Today's Games (All Times Eastern):
IL: Pawtucket (David Pauley) vs. Charlotte (Charlie Haeger) [~4:05pm] - NESN
EL: Portland (Dustin Richardson/Kyle Jackson) @ Connecticut (Daryl Maday/TBD) [5:05pm]
CL: Lancaster (Chris Province) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Alexander Torres) [10:05pm]
SAL: Greenville (Chad Povich) @ Kannapolis (TBD) [7:05pm]
NYPL: Lowell (Stolmy Pimentel) vs. Hudson Valley (Shane Dyer) [12:05pm] - NESN
GCL: Red Sox vs Reds [10:00am]
DSL: Red Sox vs. BlueJays1 [10:30am]
Note:
Both the Lowell game and the Pawsox game are being held at Fenway Park (duh). Pawsox game should begin ~30 minutes after the end of the Lowell game. Both games are on NESN.
Internet Radio Broadcasts:
Pawtucket Red Sox (WHJJ)
Portland Sea Dogs
Lancaster JetHawks (Magic 1340)
Greenville Drive [Requires Real Player]
Lowell Spinners (WCAP)
Full Version: 8/9 ml Gameday: Futures at Fenway
Who should I be looking at in this Lowell game?
Hey, leadoff triple...gotta like that.
Hey, leadoff triple...gotta like that.
QUOTE(Rasputin @ Aug 9 2008, 12:18 PM) 
Who should I be looking at in this Lowell game?
Hey, leadoff triple...gotta like that.
Hey, leadoff triple...gotta like that.
Stolmy Pimentel, Mitch Denning, Ryan Dent, and Will Middlebrooks just to name a few are all pretty highly regarded.
Stolmy's changeup looks very promising. Taking after the old 45
I haven't been watching all that closely but I have been somewhat impressed with Pimentel overall. And the catcher looks like he has a nice arm...can he hit at all?
The catcher (I don't try to spell Polish names) looks v. good defensively, but today he was 0-2 with a walk and then got picked off at 2nd. He was totally fooled by breaking balls, as are many of them.
Will Middlebrooks walk-off single leads Lowell to a 4-3 win in 12 innings.
Boxscore
Stolmy Pimentel went the first 5 innings, giving up 5 hits (1 HR) and a walk, allowing 2 runs while striking out 3. Stephen Fife went 3 innings, giving up a hit, a walk, a WP and striking out one. Seth Garrison pitched the 9th, givign up a hit, a walk and a run. Mitch Herold went 2 innings, giving up a walk and striking out one. Dennis Neuman pitched the 12th, striking out one.
Mitch Dening and Will Middlebrooks each went 3/6; Middlebrooks with a double, Dening with a SB. Rafael Cabreja went 2/4 with a triple before being replaced by Darren Blocker who went 1/2. Tim Federowicz went 1/4 with 2 walks and a CS. Luis Sumoza went 1/5 with a double and a walk. Deshaun Brooks went 1/6. Jonathan Hee went 0/2 with a walk before being PH for by Ryan Lavarnway who went 0/1. Zach Gentile finished up the game at 2nd base, going 0/2. Ronald Bermudez went 0/4 before being replaced by Kade Keowen who went 0/2. Ryan Dent went 0/5.
Boxscore
Stolmy Pimentel went the first 5 innings, giving up 5 hits (1 HR) and a walk, allowing 2 runs while striking out 3. Stephen Fife went 3 innings, giving up a hit, a walk, a WP and striking out one. Seth Garrison pitched the 9th, givign up a hit, a walk and a run. Mitch Herold went 2 innings, giving up a walk and striking out one. Dennis Neuman pitched the 12th, striking out one.
Mitch Dening and Will Middlebrooks each went 3/6; Middlebrooks with a double, Dening with a SB. Rafael Cabreja went 2/4 with a triple before being replaced by Darren Blocker who went 1/2. Tim Federowicz went 1/4 with 2 walks and a CS. Luis Sumoza went 1/5 with a double and a walk. Deshaun Brooks went 1/6. Jonathan Hee went 0/2 with a walk before being PH for by Ryan Lavarnway who went 0/1. Zach Gentile finished up the game at 2nd base, going 0/2. Ronald Bermudez went 0/4 before being replaced by Kade Keowen who went 0/2. Ryan Dent went 0/5.
GCL Sox postponed by rain.
QUOTE(Cuzittt @ Aug 9 2008, 04:21 PM)
Will Middlebrooks walk-off single leads Lowell to a 4-3 win in 12 innings.
Middlebrooks has hit .313 / .333 / .469 in his last 9 games, after slugging .293 in his first 33.
