit a career-high three home runs in the Sea Dogs' 5-1 victory at New Haven on July 11. Rigsby, who had never hit more than four homers in a season over his five-year career, hit a solo shot in the second inning, a two-run long ball in the seventh and a solo homer in the ninth.

TOP PITCHING PERFORMANCES

Norfolk (International League) righthander Aaron Heilman won his Class AAA debut, tossing eight scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory at Indianapolis on July 13. Heilman scattered three hits and struck out four without a walk to win his debut with Norfolk in just his second season as a pro. Selected 18th overall in 2001 by the Mets, the 23-year-old was 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts with Binghamton of the Class AA Eastern League before being called up.

Toledo (International League) righthander Shane Loux pitched a four-hit shutout, the third in his last four starts, in a 1-0 victory over Richmond on July 12. Loux, who spun back-to-back shutouts on June 23-28, issued a walk and struck out seven to win his fourth straight start. The 22-year-old retired 20 of the final 22 hitters to notch his fifth career shutout, fourth complete game of the season and 11th of his six-year career.

STREAKING

Buffalo (International League) lefthander Billy Traber won his sixth consecutive start, tossing eight scoreless innings in his Class AAA debut as the Bisons shut out Syracuse, 9-0, on July 13. Traber scattered seven hits, issued a walk and fanned four to win his seventh straight decision. The 22-year-old retired 16 of the final 20 batters he faced and improved to 9-0 with a 2.22 ERA over his last 11 outings. The 6-5 southpaw was 13-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 18 appearances with Akron of the Class AA Eastern League before being called up to Buffalo in just his second season as a pro.

Edmonton (Pacific Coast League) righthander Scott Randall won his 10th consecutive decision in a 10-1 triumph over Portland on July 17. Randall, who tossed six effective innings in a win over Calgary on July 12, scattered six hits and a walk while striking out three over eight scoreless innings as he improved to 10-0 with a 3.71 ERA in 15 starts this season. The 26-year-old began the season with New Britain of the Class AA Eastern League where he went 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in five starts. He was promoted to Edmonton and went 8-0 in 10 outings for the longest winning streak in the PCL since 1998, when Manny Aybar won 10 straight for Memphis.

New Orleans (Pacific Coast League) righthander Kirk Saarloos registered his 12th consecutive victory, pitching five innings of scoreless relief. Saarloos allowed two hits and struck out six without a walk to improve to 12-0 in his last 15 minor-league outings dating to April 13. The 23-year-old, in just his second season as a pro, holds the second-longest win streak of its kind in the minors this season, second only to Joe Roa, who has recorded 14 straight wins for Scranton-WB of the International League.

Pawtucket (International League) shortstop Freddy Sanchez reached safely in his 45th straight game, helping the Red Sox down Scranton-WB, 10-1, on July 17. Sanchez smacked his 24th double of the season in the second inning and singled in the sixth. Sanchez, who had his 27-game hitting streak ended on June 24, hit safely in 42 of his last 45 games. His on-base streak ended July 18 in a 14-inning loss to the Red Barons.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International League) righthander Evan Thomas won his fifth straight start in a 9-1 victory over Rochester on July 14. Thomas retired 15 of the 17 batters he faced, allowing a single and a walk with a strikeout, over six scoreless innings to improve to 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA since June 20.

Toledo (International League) righthander Nate Cornejo recorded his sixth straight win in a 9-4 victory over Richmond on July 13. Cornejo allowed three runs and six hits with a season-high nine strikeouts and one walk over seven innings, improving to 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his last seven starts.