Results tagged ‘ Pawtucket ’
Sox purchase Bowden’s contract, designate Hull
Michael Bowden will make his Major League debut on Saturday against the White Sox, as Boston looks to take the first two games of its weekend series against Chicago at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox officially purchased Bowden’s contract from Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday afternoon, and the 21-year-old right-hander will wear No. 64 against the White Sox. Bowden was 0-3 in seven games for the PawSox since being called up from Double-A Portland in July. He was 9-4 with a 2.33 ERA with the Sea Dogs.
To make room for Bowden on Boston’s 40-man roster, the Sox designated right-handed pitcher Eric Hull for assignment. Hull, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in April, is 2-3 with a 4.12 ERA in 40 games for Pawtucket.
The Red Sox also assigned infielder Joe Thurston outright to Pawtucket. Thurston had been designated for assignment by Boston on Aug. 27.
-Mark Remme
PawSox clinch playoff berth
If there’s any one word you could use to describe the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox this season, it’s got to be resilient. After all, this club stood tough all season while losing player after player to the big league Red Sox. They stressed their bullpen while helping rehabbing Red Sox starters like Bartolo Colon regain strength on the mound. And then, of course, they saw top hitting prospect Brandon Moss leave the organization as part of the Manny Ramirez trade on July 31.
But that just hasn’t stopped this crop of talented young players from achieving all season long. And for its efforts, Pawtucket earned its first playoff berth since 2003 after Toledo lost 6-1 to Richmond on Saturday. At 81-56, the PawSox stand 3.5 games behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the International League North with seven games to play.
Louisville already clinched the IL West title, while the Yankees and PawSox have already clinched playoff berths and will duke it out in the remaining week to see who earns the division title. Pawtucket takes on Lehigh Valley tonight for the third tilt of a four-game set. The PawSox took the first two contests, 8-5 and 4-2.
Portland Struggling; Buchholz solid in start
The same can’t be said for Double-A Portland, who is 2-5 in its last seven games following a six-game winning streak in the middle of the month.
Still, at 11.5 games behind Trenton in the Eastern League North, the Sea Dogs are fighting for their playoff lives. They have seven games remaining to lock up a spot in postseason play.
Clay Buchholz made his first start of the season for the Sea Dogs on Monday against New Britain, earning a no decision in Portland’s 6-5 loss. Buchholz, whom the Red Sox sent to Double-A on Aug. 20 after going 2-9 on the season with a 6.75 ERA, went seven innings for the Sea Dogs while allowing five hits and four runs (three earned). He struck out eight.
-Mark Remme
PawSox lose game, Zink to callup
Triple-A Pawtucket lost its second consecutive game Sunday to the Charlotte Knights, a 5-4 home decision. The defeat put the PawSox 1.5 games behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the International League North standings. But perhaps the bigger loss for manager Ron Johnson’s crew came with news that starter Charlie Zink will replace Tim Wakefield in the Red Sox’s starting rotation as the veteran knuckleballer was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder.
Zink is proving to be rather valuable to Pawtucket this season, and his 13-4 record matches teammate David Pauley for the league lead in wins. Match that with his 2.89 ERA and his 5-2 mark over his last 10 starts, and he’s been more than a formidable asset in the PawSox’s rotation. That presence will likely be missed over the next two weeks, as Zink is inked to make two starts for Wakefield during this stint on the DL.
The catch? Though it might not matter to the young knuckleballer, he’ll be making this first start with Boston on four days rest.
– Mark Remme
Smith adjusts in trip back to Fenway
Less than four days after being optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket from the Red Sox to make room for David Aardsma coming off the 15-day disabled list, Chris Smith was back in the Fens participating in a PawSox game against the Charlotte Knights at Fenway Park.
Smith, along with Chris Carter and Jeff Bailey, are among several PawSox players this season that have taken the trip back and forth between the two squads. Newly traded Brandon Moss as well as Red Sox current shortstop Jed Lowrie come to mind as others who are/were in the same boat.
