Our minor league teams are opening tonight. Pawtucket is at home -- Abe Alvarez had a perfect first inning. Portland, Wilmington and Greenville are also playing.

The PawSox and Sea Dogs games can be heard here: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil...media/audio.jsp

A link to the Blue Rocks' game is here:http://www.bluerocks.com/

One of my favorite times of the year the beginning of the minor league season.

Luis Jimenez homers for Portland. I believe it is the first HR of the season for our minor leaguers.

Jed Lowrie with 4 RBIs so far tonight, 3 on a bases loaded triple. The Blue Rocks lead 7-1.

Phil Seibel (who got a ring in 2004) is pitching for Greenville tonight in his first game since recovering from Tommy John surgery. He's given up a solo HR but has retired the other 15 batters he's faced, 7 on Ks. He's expected to be pitch in Pawtucket once the weather warms up.

There was a really good story about Phil in the Wilmington News Journal. I linked it in the Minor League News Links.

Anni

Tonight's results:

PawSox win at home 3-2 with run in the ninth when Durrington triples and Machado drives him in. Bumatay gets the win. Nye and Bailey homer.

Portland loses at home 5-1. Pauley with the loss. Jiminez homers.

Wilmington wins 8-2 on the road. Mendoza gets the win. Bladergroen with three hits, Lowrie 4 RBI.

Greenville wins 6-1 at home. Hunter Jones with the win in relief. Lara with bases clearing triple.

Very happy to see Lowrie with a good night and Bladergroen getting 3 hits and maybe coming around after his injury. Plus I hope to see Lara come around with the bat this year.

A few other names of interest tonight:

Delcarmen (Pawtucket): 2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Ks, 1 BB

Hansen (Portland): 2 IP, 0 ER, 3 Ks

Ellsbury (Wilmington): 2-4, 3B, 2 runs, RBI

Soto (Greenville): 2-4, 2B, RBI

Also really want to see Soto take off in his development as this is his second time in Low A ball as he was in Greenville to begin last year before being demoted to Lowell and having a good year in Short Season A ball.

Friday night in-progress report:

Pawtucket trails 4-0 after three with Wells on the mound.

Portland is 0-0 in the fifth. Chris Smith has allowed only two baserunners -- both walks -- through four.

Wilmington is up 3-2 in the fourth. Jeff Corsaletti is 3-3 with all three RBI.

Greenville is up 3-1 in the third. Jeff Natale with a HR.

Clay Buchholz sounds like he's doing a nice job so far in that Greenville game: 5 IP, 1 run, 6 Ks.

He and Michael Bowden should be a really interesting one-two punch to watch for the Drive this year.

Pawtucket now trails 7-1 in the 6th. Wells gave up all 7 in five IP.

Portland is down 2-0 in the seventh. Smith threw 5 hitless innings. Kevin Frederick gave up the runs.

Wilmington is up 3-2 in the eighth. Hottovy and Kyle Jackson have combined to allow only one baserunner since the first inning.

Greenville is up 3-1 in the fifth.

A Sunday update:

At McCoy Stadium, the PawSox are in a scoreless tie with Indianapolis through six innings. There have been NO baserunners for either side. 36 batters up, 36 batters down.

another update: Through seven, it's still a double no-hitter. One batter did walk in the seventh.

update #3: PawSox win 1-0 in 10 innings. Tyler Minges with a game-winning sac fly. Craig Breslow with the win in relief. PawSox pitchers combine for a 2-hitter -- both infield hits.

Courtesy of the Deive:

Greenville, SC – One day after errors cost the Drive a victory against the Catfish, fielding mistakes hurt Greenville again as they fell to 2-2 on the season with a 10-5 loss Sunday afternoon at West End Field. The Drive had a 4-0 leading heading into the seventh, but from there it was all downhill.

The Drive scored their first run in the bottom of the third when catcher Mike Leonard homered to deep left-centerfield. Jeff Natale singled in the inning, extending his hit streak to four games in this young season.

Greenville would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth off of Columbus starter Jesus Rodriguez, none of which were earned, to take a 4-0 lead. Chuck Jeroloman started the inning with an infield single to third. Leonard then reached on a fielding error by Catfish shortstop Juan Rivera.

After Jay Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice and Natale struck out, Yahmed Yema singled to right field, which plated Leonard. Rightfielder Sergio Pedroza’s throwing error allowed Yema and Johnson to advance to second and third, respectively. Luis Soto then singled to center scoring Johnson and Yema. Right-hander Arismendy Castillo (1-1) then relieved Rodriguez to end the inning by striking out Chris Turner.

Columbus scored three of their runs, unearned, in the top of the seventh off of Drive reliever Terry Large. Catfish catcher Juan Apodaca singled back to the pitcher and then advanced to third when Rivera reached base on a fielding error by Soto. After Ivan DeJesus grounded out, which should have ended the inning, Adam Godwin crushed a three-run homer over the Green Monster.

The Catfish would then take a commanding 10-4 lead off of reliever J.T. Zink (0-1) in the top of the eighth by way of another Greenville error and some hard-hitting by the Catfish batters. Andrew Locke singled and scored on Lucas May’s triple. David Sutherland then plated May by reaching on a fielding error by Turner. Apodaca was hit by a pitch and Rivera followed with a single to load the bases. Ivan DeJesus then hit a grand slam to clear the bases.

