The Providence Journal

Tom Robinson - PawSox 4, IronPigs 2 -- Hull does the job in spot start

Eric Hull, making a spot start on short notice for Pawtucket, more than doubled his longest appearance of the year while striking out seven and not walking a batter in five innings. Hull worked out of trouble in a two-run second inning by starting a stretch in which he retired the last 10 batters he faced. Jeff Corsaletti’s two-out single to right field in the seventh inning broke a tie and drove in two runs. Josh Wilson had a two-run single in the fourth, tying the score.

Glenn Jordan - Everything but a win; A strong outing by Clay Buchholz on his bobblehead night, World Series trophies on display – and New Britain rallies.

As for the game itself, Buchholz (after former Red Sox infielder Rico Petrocelli threw the ceremonial first pitch) fell behind 3-0 to the first batter, Matt Tolbert. But Buchholz didn't reach another three-ball count until completing his third trip through the Rock Cats' order. Only once in 25 previous outings this season with Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket had Buchholz failed to walk a batter.

"I was very impressed with what we saw," said Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler. "He's gotten a lot better since he left here.

"(He's) down here to work on some things, and this was a good steppingstone. When he missed, he missed down in the zone."

Buchholz struck out eight, walked none and allowed five hits, three of them crisp and in succession in the third inning as the Rock Cats took a 3-0 lead. He retired eight in a row after the third run scored on an infield chopper, and the Sea Dogs took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. A two-run triple by Josh Reddick put Portland on the board, a sacrifice fly by Zach Daeges tied the score, and an RBI double by Aaron Bates broke the tie.


Kevin Thomas - A much-needed confidence boost

For those looking for a complete overhaul of Buchholz's delivery, that's not the plan, said Cather. Cather, who worked with Buchholz in Class A at the end of the 2006 season, then again last year in Portland, wanted to watch Buchholz pitch without the burden of Red Sox Nation on his shoulders.

"Taking a breath, I think, is the big thing, and taking a step back," Cather said. "It's going to be good to just get a chance (for Buchholz) to get back to the way Clay is – and that is having that dominant feeling.

"He's the lead dog. There's no doubt about it. And I feel like he probably hasn't felt like the lead dog for some time."

It's not a secret to Buchholz.

"I knew coming in here, it's a confidence thing right now," he said. "Being up there – thinking that everything has to be perfect. ...



Kevin Thomas - It's a confidence thing

In Portland, both Argenis Diaz and Aaron Bates got two hits, and both are batting .276.

Lancaster infielder Yamaico Navarro is blazing since his promotion (.361 in 36 games). He went 4-for-4 Monday.

Lowell outfielder Luis Sumoza, 20, is showing power (11 home runs in 50 games) and is hitting .291.

In the Gulf Coast League, 18-year-old infielder/outfielder Wildred Pinchardo went 2-for-5. He's batting .281 and already has 39 stolen bases (47 attempts).

David Hearne - Augusta homers sink Greenville Drive in home finale

The Greenville Drive pounded out nine hits in their home finale at Fluor Field on Monday night, but couldn’t overcome four Augusta home runs and fell 6-4.

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The Drive took a 3-2 in their half of the first. David Mailman and Carlos Fernandez singled and were driven in by Jered Stanley’s triple to center. Stanley scored one batter later on Rafael Cabreja’s single to left field.

Dan Goldberg - JetHawks exit Hangar with loss

Blake Maxwell, the last JetHawks pitcher to lose - 10 games ago in Rancho Cucamonga, allowed five runs in five innings. The offense was dormant until the fifth inning. There was a costly base running blunder and the bullpen, which had been so dominant during the streak, let the game get out of hand as Modesto avoided a sweep, defeating the JetHawks 10-3.

"It's an eye-opener," JetHawks manager Chad Epperson said. "You cannot go out on the field and just think you are going to get it done and that was the kind of attitude we had tonight."

Maxwell allowed a run in the first but settled down after that, retiring nine of 10. His fastball flattened, however, in the fourth. Michael McKenry hit a one-out solo home run over the 30-foot high, 420-foot deep batter's eye in center field, giving the Nuts a 2-0 lead. Consecutive hits from Jason Van Kooten and Nick Haley led to another run.

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The JetHawks scored a run in the fifth but Josh Papelbon, brought on in the sixth, didn't provide any relief. He allowed two more extra-base hits and a pair of runs in the sixth. Papelbon's 10-inning scoreless streak ended as unceremoniously as his team's win streak. He faced eight batters and allowed three extra-base hits and two walks.

