Royal Rooters > Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. July 4, 2008

Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Fri. July 4, 2008

Royal Rooters > WE'RE TALKIN' BASEBALL > DOWN ON THE FARM

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 08:41 AM

Amalie Benjamin - Minor League Notebook: Exposito making up for lost time

Some predicted that would be the end of the line, but Exposito has played well enough for director of player development Mike Hazen to say he has "every chance" to be an everyday major leaguer. And he's already taken to Lancaster, where he recorded a 5-for-6 day in his fifth game.

"He's got plus arm strength," Hazen said. "He's a really good thrower and he's a good game caller. Some of the things we're working on are [from] more of a receiving standpoint. Repetition, or lack thereof, that's really the biggest developmental thing we're working on right now. He's got a good build for a catcher. The receiving aspect of it is definitely the biggest need right now."

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Michael Bowden has been dominating Double A (5-1, 2.35 ERA in his last 10 starts), but he's already thrown 94 1/3 innings, so the organization is looking to rest him. With the All-Star break coming up, Bowden is likely to be skipped a start, though he may be headed to Triple A soon.

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Lancaster first baseman Lars Anderson, 20, has 13 hits in his last 32 at-bats (.406). For the season, he's up to .311 with 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 42 walks (with just 54 strikeouts). "Ever since he came off that wrist injury, his average has steadily climbed," Hazen said. "He's been a lot more consistent. He's ripped off a number of multiple-hit games. The one thing Lars has done this year, he went into a period of a week to 10 days where he really struggled. He was able to pull himself out of it. Last year he went through a long stretch, he went almost 0 for July. The thing we like is that period where he struggled got shorter by a couple of weeks." . . .

Gordon Edes - Red Sox Notebook: Relief in sight? Timlin returns to bullpen

Francona confirmed that Masterson will start tomorrow afternoon, while Clay Buchholz (4-0, 0.40 in his last four starts in Pawtucket) takes his next turn for the PawSox the same day. Francona said switching them was never considered. "We want to get Clay ironed out," said Francona, who has said Buchholz was sent down to refine his fastball command. Judging by the results, there is little more Buchholz needs to do in Triple A, but Francona said other factors came into play, including the organization's desire to rejigger the rotation after the All-Star break to give some starters extra rest . . . The Sox announced the signing of five players at the start of the international 16-year-old signing period: lefthanded pitcher Hansel Suero, righthanded pitcher Enrique Cuevas, catcher Ali Gonzalez, catcher Oscar Perez, and third baseman Juan Vargas. Suero is from the Dominican Republic; the others are from Venezuela.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 09:07 AM

The Providence Journal

Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam - Red Sox 7, Yankees 0 -- Buchholz staying put for now

"We really didn't [plan to pitch him]," Francona said when asked whether there was any discussion about Buchholz being recalled. "I don't want to say that at some point Clay's not going to be back here, because that might not be true. We think Clay is obviously, hopefully, a star in the making. We wanted to get Clay ironed out and sometimes looking at the big picture is more important than looking at the small picture. It's not easy to do that, but Clay is on his way to doing exactly what he needs to do."

Steven Krasner - PawSox 3, Chiefs 0

PawSox All-Star knuckleballer Charlie Zink was superb, and he had to be in beating Syracuse’s Scott Richmond in a pitcher’s duel. Zink allowed only two hits, a one-out looping single to right-center to Kevin Mench in the second and Danny Sandoval’s ground single up the middle with two outs in the ninth. The right-hander walked two and fanned eight in an efficient (93 pitches) outing that raised his record to 9-2 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.42, second-best in the league.

Steven Krasner - Injuries keep PawSox/Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty in a holding pattern

Kielty, who will turn 32 next month, enjoyed his time in Boston last season after being designated for assignment by Oakland, spending the last six weeks with the Red Sox and contributing a key pinch-hit home run in Colorado in Game Four of last fall’s four-game World Series sweep of the Rockies.

So Kielty was hoping to wedge his way back into Boston, even though he signed a minor-league contract as a free agent, and even though, a victim of the “numbers’ game in spring training, he began the year in Pawtucket.

Unfortunately for Kielty, health has been an issue.

There was the soreness in his left hand, which led to him being placed on Pawtucket’s disabled list on April 20. He had surgery to remove a bone in the hand. He returned on May 27, but was back on the DL on June 9 because of a left oblique strain.

