Sunday's Standings Check-in
TEAM W-L place GB
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Pawtucket 55-53 3rd 5.5
Portland 54-48 1st ---
Wilmington 11-21 4th 9.0
Greenville 16-17 5th 4.0
Lowell 21-18 2nd 3.5
The Results
Pawtucket vs Syracuse - W, 5-2
Portland vs New Hampshire - W, 8-3
Wilmington vs Kinston - W, 5-3
Greenville vs Columbus - L, 3-2
Lowell at Vermont - L, 6-5
The Prospects
Jacob Ellsbury - DNP
Christian Lara - DNP
Jed Lowrie - 0-4, k
Alejandro Machado - 2-3, r, hr, rbi
Cla Meredith - 1.2 IP, SV
Brandon Moss - 0-3, rbi, k
Dustin Pedroia - DNP
Hanley Ramirez - 1-3, r, 2rbi, bb, k
Kelly Shoppach - DNP
Luis Soto - 1-4, rbi
The Starters
name IP H R ER BB SO HR Dec
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Chris Narveson 5.1 5 1 1 3 5 0 ND
Kason Gabbard 5.1 5 3 2 4 5 0 W
Steve Langone 5 2 0 0 1 4 0 ND
Jarrett Gardner 6.2 6 2 2 1 5 0 ND
Adam Blackley 5 8 2 2 1 4 0 ND
Other Notables
Dave Berg - 2-4, r
Justin Sherrod - 0-4, 3k
Jeremy West - 2-3, r, 2b, rbi, k, bb
Alberto Concepcion - 1-4, r, hr, 2rbi 2k, e
Bryan Goelz - 3-5, 2r, 2b
Chad Spann - 2-4, r, 2rbi, k
Jeff Natale - 2-4, r, 2b
John Otness - 2-3
Andrew Pinckney - 2-4, rbi, k, e
Matt Mercurio - 2-4, r, 2b, rbi
Conor Brooks - 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1K
Charlie Zink - 1 IP, 1 K
Blake Maxwell - 1.2 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
The Bad Guys
org W-L place GB runs(rank) RA(rank)
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SYR TOR (AAA) 53-55 5th 7.5 524 (6 of 14) 505 (4 of 14)
COL LAD (LoA) 16-16 3rd 3.5 469 (10 of 14) 469 (7 of 14)
News and Notes
The biggest minor league news of the day is, of course, Jon Papelbon being called up to Boston. Papelbon makes his major league debut tonight taking Matt Clement's place in the rotation and Lenny Dinardo's place on the roster. After posting a 2.48 ERA in 87 IP over 14 starts for Portland, Papelbon was called up to Pawtucket where he had a 3.57 ERA in 22.2 IP over 4 starts. The ERA is a little bit misleading as he has dominated in 3 starts, but was hit pretty hard in 1. His 21/2 K/BB ratio in Pawtucket is pretty impressive. I'm willing to bet that Papelbon will be able to hold his own this afternoon. It's just my luck that I went and got tickets to today's Paw Sox game and instead of Papelbon pitching I'll likely get to see Jack Cressend.
I hope you like the Syracuse Sky Chiefs because Pawtucket is going to be seeing them a lot lately. Syracuse came in yesterday for a four game set and the two teams will meet up in Syracuse for a three game series immediately following. The Paw Sox saw Francisco Rosario (2-6, 4.05 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.4 HR/9 in 97.2 IP) last night and will likely see Shaun Marcum (4-1, 6.14 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2 BB/9, 1.5 HR/9 in 58.2 IP) this afternoon. Chris Baker (5-5, 5.01, 6.2, 2.4, 1.2 in 91.2), Zach Jackson (1-0, 4.76, 10.4, 5.2, 0.0 in 5.2), and Chad Gaudin (5-6, 2.45, 6.9, 2.0, 0.4 in 106.1) will likely round out the rotation. According to Baseball America before the season, the 24 year old Rosario is the organization's 4th best prospect. He has struggled the last year and a half, however, while recovering from Tommy John Surgery. His numbers this year aren't amazing, but he's getting the job done despite the 2-6 record. Zach Jackson, recently promoted from New Hampshire where he posted a 4.00 ERA in 54 IP while striking out 43 and walking 12, was considered the organization's 8th best prospect. The 22 year old is only in his second season as a pro and is being moved very aggressively. The 23 year old Shawn Marcum is the organization's 14th best prospect and is doing better than his ERA suggests. He began the year in New Hampshire where he went 7-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 53.1 IP. Baker is a 27 year old veteran of the Blue Jays' system who is still waiting to get a crack at the big leagues. Gaudin, a 22 year old who has already seen major league action in each of the last 3 years, struggled in Toronto this year, but he has easily been the Sky Chiefs' ace.
Portland has won 3 in a row and 6 of their last 8 after a 6 game losing streak. Pawtucket has won 11 of their last 14. Both teams have climbed in the standings with their hot streaks. Portland had fallen out of first place, but has managed to climb back into the driver's seat. Pawtucket went from being a cellar dweller to a third place team.
POR - 3 in a row, 6 of 8, after 6 game losing streak...PAW - 11 of last 14
The Sea Dogs were short several players yesterday, but still managed to get the win. Jared Sandberg was in Cooperstown for his uncle Ryne's induction to the Hall of Fame. Chris Durbin was with his wife who was giving birth to their first child. Kenny Perez was packing his bags as he was sent out in a deal that brought Jose Cruz Jr to the Red Sox. Perez has been a solid utility player for the Sea Dogs, even making the All-Star team, but he was likely never going to make it to Boston and the team believes they need a 4th outfielder with Nixon sidelined.