The Providence Journal

Steven Krasner - Mud Hens 8, PawSox 4 - Pauley takes first loss since early May

Pawtucket starter David Pauley, tied with teammate Charlie Zink for the league lead in wins with 11, did not have his good stuff for the first time in a while. He was tagged for eight hits and five runs in only 3 1/3 innings (90 pitches), his shortest stint in 19 starts this season. The right-hander’s earned-run average jumped from 3.24, sixth-best in the league, to 3.55 as his record fell to 11-3. It was his first loss since May 3, snapping his nine-game winning streak . . .

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Pawtucket center fielder Jonathan Van Every stole a two-run homer from the Mud Hens’ Kody Kirkland in the third inning, drifting back to the fence toward right-center, timing his jump perfectly and going over the bleacher railing to haul in the high drive . . .

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The PawSox managed only six hits, four for extra bases — Velazquez’s homer, triples by Jeff Corsaletti and Joe Thurston and a double by Sandy Medera. Thurston’s single in the eighth gave the PawSox a “cycle” of team hits, and Dusty Brown added a single in the ninth . . .



Steven Krasner - Bowden, Sox’ latest pitching phenom, is in Pawtucket


Now it’s Michael Bowden’s turn.

Bowden, a 21-year-old right-hander, is the organization’s latest pitching phenom. He has been promoted from Double-A Portland and will make his Triple-A debut tonight for Pawtucket in Columbus.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder went 9-4 with a 2.33 earned-run average in 19 starts for the Sea Dogs, ranking second in the Eastern League in E.R.A. and strikeouts (101 in 104 1/3 innings). Bowden spent the second half of the 2007 season in Portland, compiling an 8-6 record and a 4.28 E.R.A.. He had 82 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings over 19 starts.

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Bowden’s repertoire features a power fastball and, according to Treuel, his secondary pitches, the changeup and the curveball, have shown steady improvement. His mound presence also has been impressive, all of which puts him on the same fast track that most recently has sent Buchholz and Masterson to the big leagues with relatively little Triple-A experience.

Eric Benevides - Mondor, Morgan and Rice head into IL Hall of Fame

"It's quite an honor to say the least," added Morgan. "I didn't even know there was an International League Hall of Fame, but like Ben and Jim, I'm happy to be in it."

The IL, which is celebrating its 125th season, closed its doors in 1964 after inducting 51 members from 1947-63, but the Hall made its comeback last summer by welcoming former general managers and IL presidents Harold Cooper, Jr. and George Sisler, Jr. in a special enshrinement ceremony.

This year's class features 27 members, the largest in its existence, and among the marquee names are Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Grove and manager Tommy Lasorda (who was inducted as a pitcher).

Rice, an outfielder who played for the PawSox in 1973 and '74, hopes to become the third member of the IL Hall of Fame that's also in Cooperstown next summer -- his final year of eligibility -- after a remarkable 16-year career with the Boston Red Sox that saw the eight-time American League all-star and 1978 MVP collect 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs.


Brendan McGair - Big Papi a big hit at McCoy Stadium

Kevin Thomas - Injury silences Bell, for now

Sunday's rained-out baseball game was not the worst news for the Portland Sea Dogs.

In the clubhouse, the Sea Dogs said goodbye to All-Star outfielder Bubba Bell, who left Sunday to begin treatment for a stress fracture in his left femur.

Bell will be replaced by touted outfield prospect Josh Reddick, who was summoned from advanced Class A Lancaster of the California League.

Bell, 25, is out for at least four weeks and may not return to Portland.

"It's extremely frustrating," Bell said. "No one wants to leave his team in the middle of the season."

Bell, 25, was batting .286 with a team-leading 13 home runs. He was selected for the Eastern League All-Star game, but did not play in Wednesday's game because of the injury.

Bell initially thought he had a sore quadriceps muscle, but X-rays on Friday revealed a bigger problem. An MRI on Saturday confirmed the fracture.

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Reddick, 21, comes to Portland with a career minor league average of .324 and 35 home runs in 185 games.

Reddick started this season at low Class A Greenville but was quickly promoted to Lancaster, where he hit .343 with 17 homers and 57 RBI in 76 games.

According to Baseball America, Reddick is Boston's No. 10 prospect. He was drafted in the 17th round of the 2006 draft, but the Red Sox obviously thought highly of him, judging by his signing bonus ($140,000).

Reddick came to Portland for one game at the end of last year when the Sea Dogs' roster was temporarily depleted because of injuries.

RYAN KHOURY is scheduled to go to Boston's facility in Fort Myers, Fla., sometime this week. Khoury, an infielder, is on the disabled list with a staph infection in his left leg.



Kevin Thomas - Ortiz, rain, Masterson, Reddick, Almanzar

Michael Bowden makes his Triple-A debut today with a start for Pawtucket ... Boston Herald reported that there is thought of putting Bowden in the bullpen this year (see previous note on Delcarmen's outing). I don't see it, but I suppose it's worth a try.

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After a month of rough outings, Lancaster starter/reliever Blake Maxwell had a solid start on Sunday (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K).

The big news in Greenville is the promotion of 17-year-old third baseman Michael Almanzar from the Gulf Coast League (note that I predicted a promotion, but figured it would be in August, and to Lowell) ... Almanzar batted .348 in the GCL and the Red Sox want to challenge him with low Class A ball. In his debut Sunday, he went 1-for-4, the hit being a triple.

