The Providence Journal
Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam - Red Sox 6, Yankees 4 -- Sox announce signings of six international free agents
Craig Shipley, the team’s director of international scouting, was excited about two catchers: Ali Gonzalez and Oscar Perez, both from Venezuela.
Of Gonzalez, Shipley said: “We like him a lot. He’s got an above-average arm, quick feet and a good release. He has the possibility to develop power down the road. He’s an interesting guy.”
Steven Krasner - Return to minors fails to put Smith in negative state
The whole time he spent with Boston, though, was a learning experience for Smith, a fourth-round draft pick in 2002 who has battled his share of injuries.
“Every game is intense, crucial,” said Smith. “You just go to work and learn from that.”
Now he’s back in Pawtucket. When he left, Smith, who spent most of his first six years in the organization as a starting pitcher, had worked into a role as the PawSox’ closer. He was 1-2 with a 1.52 earned-run average in 22 games, 18 as a reliever. He was 8 for 8 in save chances.
Smith, though, may not just be asked to pick up where he left off in the Pawtucket bullpen. Hunter Jones has picked up five saves in Smith’s absence.
“Not necessarily. Hunter Jones has done a nice job,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson when asked if Smith would be handed the closer’s role.
Johnson said it was likely that he would have Smith and Jones work multiple innings, stretching them out because if either one or both should be called up to Boston, that’s what their roles would be. They certainly aren’t going to supplant Jonathan Papelbon as Boston’s closer.
Smith, though, would be thrilled to return in any capacity.
“It was all nice up there,” said Smith. “I had some confidence knowing that what I was doing down here was working up there. I was getting big-league hitters out. That was a big pat on the back.”
Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Sat. July 5, 2008
Kevin Thomas - A little Bowden goes a long way; Michael Bowden throws just 64 pitches, but it?s enough to get the Sea Dogs off to a 2-1 victory.
After Michael Bowden threw only 64 pitches, the Portland Sea Dogs and their parent club, the Boston Red Sox, decided that was enough.
Still, an abbreviated Bowden is quite a show.
Bowden (8-4) retired the first 14 batters he faced. He ended up allowing two hits over five scoreless innings Friday night, good enough for a 2-1 victory against the Reading Phillies before a sold-out Hadlock Field crowd of 7,368.
Portland catcher Mark Wagner clocked a two-run home run over the left-field wall in the second inning off the impressive Reading starter, Tyson Brummett (1-2).Beau Vaughan got the last five outs for his 11th save as the Sea Dogs improved to 47-37.
Bowden’s shortened outing is a result of the Red Sox tapping the brakes on their 21-year-old prized prospect. Bowden, who threw 142 innings last year, has already thrown 99 this season with two months to go. Five innings was his limit Friday.
“If he keeps going like he’s going, (his innings total) is going to be up there,” said Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler.
The Red Sox keep a close watch on innings, and Beyeler said Bowden might even skip a turn in the rotation soon.Bowden, who didn’t know his inning limit before the game, pounded the strike zone with his 90s fastball, curve and change-up, lowering his ERA to 2.36.
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Reliever T.J. Large (0.00 ERA) pitched a scoreless sixth. Daniel Bard (3.12) gave up an unearned run in the eighth.
Kevin Thomas - Masterson given the ball again
In the minors, Pawtucket's Devern Hansack saw his 25-inning scoreless streak end. He went five innings Friday (7H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K) ... Chris Smith, just back from the majors, got his ninth save (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K), and his ERA sits at 1.49.
Portland ace Michael Bowden threw 75 percent strikes (48 of 64) in a five-inning, two-hit scoreless performance Friday. Bowden's workload in the coming week or two will be reduced.
In Lancaster, first baseman Lars Anderson (.315) went 2-for-4 ... Outfielder Daniel Nava (.347) was 3-for-4. Nava, 25, was signed from the independent leagues, so it's unclear whether he's filling a roster spot, or will ork his way to Portland.
Greenville outfielder Jered Stanley (.383) went 2-for-3. Bound for Lancaster?
In Lowell, third-round draft pick Kyle Weiland pitched 2 scoreless inning (3H, 3 K) and lowered his ERA to 0.61.
Willie T. Smith III - Drive's holiday comeback fizzles out
After taking a one-run lead in the sixth, only to lose it in the seventh, the Drive scored two in the ninth inning but fell a run short in their comeback attempt, dropping a 4-3 South Atlantic League decision to the Savannah Sand Gnats.
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Greenville broke the string of goose eggs in the sixth when a Jered Stanley double to center scored center fielder Che-Hsuan Lin from third to give the Drive a 1-0 lead.
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Greenville cut the deficit to one, scoring two in the eighth when left fielder David Mailman singled to left, which was followed by back-to-back doubles by second baseman Kristopher Negron and Stanley.
The Drive managed a brief threat in the ninth when pinch-hitter Mike Jones hit a one-out single to left. Mailman followed with a ground ball to second that was transformed into a double play to end the game.
Despite the loss Greenville received its second straight solid performance from starting pitcher Jose Capellan, who shut the Sand Gnats out on three hits and eight strikeouts while walking none in five innings.
The Stockton Record
Five-run inning propels Stockton
Stockton scored five runs in the third inning en route to a 8-4 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Friday at Clear Channel Stadium.
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JetHawks pitcher Blake Maxwell allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings to take the loss.
Five-run inning propels Stockton
Stockton scored five runs in the third inning en route to a 8-4 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Friday at Clear Channel Stadium.
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JetHawks pitcher Blake Maxwell allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings to take the loss.
Sumoza drives in five for Spinners
Luis Sumoza paced the 13-hit Lowell attack with three hits and five RBIs.
Robert McClain picked up the win, striking out four in two innings of relief.
David Driver - Former Ute Fife fitting in fine in Red Sox minor leagues
Fife, 20, struck out the first three batters he faced in the sixth and also retired all three batters in the seventh. He was in line for the win, but Lowell blew a 3-1 lead and lost 4-3 against the Aberdeen IronBirds, a team owned by Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
The third-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox has started his pro career in impressive fashion.
He agreed to terms with the Red Sox less than a week after he was drafted in early June. He then picked up a win in his pro debut for Lowell against an Astros farm club in mid-June. And he lowered his ERA to 1.12 here July 3 with two scoreless innings.
"When I finally got out there, it was pretty special," Fife said of his pro debut. "Lowell is a great atmosphere to play in. It is an eye-opener. You hear about Red Sox Nation, but you don't realize how big it is. All you see in the airport (in Boston) was Red Sox T-shirts. It trickles down all of the way to us, in low A. It is crazy."
Bailey's homer lifts Pawtucket; RED SOX 7, IRONPIGS 6. Pawtucket improves to 9-0 against the Pigs
PAWTUCKET, R.I. | Jeff Bailey has been a home run-hitting machine for the Pawtucket Red Sox so far this season and he took the Lehigh Valley IronPigs' over the fence Friday.
Bailey, a first baseman, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning for his 23rd of the season, breaking a tie and giving first-place Pawtucket a 7-6 victory over the last-place IronPigs in an International League game.
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Bailey's decisive blast was one of three home runs hit by the Red Sox. The others were solo shots by Joe Thurston, his seventh of the season, and Chris Carter, his 17th. Both came off Benson in the first inning.
Pawtucket also had 12 hits with Carter going 3-for-5 and Bailey, Thurston, Dusty Brown and Gil Velasquez all collecting two hits.
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