"We came out a little flat," said catcher Jon Still, who went 1-for-4 with a double. "We weren't really paying attention to the streak but we will try and start another one (today)."

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It was the JetHawks' last chance to make the game competitive. Papelbon and Craig Molldrem combined to surrender three runs in the seventh and the JetHawks had just two hits in the final three innings. The Nuts had nine extra-base hits and four walks. With the loss the JetHawks finished 37-33 at The Hangar, but thanks to Rancho Cucamonga's 10-6 loss at Inland Empire, the JetHawks remain 3½ games ahead in the race for the second-half crown.

Kevin Flood - Staten Island Yankees self-destruct in loss to Lowell Spinners

What actually did happen was a little more damaging to the Yanks as they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Spinners to fall to 40-23.

Adams bobbled the ball, Dening wasn't called out, Montgomery walked the batters -- and Lowell catcher Ryan Lavarnway hit a 1-2 fastball over the left-field wall for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead before the Baby Bombers had an opportunity to bat.

JetHawks Win Streak Stopped at Nine

Down 5-0 going into the home half of the fifth, Lancaster tried to mount a rally. Kris Negron hit a triple and scored on a Aaron Reza ground out. The JetHawks plated two more runs in the sixth. Jason Place led off the inning with a single to left, Yamaico Navarro followed with his third hit of the night to put runners at the corners for Lancaster. Ryan Kalish lifted a fly-ball to left to score a run and Jon Still followed with a double putting JetHawks at second and third. Mike Jones singled to bring home Navarro but Still was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Lancaster never recovered allowing a three-run shot to Kade Simmons to account for the rest of the scoring.

Aaron Reza finished the game 0-for-3 and has his consecutive game hitting streak snapped at nine. Navarro was the star for Lancaster at the plate, the shortstop finished the game 4-for-4 with a run scored and is now hitting .361 with Lancaster in 36 games.

Grand slam helps Spinners put Yankees on ice


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Ryan Lavarnway took the first pitch he saw yesterday afternoon over the left-field wall for a grand slam to give the Lowell Spinners a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 6-3 victory over the Staten Island Yankees.

It was the Spinners' fourth consecutive win and their 11th win in their last 12 games.

The win lowered the Spinners magic number to claim the Stedler Division title and the franchise's first-ever playoff berth to five games. After losing the first game of the season to the Yankees, the minor league affiliate of the dreaded "Evil Empire," the Spinners have now won four straight over the Baby Bombers.

Jay N. Miller - Future looks bright for PawSox’ Bowden

If his potential is unlimited, Bowden most likely won’t be rushed to the big leagues, and that’s all right with him.

Bowden said he’s easing into his first stay at Triple-A and not worried about anything beyond that right now.

Bowden, 21, was promoted from AA Portland after going 9-4 in 19 starts for the Sea Dogs, with a 2.33 earned run average. The 6-3, 215-pound right-hander struck out 101 in 104.1 innings at Portland, while walking only 24.

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“There is a lot of opportunity in the organization now and there will be in the future, but I’m just worried about execution and seeing that I do the best I can right here,” said Bowden. “I’m very happy with the way my season has gone, and how I’ve progressed, and I hope to make the most of the last month here at Pawtucket.”

Bowden said Triple-A hitters are better than the batters he faced in Portland, but the difference is not vast, and he’s certainly not been daunted by anything he’s seen so far.

“I haven’t honestly noticed much difference, but up here you can’t leave the ball up in the strike zone or they will hammer it pretty consistently,” said Bowden. “I try not to put myself in that situation, obviously.”

Red Sox No. 1 Draft Pick Casey Kelly Joins Spinners For Playoff Run

LOWELL, MA - The Lowell Spinners, Class-A affiliate of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, announced today that Red Sox No. 1 Draft Pick Casey Kelly is joining the Spinners in Staten Island in the midst of the team's nine-game road-trip.

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Since reporting to the GCL Red Sox, Kelly hit .173 with five doubles, a home run and nine RBI. The 18-year-old Kelly opted to sign with the Red Sox rather than follow through his commitment to the University of Tennessee where he was due to play both football and baseball.


Kelly is one of three first round picks on the Spinners roster, joining 2007 supplemental first-round draft pick Ryan Dent and 2008 supplemental first-round draft pick Bryan Price. With the addition to Kelly of the roster, the Red Sox top five selections in the 2008 draft will all be on the Spinners roster.