Prior to the International League tilt on Saturday afternoon, Smith talked about the transition between the two squads. It’s certainly different, he says, but the camaraderie between the teammates is very consistent.
“It’s different but still fun,” Smith said. “These guys are just as fun as the [the Red Sox clubhouse], it’s just a different crew.”
Smith is 1-3 with a 2.24 ERA this season with Pawtucket, including 13 saves. But he hasn’t pitched for the team since being recalled to the Red Sox on Aug. 1.
He said it’s tough moving between squads because with both teams playing at once, it’s hard to keep track of teammates in the other clubhouse.
“It’s hard to keep in touch,” he said. “That’s the one things that sucks is that when we’re playing, they’re playing. We’re in different time zones, too. Like now, they’re in the Central (playing the White Sox in Chicago) and we’re in the Eastern.
“It’s a roller coaster. You just need to put your hands up and enjoy the ride.”
Lowell shows poise in win
There’s something to be said about the way the Spinners earned a 4-3, 12-inning victory over Hudson Valley on Saturday at Fenway in the first of two Futures at Fenway contests. The Spinners looked more than ready to win in nine, but a late-inning rally sent the game into extras.
That’s where Lowell really took charge. Despite taking till the 12th to get the ‘W’, the Spinners threatened in three consecutive innings and, had it not been for stellar play by center fiedler Anthony Scelfo, Lowell likely would have won even earlier.
The two strongest peformances on the night were Will Middlebrooks and Mitch Dening — both went 3-for-6 while Middlebrooks earned three RBIs.
And while both did their parts — Dening scored the winning run — each did it in separate ways. Middlebrooks worked the count and came up with a big, game-winning hit. Dening, well, he was short and sweet in his plate appearances — much like his reasoning for it.
“I don’t take a lot of pitches,” he said. “I like to get that first pitch fastball and do something with it. A good way to hit the curveball is to hit the fastball. I don’t want to go deep into counts. I just like to take that fastball early in the count and drive it.”
– Mark Remme
Futures at Fenway helps make Red Sox organization close knit
Anyone who spends time around Fenway Park can see what the old ballpark means to those surrounding the game of baseball. Kids’ eyes light up when they reach Yawkey Way. Fans flock in such packs that there hasn’t not been a sold out game at the ballpark since 2003. Part of that is the success the Red Sox have attained during that stretch, but some can directly be attributed to how deeply connected these fans are with not only the Major League squad, but also those in the Minor League systems.
So on Saturday, when the third annual Futures at Fenway is taking place, this organization will have another opportunity to show off the players on the farm today that will be part of the Sox big league family tomorrow. And fans, young and old, will be invited to take part in it. Discounted seats all over the park will complement low-priced concessions and time to take part in the Fenway experience.
Gates open around 10:30 a.m., with the first of two games slated to begin at noon. First up is Short-Season Single-A affiliate Lowell taking on Hudson Valley. The Spinners are a regular at Futures, and they’re certainly playing sound baseball at the moment. Lowell is 8-2 in its last 10 games and riding a six-game winning streak. They’re in first place in the New York-Penn League Stedler division.
Shortly after will be Game 2 of the twinbill between Triple-A Pawtucket and Charlotte. This contest will feature some familiar names to those more familiar with the Red Sox rosters as guys like Chris Carter and Jeff Bailey will be heading back to Fenway. Both have had stints with the Sox so far this season. In fact, had trades and injuries not taken effect, the likes of Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie and Chris Smith would be there, too.
It’s a day that gives fans a chance to see players that might shortly be coming to the ballpark on Yawkey Way on a regular basis. With the relationship Boston has with its Minor League affiliates, that’s not a far-fetched statement. So when Lowell and Pawtucket come to town on Saturday, the seats will again be filled. It’s just the way this organization and its fans work together.
Unique to most, this opportunity gives fans the chance to see just who might fill up the 2009 Red Sox roster.
–Mark Remme
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