Pimentel was impressive. He's definitely been one of the top 4 performers in the league when age is factored in, maybe the most impressive of all:
Most Impressive NYPL Pitchers
| Name | DOB | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | HB | BB | SO | WHIP | HLD | GF | K-2W |
| Stolmy Pimentel | 2/1/1990 | LOW | 3 | 2 | 3.06 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 39 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 47 | 1.07 | 0 | 0 | 8.59 |
| Arquimedes Nieto | 4/28/1989 | BAT | 5 | 0 | 1.52 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41.3 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 32 | 1.14 | 0 | 1 | 6.47 |
| Nick Barnese | 1/11/1989 | HVR | 2 | 2 | 2.79 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48.3 | 40 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 61 | 1.20 | 0 | 0 | 10.91 |
| Brock Huntzinger | 7/2/1988 | LOW | 5 | 0 | 0.64 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 0.76 | 0 | 0 | 6.53 |
Futures at Fenway, besides a chance to sit in areas of the park that are otherwise un-affordable, is a great time. It's amusing to see minor league baseball (the t-shirt giveaways, the dog-chasing-a-frisbee-and-almost-taking-out-Ronald-Bermudez's-legs, etc.) at Fenway.
Mitch Dening & Luis Sumoza both impressed me today; they looked like the best players on the field for Lowell, all day long. Ryan Dent, OTOH, was awful. He really, really has trouble with anything not straight or more than 85 mph. Fedorowicz is very impressive behind the plate - he has a lot of learning to do, but he's got a nice bunch of tools to work with.
It's really a shame that Joe Thurston doesn't have the glove for 2b, because he'd be a very impressive hitter as a 2b in the majors. Dusty Brown is better, right now, than Kevin Cash is on Kevin Cash's best day.
Mitch Dening & Luis Sumoza both impressed me today; they looked like the best players on the field for Lowell, all day long. Ryan Dent, OTOH, was awful. He really, really has trouble with anything not straight or more than 85 mph. Fedorowicz is very impressive behind the plate - he has a lot of learning to do, but he's got a nice bunch of tools to work with.
It's really a shame that Joe Thurston doesn't have the glove for 2b, because he'd be a very impressive hitter as a 2b in the majors. Dusty Brown is better, right now, than Kevin Cash is on Kevin Cash's best day.
Pawsox defeat Charlotte, 5-2.
Boxscore
David Pauley went the first 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks, allowing 2 runs while striking out 4. Hunter Jones went 1 innings, giving up a hit. Chris Smith pitched the final inning, giving up a hit.
Keith Ginter went 2/3 with a walk. Joe Thurston went 2/4 with a HR. Dusty Brown went 1/3 with a HBP. Jeff Bailey, Josh Wilson, Jeff Corsaletti and Gil Velazquez each went 1/4; Bailey, Corsaletti and Velazquez with doubles, Wilson was picked off. Jeff Natale and Sean Danielson each went 0/3 with a walk.
Boxscore
David Pauley went the first 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks, allowing 2 runs while striking out 4. Hunter Jones went 1 innings, giving up a hit. Chris Smith pitched the final inning, giving up a hit.
Keith Ginter went 2/3 with a walk. Joe Thurston went 2/4 with a HR. Dusty Brown went 1/3 with a HBP. Jeff Bailey, Josh Wilson, Jeff Corsaletti and Gil Velazquez each went 1/4; Bailey, Corsaletti and Velazquez with doubles, Wilson was picked off. Jeff Natale and Sean Danielson each went 0/3 with a walk.
Connecticut destroys Portland in game 1, 14-6.
Boxscore
Dustin Richardson went 2+ innings, giving up 10 hits (4 HRs) and 2 walks, allowing 9 earned runs. TJ Large went 3 2/3 innings, giving up 6 hits (1 HR) and a walk, allowing 5 runs while striking out one. Carlos Vasquez came in to record the final out.
Iggy Suarez went 2/2 with a walk. Josh Reddick went 2/3 with a HR. Ryan Khoury went 1/3 with a double. Bryan Pritz and Lars Anderson each went 1/3 with a double and a walk. Mark Wagner and Aaron Bates each went 1/4 with a double. Jorge Jimenez and Zach Daeges each went 0/4.
Boxscore
Dustin Richardson went 2+ innings, giving up 10 hits (4 HRs) and 2 walks, allowing 9 earned runs. TJ Large went 3 2/3 innings, giving up 6 hits (1 HR) and a walk, allowing 5 runs while striking out one. Carlos Vasquez came in to record the final out.