Kielty played two rehab games for Lowell before joining the PawSox for their game Wednesday night, and he was back in the lineup for last night’s series finale against Syracuse at McCoy Stadium. He went 0-for-3 in Pawtucket’s 3-0 victory.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 09:30 AM

Alex Speier - Versatile Yamaico Navarro real money player

The Sox believe they have such a player in Yamaico Navarro, a shortstop who also plays some second and third base for Single-A Greenville. The Sox signed Navarro in 2005 for $20,000 after he worked out at their Dominican Academy.

“My first impressions were of a kid that had very good instincts to play the game, especially on defense, and someone who was very aggressive in the box and swung the bat very hard,” Shipley said. “Because the price wasn’t a lot, we were comfortable making a quick decision.”

Navarro, 20, recently earned a berth in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game, and is hitting .285 with a .342 OBP while playing, at times, dazzling defense. He also received All-Star nods in both the Dominican Summer League in 2006 and the New York-Penn League with the Lowell Spinners a year ago.

Navarro consistently hits line drives to all fields. With six homers (five in June), he shows the potential for above-average pop as a middle infielder.

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It would be difficult to find a more impressive run than the one right-hander Richie Lentz is on for Single-A Lancaster. Though he plays in one of the worst home parks for pitchers, Lentz (3-2, 2.45 ERA) entered last night with a scoreless run of 12 outings and 25 innings.

The 23-year-old has put up Nintendo-like numbers this year, striking out 74 in 51 innings, while allowing just 28 hits. Lentz uses a power arsenal of a fastball that regularly touches 97 mph and what Hazen describes as “a wipeout slider” to defy Lancaster’s elements.

“I’m not scared of the park,” Lentz said. “A swing-and-miss is a swing-and-miss, whether it’s here or in Greenville. I didn’t care whether (Lancaster) was 10,000 feet up or (had) 75 mph winds. To get there was an honor.”

Lentz, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005 while at the University of Washington, has rediscovered his slider after shying from the pitch in recent years.

Alex Speier - Red Sox add international flair

The Red Sox [team stats] yesterday announced the signing of six international amateur players, most notably catcher Oscar Perez of Venezuela.

Perez is a defensively advanced 15-year-old who shows a promising middle-of-the-field hitting approach.

The Sox are hopeful that he might grow into a power-hitting catcher. Perez received “a significant sum of money,” according to vice president of international scouting Craig Shipley.

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The Sox proved particularly active in Venezuela, with five of yesterday’s six announced signees hailing from the South American country. In addition to Perez, the team signed catcher Ali Gonzalez, third baseman Juan Vargas and right-handers Enrique Cuevas and Ivan Marcano. Left-hander Hansel Suero of the Dominican Republic also signed.

Michael Silverman - Red Sox Notebook: Yankees ‘embarrassed’

Francona said there is no timetable for Clay Buchholz’ return to the majors. Inserting him into the rotation, possibly in the spot of Justin Masterson, may happen some day but that could be after the All-Star break.

The right-hander currently is pitching for Pawtucket.

“Clay obviously, hopefully, is a star in the making,” Francona said. “We want to get Clay ironed out. I think sometimes looking at the big picture is more important than looking at the small picture. Clay is on his way to doing exactly what he needs to do.”

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 09:57 AM

David McDonough - Sea Dogs offense stymied; Jason Jones of Trenton stops the Sea Dogs, who get a strong debut from starter Adam Mills.

Jones, the Thunder’s top starter, held the Sea Dogs to two hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking none. Only Jeff Corsaletti with a two-out single in the first and Ryan Khoury with a single in the third had hits.

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Mills, a 2007 eighth-round draft choice out of North Carolina Charlotte, was 7-4 with a 4.43 ERA for Lancaster.

The Thunder greeted Mills roughly. In the first, Ramiro Pena singled to short. Mills got Colin Curtis to hit into a double play, but a single, a double and another single made it 2-0.

Mills allowed only four singles the rest of the way in his six innings. He had no walks and no strikeouts.

“Two runs over six innings? If he does that the rest of the season I think we’ll be OK,” said Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler. “He got strikes, stayed in the zone, got ground balls. It was a very nice job, very efficient.”

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After Khoury’s leadoff single in the third, Jones (9-3) set down the next 15 batters in his seven innings. Only Aaron Bates’ seventh-inning fly to right field gave the season-high Waterfront Park crowd of 7,961 anything to fear, and outfielder Edwar Gonzalez hauled it in against the fence.

Kevin Thomas - Lester, Zink, fireworks

Back to the minors: Zink was the highlight, but Adam Mills had a nice Double-A debut for the Sea Dogs (6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0K) in a 4-0 loss.

