It was a great game in Pawtucket today. I didn't get to see Jon Papelbon, but I did get to see Dustin Pedroia make a start for the first time in two weeks. The game looked like it was going to be a one sided beatdown by the Paw Sox after the first two innings. Dinardo was retiring everyone that came up on 1 or 2 pitches, most of the time with a week grounder. James Vermilyea, the starter for the Sky Chiefs, was the complete opposite. It seemed as if every batter in the first two innings worked their way to a full count and even when a batter was retired, it was on a sharp line drive. Things turned around quickly in the 3, however, when Dinardo started to lose it. Thanks to a fielder error by Luis Figeuroa (that I honestly don't even remember...) 5 of the 7 runs he allowed were unearned. And Jack Cressend didn't exactly help matters by walking a batter to load the bases, walking a guy with the bases, and then allowing a base hit. Dinardo, however, just wasn't sharp and lasted only 3.1 IP as the Sky Cheifs scored 5 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th. The Sox kept chipping away, scoring at least 1 run in the first 7 innings and eventually tied it at 9, but the Sky Chiefs scored one in the top of the 9th and the Paw Sox couldn't come back. It was a fun game though.

I do have a question though. Anywhere here attend any minor league games? With most of the people on this board more than likely from the New England area, I don't really expect to see any Wilmington or Greenville fans, but there must be a few Portland, Lowell, and Pawtucket fans out there. How are the stadiums in Lowell and Portland?