Iggy Suarez went 2/2 with a walk. Josh Reddick went 2/3 with a HR. Ryan Khoury went 1/3 with a double. Bryan Pritz and Lars Anderson each went 1/3 with a double and a walk. Mark Wagner and Aaron Bates each went 1/4 with a double. Jorge Jimenez and Zach Daeges each went 0/4.
Portland gives up 4 runs in the 5th and lose the second game, 5-4.
Boxscore
Kyle Jackson pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 7 hits and a walk, allowing 4 runs while striking out one. Richie Lentz came in with 2 on in the 5th... and gave up a 3-run jack to the first batter he faced. He then got the next 4 batters he faced out, 3 by strikeout.
Lars Anderson went 2/3 with 2 doubles and a walk, driving in all 4 runs. Zach Daeges and Aaron Bates each went 1/3 with a walk. Ryan Khoury went 1/3 with a HBP. Iggy Suarez went 1/3. Jorge Jimenez went 1/4. Bryan Pritz and Mickey Hall each went 0/3 with a walk. Juan Apodaca went 0/3 in his Portland debut.
Boxscore
Kyle Jackson pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 7 hits and a walk, allowing 4 runs while striking out one. Richie Lentz came in with 2 on in the 5th... and gave up a 3-run jack to the first batter he faced. He then got the next 4 batters he faced out, 3 by strikeout.
Lars Anderson went 2/3 with 2 doubles and a walk, driving in all 4 runs. Zach Daeges and Aaron Bates each went 1/3 with a walk. Ryan Khoury went 1/3 with a HBP. Iggy Suarez went 1/3. Jorge Jimenez went 1/4. Bryan Pritz and Mickey Hall each went 0/3 with a walk. Juan Apodaca went 0/3 in his Portland debut.
Greenville gets shutout, 5-0.
Boxscore
Chad Povich went 5 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and a WP; allowing 4 runs (3 earned) while striking out 5. Kyle Foster pitched the final 3 innings, giving up a hit, a walk, a WP and an unearned run.
Manny Arambarris went 1/3. David Mailman and Carlos Fernandez each went 1/4. Jered Stanley went 0/2 with 2 walks. Ryan Kalish went 0/3 with a walk. Pete Gilardo and Thomas DiBenedetto each went 0/3. Michael Almanzar and Zach Penprasse each went 0/4.
Boxscore
Chad Povich went 5 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and a WP; allowing 4 runs (3 earned) while striking out 5. Kyle Foster pitched the final 3 innings, giving up a hit, a walk, a WP and an unearned run.
Manny Arambarris went 1/3. David Mailman and Carlos Fernandez each went 1/4. Jered Stanley went 0/2 with 2 walks. Ryan Kalish went 0/3 with a walk. Pete Gilardo and Thomas DiBenedetto each went 0/3. Michael Almanzar and Zach Penprasse each went 0/4.
DSL Sox walk off with a win, 8-7 in 14 innings.
Boxscore
Brandon Ulloa went 4+ innings, giving up 3 hits and 3 walks, allowing 5 runs (1 earned) while striking out 3. Raynel Vellette went 4 innings, giving up a hit and 4 walks, striking out 3. Miguel Meregildo went 2/3rds of an inning, giving up 3 hits and an intentional walk, allowing 2 runs (1 earned). Nestor Lastreto got the final out of the 9th (and pitched to 2 batters in the 10th), walking one and striking out one. Ernesto Reyes went 2 innings, giving up a hit. Luis Bastardo went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 2. Samuel Garcia makes his first appearance in more than a month, pitching a perfect 14th.
Juan Bonifacio went 3/6 with a double, 2 walks and a SB. Rafael Espinoza went 3/6 with a double, 2 triples and 2 walks. Jose Garcia went 2/6 with a walk, sacrifice, SB and PO/CS. Felix Sanchez went 2/8 with a triple. Pedro Gonzalez went 1/4 with a double and a walk before being replaced by Javier Gutierrez who went 0/1 with a sacrifice. Eddie Lora went 1/5 with a double and 3 walks. Christopher de la Rosa went 1/7 with a walk. Derwin Pinto went 0/1 with a HBP before being replaced by Leonel Escobar who went 1/2 with 3 walks. Lewis Urena went 0/5 with 2 walks.
Boxscore
Brandon Ulloa went 4+ innings, giving up 3 hits and 3 walks, allowing 5 runs (1 earned) while striking out 3. Raynel Vellette went 4 innings, giving up a hit and 4 walks, striking out 3. Miguel Meregildo went 2/3rds of an inning, giving up 3 hits and an intentional walk, allowing 2 runs (1 earned). Nestor Lastreto got the final out of the 9th (and pitched to 2 batters in the 10th), walking one and striking out one. Ernesto Reyes went 2 innings, giving up a hit. Luis Bastardo went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 2. Samuel Garcia makes his first appearance in more than a month, pitching a perfect 14th.