Lowell starter Brock Huntzinger (4-0, 0.49) looks ready to move on after another strong start (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K). Huntzinger, 20 was a third round draft pick out of high school last year ... 20-year-old outfielder Luis Sumoza (.305) was 3-forf-3 with 2 doubles and a home run.


Kevin Thomas - Hot tickets for Ortiz appearance make Sea Dogs staff big hit; Would-be buyers have tried all angles since the games in which Big Papi will play sold out.

Hadlock Field, home to the Sea Dogs baseball team, will be sold out today, Tuesday and Wednesday because of one player.

David Ortiz, the Boston Red Sox slugger otherwise known as Big Papi, will bring his powerful swing and engaging smile to Hadlock Field for three games.

Ortiz is coming on a rehabilitation assignment. He has been on the Red Sox disabled list with an injured wrist – a torn tendon sheath – and began playing games on Thursday for the Red Sox Triple-A minor league team in Pawtucket, R.I.

Now he is set to play three games for Portland, the Red Sox Double-A team, before rejoining the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

After word of Ortiz's visit reached the media on July 13, the Sea Dogs sold more than 7,000 tickets online for the three games.

Eric Harding - JetHawks blow past the Mavericks aces; Continue to excel despite player loss

Starting pitcher Blake Maxwell allowed just one earned run and five hits in six innings pitched while striking out three.

For the second-straight night, catcher Luis Exposito got the JetHawks on the board early with a solo home run to left field that Kuo Hui Lo could only turn and watch as it landed on the road behind an extra wall of advertisements beyond left field.

In the third, Nava hit his seventh home run of the season to center field, extending the JetHawks' lead to 2-0.

But catcher Jon Still did his best to one-up Nava, following with a towering shot that deflected off the flagpole in center field to make it 3-0.

It was the second time the JetHawks have hit back-to-back home runs in as many days this series.

The JetHawks took control in the fourth, started by consecutive singles from Zak Farkes, Matt Sheely and Reid Engel.

Right fielder Daniel Nava followed with a grand slam to right center field for his second home run of the day, extending the lead to 7-0.

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Josh Papelbon struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning of relief.

Willie T. Smith III - Suns' Pena keeps Drive at bay

"Their starting pitcher did a nice job," said Greenville manager Kevin Boles. "He had good command of his fastball. He was moving it in and out and changing speeds. He kept us off balance today."

Pena only allowed three runners to advance past first, one on an error. He also kept himself out of trouble by not walking a batter.

That enabled him to outduel Greenville starter Jose Capellan, who also was solid.

Capellan (1-3) held the Suns to two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out three.

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Greenville (13-17) scored its lone run in the seventh when right fielder Ryan Kalish singled to second, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Suns catcher Travis Reagan. A double to right by shortstop Oscar Tejeda knocked in the run.

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The Drive added third baseman Michael Almanzar and relief pitcher Lance McClain.

Almanzar started Sunday and got a triple in his first at-bat. He was previously playing with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. McCain was with the short-season Lowell Spinners.

To make room on the roster the Drive placed reliever Jordan Craft on the disabled list because of right shoulder fatigue. Catcher Ty Weeden was also placed on the disabled list. He injured his left knee against Lakewood on the July 14 during a throw to second base.

The Lowell Sun

Huntzinger fuels Lowell to victory

TROY, N.Y. -- Lowell Spinners right-hander Brock Huntzinger struck out three, walked two, and gave up just one hit and no runs in a rain-shortened 9-0 victory against the Tri-City ValleyCats at Joseph Bruno Stadium yesterday.

Play stopped after six and a half innings due to lightning and heavy rain.

Spinners left fielder Luis Sumoza was 3-for-3 (two runs, two 3 RBI) with a double and his fourth home run of the season. Will Middlebrooks also went 3-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs. Six different Lowell (14-18) players had batted in runs.

Huntzinger throws one-hitter, leads Lowell


TROY, N.Y. — Brock Huntzinger continued his assault on the New York-Penn League, allowing just one hit in a seven-inning complete game, leading the Lowell Spinners to a 9-0 win over the Tri-City ValleyCats.

It marked the first career complete game for the 19-year-old, who struck out four to improve to 4-0 and lower his ERA to 0.49.

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After Kade Keowen and Ryan Dent reached base to start the fifth inning, they were driven in by a Will Middlebrooks sacrifice fly and a Mitch Dening triple. The Spinners added two additional runs on RBIs by Bermudez and Deshaun Brooks to extend the Spinners lead to 6-0.

.The red-hot Sumoza has recorded a hit in his last seven at-bats and is hitting .400 in the month of July. His fourth home run tied him for the team lead with Ryan Dent.. Dening (2 for 5), Bermudez (2 for 4) and Middlebrooks (3 for 3) also recorded multiple hit games...

Lowell looks to take the series today when 2008 Boston Red Sox first-round pick Bryan Price (0-1, 3.18) gets the ball for his second professional start.

Casey Kelly makes local debut as a pro baseball player

Monday in Bradenton he got his first complete game start, batting 3rd and wearing #6, he played shortstop against the Pirates. He went 0 for 3 in the first game, but he did score the Sox first and only run in the first game of a double header.