Lancaster pitcher Tony Bajoczky likes to pitch away from his hitter-happy stadium (2.41 ERA on the road) and it showed Thursday (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) ... Lars Anderson (.313) went 2-for-5.

Lowell starter Brock Huntzinger, a third-round pick last year out of high school, went 5 innings (2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K) ... Australian teen-aged outfielder Mitch Dening (.364) went 3-for-4.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 10:09 AM

Willie T. Smith III - Drive have all-around bad game in loss to Savannah

Greenville did little offensively while making numerous errors in the field and suffering a sub-par performance on the mound.

That resulted in a 9-1 Savannah victory in front of a crowd of 5,015 at Fluor Field.

Savannah dominated the game from the outset, scoring four runs in the first four innings even though left-hander Felix Doubront, one of the Drive's top starters, was on the mound.

While Savannah was scoring virtually at will, the Drive had to fight for everything they got, managing only five hits.

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Doubront (8-6), who took part in the South Atlantic League's all-star game two weeks ago, had one of his worst starts of the season. He allowed five earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four in four innings.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 10:21 AM

The Lowell Sun

Spinners squander late lead

Lowell rallied to score its three runs in the seventh, all unearned and aided by a pair of Aberdeen errors.

Luis Sumoza reached on an infield miscue and advanced to second on a wild pickoff throw.

After Will Middlebrooks walked, Sumoza took third on a Rafael Gil fielder's choice grounder and scored the tying run on Jon Hee's two-out sinking line-drive single to right field. It was Hee's first RBI of the season and tied it 1-1.

Later in the inning, Mitch Dening continued to sizzle with a go-ahead two-run double to the gap for a 3-1 Lowell lead.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the 9th when a walk, single and Stephen's dramatic 3-run homer ended it.

Dening finished the game 3-for-4 and Stephen Fife pitched well in relief.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 10:32 AM

Mavs win series with ninth-inning rally

High Desert trailed by three heading into the bottom of the ninth and was facing Lancaster’s Richard Lentz, who hadn’t given up a run in 26 1-3 innings. But Lentz walked Carlos Triunfel to lead off the inning, and the floodgates opened from there.
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Ronnie Prettyman tied it with a double that scored Minaker, and High Desert scored the game-winner with a little help. Travis Scott attempted a sacrifice bunt, but JetHawks catcher Jon Still threw the ball away and Prettyman scored to give the Mavs the win.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 10:47 AM

GULF COAST LEAGUE

At the City of Palms Complex in Fort Myers, the Orioles were leading the Red Sox, 4-1, but lightning and rain postponed the game with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.

The suspended game will be completed at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota.

RedSoxAnni

Jul 4 2008, 11:04 AM

Dan Goldberg - JetHawks stuck with bitter taste; High Desert rallies for win

The rally was made all the more impressive because it was completed off Richie Lentz, the JetHawks best pitcher this month. He had not given up a run in 26¹\u2044³ innings, and with the JetHawks holding a 4-1 lead in the ninth, a victory seemed assured.

Lentz, however, could not record an out in the ninth.

He walked Carlos Triunfel and allowed a single to Carlos Peguero, before consecutive doubles by Chris Minaker and Ronnie Prettyman tied the game.

With a runner on second and still no one out, Travis Scott laid down a bunt. Jon Still bobbled the ball and then threw wide of first base, allowing the winning run to cross the plate.

The loss was made all the more disappointing because of how well the JetHawks had played through the first eight innings.

"Eight just isn't enough," center fielder Jason Place said. "Sometimes it just goes that way."

RedSoxAnni

Jul 5 2008, 01:52 PM

Brendan McGair - Zink shines for PawSox

Zink went the complete game route Thursday night, limiting Syracuse to two singles in a masterful 3-0 win for first-place Pawtucket. Zink becomes the first PawSox to toss a complete game shutout since Jamie Brown turned the trick on Sept. 5, 2004 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Zink needed just 93 pitches (62 strikes) to go along with eight strikeouts and three walks. The only hits he surrendered came in the second and with two down in the ninth.

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Zink has now gone more than six innings in 11 of his 18 starts. The International League All-Star lowered his ERA to 2.42.

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Ginter provided some insurance in the eighth when he laced a two out, two run single. Jonathan Van Every reached base three times (one hit, two walks).

Shortstop Jed Lowrie endured a brief scare when he fouled a pitch off his ankle in the sixth. After falling to the ground and being attended to by trainer Greg Barajas and Johnson, Lowrie decided to remain in the game.

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