Juan Bonifacio went 3/6 with a double, 2 walks and a SB. Rafael Espinoza went 3/6 with a double, 2 triples and 2 walks. Jose Garcia went 2/6 with a walk, sacrifice, SB and PO/CS. Felix Sanchez went 2/8 with a triple. Pedro Gonzalez went 1/4 with a double and a walk before being replaced by Javier Gutierrez who went 0/1 with a sacrifice. Eddie Lora went 1/5 with a double and 3 walks. Christopher de la Rosa went 1/7 with a walk. Derwin Pinto went 0/1 with a HBP before being replaced by Leonel Escobar who went 1/2 with 3 walks. Lewis Urena went 0/5 with 2 walks.
Lancaster gets trounced, 7-2
Boxscore
Chris Province had a horrible evening, going 1 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits (2 HRs) and 7 runs, striking out 3. Josh Papelbon went 5 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 3. Craig Molldrem pitched 2 perfect innings, striking out 2.
Luis Exposito went 2/4 with a double. Reid Engel went 1/2 with a HBP. Daniel Nava went 1/3 with a double and a walk. Yamaico Navarro and Jon Still each went 1/4. Kris Negron went 0/3. Jason Place, Zak Farkes and Aaron Reza each went 0/4.
Boxscore
Chris Province had a horrible evening, going 1 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits (2 HRs) and 7 runs, striking out 3. Josh Papelbon went 5 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 3. Craig Molldrem pitched 2 perfect innings, striking out 2.
Luis Exposito went 2/4 with a double. Reid Engel went 1/2 with a HBP. Daniel Nava went 1/3 with a double and a walk. Yamaico Navarro and Jon Still each went 1/4. Kris Negron went 0/3. Jason Place, Zak Farkes and Aaron Reza each went 0/4.
Notes from Norwich:
Dustin Richardson's line says it all. All of the HRs were well hit... only one of the 10 hits was not hit hard. He was tagged and tagged hard. He didn't seem to have any type of out pitch... there were very few swings and misses. Heck, one of the batters broke his bat and it was still a "foul HR". Awful.
TJ Large did give up Mooney's second HR of the day... but was otherwise OK until the 6th inning. I think tiredness set in at that point.
[The SeaDogs have been doing their best to avoid killing their pitching in this 6 games in 4 day struggle... but when their starting pitching is giving them nothing... it's tough.]
Kyle Jackson's night really wasn't much better than Richardson's... everything was hit hard, but for the first 3 innings they were hit right to the Outfielders. In the 5th, everything fell apart.
Lentz... only saw the two batters he faced in the 5th. It was a dramatic difference between Lentz and the 4 other pitchers of the night... his fastball is... well fast. Unfortunately, he lost the battle with the catcher who knocked a long HR to Left-Center. I found it interesting that he and Apodaca had a long conversation coming back to the dugout at the end of the inning. One has to wonder if there were some mixups as it was Apodaca's first day with Portland.
Reddick: Made a shoe-string catch into a DP in the first game. His arm will definately play. HR was a no doubter over EVERYTHING in RF. [Only HR of the day to RF, everything else was to left.]. He seemed to be on the pitcher during this at bat, fouling off a bunch of pitches. The pitch previous to the HR, however, it looks like he was out in front and ended up lunging forward but fouling it off. Might be why his swings sometimes look so bad, he is trying to make adjustments on the pitches.
Single was a solid grounder through the 1b/2b hole. I do worry about him trying to pull everything.
Anderson: 3 doubles... all to the opposite field. First one was a flyner down the line. Second one was more of a pop up that went to the wall. A better LF probably makes the catch... the LF got all turned around. 3rd double was a frozen rope to Left Center. Good Birthday for Lars.
Dustin Richardson's line says it all. All of the HRs were well hit... only one of the 10 hits was not hit hard. He was tagged and tagged hard. He didn't seem to have any type of out pitch... there were very few swings and misses. Heck, one of the batters broke his bat and it was still a "foul HR". Awful.
TJ Large did give up Mooney's second HR of the day... but was otherwise OK until the 6th inning. I think tiredness set in at that point.
[The SeaDogs have been doing their best to avoid killing their pitching in this 6 games in 4 day struggle... but when their starting pitching is giving them nothing... it's tough.]