Left-hander Blake Maxwell then replaced Zink. Godwin reached by a hit by pitch and the proceeded to steal second. Pinch hitter Russ Mitchell followed with an infield single which let Godwin advance to third. Columbus got their final run of the inning when Godwin scored on Eduardo Perez’s fielder’s choice.

Greenville added an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth when Tony Granadillo, who had reached on a fielder’s choice but was able to advance to second on a throwing error by the second baseman, scored on Logan Sorensen’s single to centerfield.

Starting pitcher Michael Bowden was very effective for the Drive, despite getting a no-decision. Bowden tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out six.

After a day off, the Drive will be on the road until April 20th, with a four-game series at Augusta (April 11-15) and a four-game series at Columbus (April 15-18).

NOTES: In the four-game series with the Catfish, 10 of the 16 runs scored by Columbus were earned. The Drive outscored the Catfish 28-14 in the series.

Anyone going to this game?

Too bad NESN can't take advantage of the off day to show us some PawSox.

Would love to hear a firsthand, non-media report.

Lester struggling with his command for the Pawsox today against Rochester (listen here http://www.onworldwide.com/Psox.asx). Walks home a run in the second on his third BB of the inning. Still just down 1-0, but has already allowed 6 baserunners. Let's hope he is pulling a Beckett and will get stronger as the day progresses.

Lester pulled after 2 1/3 upon reaching his pitch count limit (which apparently was 60 - he threw 59). He is up for the loss as the game remains 1-0 to Rochester. On the plus side he did strike out the last batter he faced after again going to 3-2 in the count.

On the "don't panic" side Jon was reportedly hitting 95 with his fastball, and according to the announcers looked as if he was overthrowing, probably due to adrenaline. He was up high in the zone with the heat.

Just got back from Pawtucket. Definitely a mixed bag for Lester, whose command was erratic. He threw a few 55-foot breaking balls and was up with others, although he did fool hitters with offspeed pitches too. His fastball ranged between 91 and 94 according to the gun, although I saw one 96 and a few 95s. He was 89 with some pitches, which I'm assuming were cutters. The slowest breaking ball I noticed was 71.

On an unrelated note, Mike Bumatay has a hell of a curveball. What he lacks is velocity, but I can see him being a good LOOGY. His hook has a great break. Of note, tonight's boxscore doesn't do him justice -- he gave up some tweeners and flares.

Per the Greenville Drive.

DRIVE STOMP SAND GNATS, 12-1

Greenville, SC – The Drive exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth en route to a 12-1 victory Sunday afternoon at West End Field.

Yahmed Yema led off the fourth by reaching base on an error by ‘Gnats shortstop Mike Martinez. Jeff Natale followed with his fourth home run of the season to give the Drive a 2-1 lead. Two batters later Chris Turner hit a solo shot for his fourth home run of the season. After Tony Granadillo doubled down the right field line, Chuck Jeroloman hit Greenville’s third home run of the inning.

The Drive would add seven more runs over the next three innings to take a commanding lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Jay Johnson led off the inning with a triple to right field. Yema followed with an infield single to plate Johnson. After Yema advanced to third on a wild pitch and a groundout by Natale, he would score when Turner reached on an error by Savannah second baseman Jose Contreras.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Drive would score both of their runs with two outs. Mike Leonard reached base with a two-out single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Johnson, who reached base by a hit-by-pitch, and Leonard would both score when Sand Gnats right fielder Michael Daniel lost a ball in the sun off the bat of Yema for a double.

Greenville added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh on three base hits. Matt Mercurio, who had replaced Luis Soto, led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Turner then doubled to left center, knocking in Mercurio. Granadillo would follow with a double of his own to score Turner. After Jeroloman walked, Logan Sorensen hit into a double play which allowed Granadillo to advance to third base. Granadillo would score as the next batter, Leonard, hit an infield single to third base.

Starting pitcher Phil Seibel (2-0) received the victory as he tossed 5.0 strong innings, allowing one run on four hits and zero walks, while striking out four. Sand Gnats starter Ricky Shefka (1-2) took the loss allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk over 5.0 innings.

The Drive begin a four game series Monday night at 7:05 PM with the defending South Atlantic League Champions, the Kannapolis Intimidators at West End Field. Right-hander Ismael Casillas will take the mound for the Drive in search of his first win versus left-hander Noe Rodriguez.

NOTES: With his single in the bottom of the fourth, Luis Soto extended his hitting streak to 11 games…Phil Seibel now has 19 strikeouts in 20.0 innings and has yet to issue a walk…The three home runs in the bottom of the fourth were the most in a single inning this year and tied for the most in a game for the Drive…Attendance was 4394

Great to have finally found other Bosox fans who follow the minors the way I do. I've been a huge fan of the Wilmington Blue Rocks since their inception in 1993. (45 minutes south of Philly) but i've become an even bigger fan since they switched affiliation from the Royals to the Red Sox. Are there many other Blue Rocks fans in here?

I root for the Blue Rocks because they are a Red Sox affliate and want to see our prospects develop there.

I live in Myrtle Beach, I try to catch the BR a couple of times a year. I went last night. JE had a good night, I would never propose that my "scouting" skills are anything to write home about, but he is a talented player. The catcher threw my 7 year old a ball after the game, it made his day if not month.