The Providence Journal
PawSox 5, Clippers 3
A five-run third inning stood up for PawSox starter Clay Buchholz (2-1), who allowed one hit and struck out six in six innings, but shaky relief pitching kept 7,133 fans in their seats until the end.
The PawSox batted around in the third. Jonathan Van Every singled, Jeff Bailey walked and Joe Thurston advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. After Jed Lowrie popped out, Chris Carter cracked his 15th homer, a three-run blast to right field. Keith Ginter singled, Bryan Pritz walked, and Dusty Brown drove them home with a ground ball that rolled to the left-field corner for a double. The PawSox had only one baserunner the rest of the game.
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MATCHUPS TONIGHT: David Pauley (8-2, 3.89) will start for the PawSox against Dennis Tankersley (1-1, 4.63) with a 6:05 start on NESN.
Mike Szostak - Versatility is the name of the game for PawSox players
PAWTUCKET — Gone are the days when a Pawtucket Red Sox player fielded one position. Versatility is the cherished skill now. Or, Jed Lowrie may think of himself as a shortstop, but manager Ron Johnson sees him as an infielder.
“Our whole focus here is the more we move them around, the more versatility we give Tito (Boston manager Terry Francona) when they go to the big leagues. And that’s what this is all about,” Johnson said.
Last night against Columbus, for example, Lowrie started at shortstop and Joe Thurston at second, but each has played the other position, plus third base. Keith Ginter, who started at third, and Gil Velazquez, who is 0 for his last 18 and was not in the starting lineup, have moved around the infield this season.
When stationed in Pawtucket this season, outfielder Brandon Moss has played first base.
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Lowrie is a perfect example. An All-America shortstop at Stanford, he got the call to go up to Boston in April when third baseman Mike Lowell injured his thumb. Lowrie played third, short and second during his month with Boston.
“For a young guy like myself, you’ve got to get in where you fit in. I’m an everyday shortstop, but if it takes me playing third base, shortstop, second for me to get there, that’s what it takes,” he said.
Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Sat. June 21, 2008
Allen Lessells - A quiet night for Sea Dogs' offense; Portland produces just five hits and is done in by two three-run homers in a 6-1 loss at New Hampshire.
New Hampshire did all its scoring with a pair of three-run homers -- one in the first inning, the other in the fifth -- off Portland left-hander Dave Gassner.
"We pitched well, they pitched well," said Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler. "They were two swings of the bat better than us tonight."
Gassner began the season in the independent Atlantic League and was making his third start for the Sea Dogs. He went six innings and gave up seven hits, struck out five and walked one.
"He did a nice job giving us the six innings," Beyeler said.
Carlos Vasquez pitched two innings of hitless relief.
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The Sea Dogs finally broke through in the sixth, as New Hampshire lefty Brett Cecil reached his 75-pitch limit. Tony Granadillo's one-out single snapped a string of 11 straight batters retired by Cecil, and Zach Daeges beat out a slow roller, ending Cecil's outing.
Sandy Madera greeted reliever Seth Overbey with an opposite-field double to right, driving home Granadillo. But Overbey escaped further trouble, striking out Mark Wagner and retiring Andrew Pinckney on a long fly ball to left.
Portland threatened in the eighth against reliever Jean Machi, as Bubba Bell drew a leadoff walk and Granadillo got his second hit of the game. But Daeges grounded into a double play and Madera popped out to first.
Kevin Thomas - Buchholz getting ready
Buchholz threw five innings for Pawtucket and faced 17 batters (1 hit, 1 hit-batter). He allowed no runs, no walks, and struck out 6. He threw only 51 pitches, 35 of those for strikes.
The low pitch count likely means Buchholz is being monitored, to allow for heavier use later.
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Pitcher Michael Lee, the recent 8th round draft pick out of Oklahoma City, made his pro debut with 2 innings of relief for Lowell. Looked good: 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Willie T. Smith III - Drive hold on to beat Crawdads again
The Drive took control early, scoring solo runs in the first and second, then topping it off with a three-spot in the fourth to earn a 5-0 lead.
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After holding the Crawdads to only one hit in the first four innings, Greenville starting pitcher Terumasa Matsuo found himself on the defensive in the fifth.
Hickory scored four runs on five hits in the inning, chasing Matsuo from the game.
Reliver Ryne Lawson (3-2) came in to quell the threat, allowing the Drive to retain a one-run lead.
Shoeless Joe Jackson museum opens doors today
Kevin Gray - Newest Fisher Cat greets Portland with a three-run homer
Portland managed only five hits, including Sandy Madera's sixth-inning double that scored Tony Granadillo. Gassner was touched for six earned runs and seven hits.
