The Providence Journal
Jarrod Ulrey - Clippers 4, PawSox 1 -- Pawtucket hitters keep on swinging and missing
While Pawtucket pitchers struck out eight overall, Columbus starter Shairon Martis had 12 over the first 5 2/3 and Clippers pitchers finished with 15. It was the second consecutive rough night offensively for the PawSox, who lost, 4-1, to Columbus in the opening game of the four-game series on Monday. No. 3 hitter Jonathan Van Every led off the sixth inning with a single and came around to score when Chris Carter followed with a shot down the right-field line. Carter was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, and the next two batters struck out to end a potential rally.
Full Version: Sox Minor League News Links, Wed. July 23, 2008
Kevin Thomas - A festive loss? Only with Papi; David Ortiz is 0 for 4 while Ben Copeland raps five hits and Connecticut rolls past the Sea Dogs, 18-6.
Sea Dogs starter Kris Johnson (7-5) got roughed up for the third straight start, allowing eight runs (four earned) on five hits, five walks and one hit batsman over 31/3 innings.
Because of the All-Star break and a scheduled break for Johnson, he had not pitched since July 11.
"He was up in the zone and looked rusty to me," Beyeler said.
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Portland catcher Mark Wagner led off the second with his 10th home run.
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The Sea Dogs managed just six hits. Bryan Pritz paced Portland with a 2-for-4 night, including a RBI double that just missed going over the wall in left field.
Kevin Thomas - Fans just can't get enough of Papi
ZACH DAEGES, the Sea Dogs regular right fielder, sat out a third straight day after taking a knock in the head during a slide in Saturday's game. Daeges had a headache the past two days but felt better Tuesday. He was being held out as a precaution.
In other injury news, infielder Ryan Khoury (staph infection) participated in light drills Tuesday. He is likely to rehab somewhere (Fort Myers or Lowell) soon ... Infielder Jeff Natale (broken arm) is nearly done with his rehab assignment in Lowell. He could rejoin the Sea Dogs next week. Natale was filling in on Pawtucket's roster in April when he was hit by a pitch, breaking his arm.
Willie T. Smith III - Balanced Drive eclipse Suns
Greenville starter Chad Povich (7-3) was in charge throughout his six innings. After giving up a run in the first, he faced the minimum possible batters the remainder of the way.
He allowed two hits in his final five innings but managed to empty the bases by inducing double plays both times.
Reliever Lance McClain shut Hagerstown (14-18) out on two hits and a walk in the final three innings. He earned a save in his first appearance since joining the team from short-season Lowell on Sunday.
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The Drive (15-17 second half) had 11 hits, with second baseman Kristopher Negron, Stanley, shortstop Oscar Tejeda and Marks each getting two.
Willie T. Smith III - Former Greenville Drive players Jones, Navarro excel after promotions
It didn’t take long for first baseman Mike Jones and shortstop Yamaico Navarro to make their presence known after being promoted from the Greenville Drive to high Class A Lancaster.
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Jones, who rated among the SAL’s top five in batting average, is hitting .375 with one home run, one double and two runs batted in during his first six games.
Navarro is right behind with a .336 average in six games. He has a homer, two doubles and four RBI.
... Another former Drive player turning heads in Lancaster is second baseman Chih-Hsien Chiang, who played for Greenville last season. After getting off to a slow start, he is again considered one of the Boston Red Sox’s top prospects.
In 79 games he is batting .304 with 19 doubles, two triples and nine home runs. He has 56 RBI.
... Catcher Luis Exposito, another SAL all-star this season who was promoted to Lancaster, is batting .278 with six home runs, six doubles and 18 RBI in 22 games.
... The meteoric rise of outfielder Josh Reddick continues. After opening the season in Greenville and hitting .340 in 14 games, he was promoted to Lancaster. After hitting .346 there and leading the team in home runs, he was promoted to Class AA Portland this week. He had a hit and two RBI in his debut.
... Lars Anderson, who batted .288 with 10 homers in 124 games with Greenville in 2007, was also recently promoted to Portland. He is off to a slow start in four games, batting .182. He has one double.
... After a brief slump, relief pitcher Daniel Bard has returned to form in Portland. In 21 appearances he has a 2-1 record with a 2.91 earned run average. He two saves with 18 walks and 39 strikeouts in 34 innings. Bard opened the second in Greenville but was promoted to Portland after going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 28 innings.
The Lowell Sun
Carmine Frongillo - Natale still a big hit
Natale entered this season with a .303 career minor league average. He began the 2008 campaign at Triple-A Pawtucket, and was hitting .250 in five games before getting hit by a pitch that broke his left arm.
After being sidelined for nearly three months, Natale's is back in Lowell on a rehab assignment. And it didn't take him very long to get back in the swing of things.
He went 1-for-2 with a double and run scored last night against the State College Spikes in a game that was suspended by rain with the score tied, 2-2, with two down in the bottom of the fourth.
"I think he epitomizes the Red Sox philosophy as far as hitting goes," said Spinner manager Gary DiSarcina. "He works counts. He gets on base. He'll swing at a first pitch fastball that he can drive. He does a great job of staying within himself and hitting line drives. The brief time he's been here that's definitely been on display."
Carmine Frongillo - Natale still a big hit
Natale entered this season with a .303 career minor league average. He began the 2008 campaign at Triple-A Pawtucket, and was hitting .250 in five games before getting hit by a pitch that broke his left arm.
After being sidelined for nearly three months, Natale's is back in Lowell on a rehab assignment. And it didn't take him very long to get back in the swing of things.
He went 1-for-2 with a double and run scored last night against the State College Spikes in a game that was suspended by rain with the score tied, 2-2, with two down in the bottom of the fourth.
"I think he epitomizes the Red Sox philosophy as far as hitting goes," said Spinner manager Gary DiSarcina. "He works counts. He gets on base. He'll swing at a first pitch fastball that he can drive. He does a great job of staying within himself and hitting line drives. The brief time he's been here that's definitely been on display."
JetHawks Shellacked by Storm 13-1
(LANCASTER, CA) - A pitcher's duel turned ugly late Tuesday night at Clear Channel Stadium. The score was 3-0 going into the eighth inning, but poor relief pitching and defense by the JetHawks allowed Lake Elsinore to score ten times between the eighth and ninth innings as they beat Lancaster 13-1. The JetHawks fell out of first place and are now a game behind Rancho Cucamonga.
Both starting pitchers were on their game early. JetHawks starter Travis Beazley struck out a season-high eight batters and only gave up five hits in six and 1/3 innings. Unfortunately for Beazley, three of the hits were solo home runs while the JetHawks struggled offensively behind him.
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