The Lowell Sun
Chaz Scoggins - SUMOZA POWER
Sumoza smashed a three-run homer over the fence in left-center with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, powering the Spinners to a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters.
"That ball was loud, and it was long," DiSarcina said in admiration after Sumoza had connected on a 2-and-2 pitch from reliever Johan Figuereo for his second homer of the young season.
It was the ninth walkoff homer in Spinners history and the first since Carlos Fernandez-Oliva hit a 10th-inning shot last Aug. 19, also against Vermont.
The Spinners were trailing 2-1 going into the ninth inning and had managed just two singles in the first eight innings.
Zach Gentile, a 49th-round draft pick, led off the ninth with a single to center.
"The big thing was Gentile getting on base on a two-strike at-bat," DiSarcina said. "The kid's a player."
Mitch Dening sacrificed, and Ronald Bermudez drew a walk. Figuereo fell behind Fernandez-Oliva, a .307 hitter with 42 RBI for the Spinners last summer, 3-and-0 but came back to strike him out.
And then Sumoza ended it.
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Spinners pitchers struck out 13 while issuing just one walk.
"It was a memorable night overall," said Lee of his debut and the dramatic finish.
Lee was drafted twice by the New York Yankees as a draft-and-follow but declined to sign until the Red Sox picked him in the eighth round earlier this month.
"I'm glad I waited," the 6-7, 220-pound righthander said. "From everything I've heard about pro ball, I think this is the best fit for me. I love their program."
Chaz Scoggins - SUMOZA POWER
Sumoza smashed a three-run homer over the fence in left-center with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, powering the Spinners to a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters.
"That ball was loud, and it was long," DiSarcina said in admiration after Sumoza had connected on a 2-and-2 pitch from reliever Johan Figuereo for his second homer of the young season.
It was the ninth walkoff homer in Spinners history and the first since Carlos Fernandez-Oliva hit a 10th-inning shot last Aug. 19, also against Vermont.
The Spinners were trailing 2-1 going into the ninth inning and had managed just two singles in the first eight innings.
Zach Gentile, a 49th-round draft pick, led off the ninth with a single to center.
"The big thing was Gentile getting on base on a two-strike at-bat," DiSarcina said. "The kid's a player."
Mitch Dening sacrificed, and Ronald Bermudez drew a walk. Figuereo fell behind Fernandez-Oliva, a .307 hitter with 42 RBI for the Spinners last summer, 3-and-0 but came back to strike him out.
And then Sumoza ended it.
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Spinners pitchers struck out 13 while issuing just one walk.
"It was a memorable night overall," said Lee of his debut and the dramatic finish.
Lee was drafted twice by the New York Yankees as a draft-and-follow but declined to sign until the Red Sox picked him in the eighth round earlier this month.
"I'm glad I waited," the 6-7, 220-pound righthander said. "From everything I've heard about pro ball, I think this is the best fit for me. I love their program."
Billy Hull - Hee earns honor for glove work
Former Hawaii infielder Jon Hee was honored yesterday with the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Gold Glove award as the country's best defensive shortstop.
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After earning first-team All-WAC honors his senior season, Hee was drafted in the 21st round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox earlier this month. He's currently playing for the Lowell (Mass.) Spinners in short season single-A ball which started on Tuesday.
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Hee was the only WAC player named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings West Region first team.
In addition to his stellar defense, Hee hit .368 last season with 15 doubles, 32 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
Chih-Hsien Chiang's Pinch Hit Homer Wins it for JetHawks
LAKE ELSINORE, CA) - The JetHawks had to rally three times Friday night against Lake Elsinore, but none was sweeter than the last. Chih-Hsien Chiang drove a pinch hit three-run homer over the right field wall in the top of the ninth inning to take the JetHawks from two down to one up and lead them to a 9-8 over the Storm. The JetHawks have won two straight over the Storm and have won four of the five games between the two teams in Lake Elsinore.
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Diaz had his second straight big game with three hits. Jimenez had two hits and drove in two runs. Reza and Jason Place each had two singles. Jason Blackey earned the win (4-3) with two scoreless innings of relief.
Seth Soffian - Members of rookie Gulf Coast League Sox start careers on bottom rung
In the past two weeks, Peterson has graduated from high school, been drafted in the 13th round (352nd overall) and traveled across the country to join about 30 other fresh-faced rookies — all ages 17-22 — on what they hope is the first step to the majors.
"Just go out there and keep improving and work my (butt) off, do whatever it takes," Peterson, 18, said of starting at the bottom rung in pro ball. "Pretty much everyone starts here. It's good."
Peterson, who hit .547 with six home runs and a 1.078 slugging percentage as a high school senior - and broke most of the Spokane-area passing records held by former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien - turned down a baseball scholarship at Washington State to sign with the Red Sox.
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