Kyle Jackson's night really wasn't much better than Richardson's... everything was hit hard, but for the first 3 innings they were hit right to the Outfielders. In the 5th, everything fell apart.
Lentz... only saw the two batters he faced in the 5th. It was a dramatic difference between Lentz and the 4 other pitchers of the night... his fastball is... well fast. Unfortunately, he lost the battle with the catcher who knocked a long HR to Left-Center. I found it interesting that he and Apodaca had a long conversation coming back to the dugout at the end of the inning. One has to wonder if there were some mixups as it was Apodaca's first day with Portland.
Reddick: Made a shoe-string catch into a DP in the first game. His arm will definately play. HR was a no doubter over EVERYTHING in RF. [Only HR of the day to RF, everything else was to left.]. He seemed to be on the pitcher during this at bat, fouling off a bunch of pitches. The pitch previous to the HR, however, it looks like he was out in front and ended up lunging forward but fouling it off. Might be why his swings sometimes look so bad, he is trying to make adjustments on the pitches.
Single was a solid grounder through the 1b/2b hole. I do worry about him trying to pull everything.
Anderson: 3 doubles... all to the opposite field. First one was a flyner down the line. Second one was more of a pop up that went to the wall. A better LF probably makes the catch... the LF got all turned around. 3rd double was a frozen rope to Left Center. Good Birthday for Lars.
The futures game was great fun. A wonderful coincidence brought me and the whole family, wife and 4 kids to Reading for 3 days on THE way from Vt back to MD. So I managed to introduce our families 4th generation of Red Sox fans to Fenway, and boy did they love it. From parking 1 block from the stadium, to wandering the expensive seats and sitting down for an inning or two, tehy were all very much taken by the park.
What a wonderful day. It may need to become a tradition, to come back up to Boston for this game every year, since getting the whole crew into the game will never be this affordable.
What a wonderful day. It may need to become a tradition, to come back up to Boston for this game every year, since getting the whole crew into the game will never be this affordable.
STORIES
PAWSOX
Game Story
SEADOGS
Game Story
JETHAWKS
Game Story
Game Story
SPINNERS
Game Story
PAWSOX
Game Story
QUOTE
•HIGHLIGHTS: Doubles by Jeff Corsaletti, Gil Velazquez and Jeff Bailey produced three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Bailey’s two-out, two-run two-bagger that gave the PawSox a 5-1 lead. … Joe Thurston singled and homered. He scored Pawtucket’s first two runs. … Right fielder Sean Danielson showed off his blazing speed, scoring easily from first on Bailey’s double into the left-field corner. … Keith Ginter had a pair of hits. … Hunter Jones and Chris Smith (14th save) each worked a spotless inning in relief.
•KEYS TO THE GAME: A sparkling, efficient seven-inning outing by David Pauley. The right-hander allowed only four hits and two runs in his 91-pitch effort. The win boosted his record to 13-4, tying teammate Charlie Zink for the league lead in wins. Pauley held the Knights hitless — 0-for-14 — with runners on base.
Jeff Natale•KEYS TO THE GAME: A sparkling, efficient seven-inning outing by David Pauley. The right-hander allowed only four hits and two runs in his 91-pitch effort. The win boosted his record to 13-4, tying teammate Charlie Zink for the league lead in wins. Pauley held the Knights hitless — 0-for-14 — with runners on base.
QUOTE
The news on the injury front wasn’t great for the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Outfielders Jonathan Van Every and Chris Carter still were hampered by their respective oblique strains, so they were unavailable for Pawtucket in its game against Charlotte at Fenway Park as part of the Futures at Fenway doubleheader.
“It’s an unfortunate situation you don’t want to happen, but it just gives opportunities for other guys to get some at-bats and go to work,” said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson.
Infielder Jeff Natale was one of those “guys.” And Natale, a Connecticut native who starred at Trinity College, was thrilled to have that opportunity, serving as the PawSox’ designated hitter against the Knights after Lowell’s 4-3, 12-inning win over Hudson Valley in a Class-A game in the opener.
“This is a great precursor for what it’s like to play at the next level, playing in front of 25,000 or 30,000 people or however many there will be,” said Natale.
“It’s a learning experience for everybody. You can‘t take it for granted playing in a place like this. Just stepping on the field is exciting,” he said.
Actually, just being back on any baseball field is a happy moment for Natale the way his season has gone this year.
After a solid season in Double-A Portland in 2007, Natale was boosted from the Sea Dogs to Pawtucket on April 16 this year. But in his fifth game with the PawSox, Natale was hit by a pitch, suffering a broken left forearm that kept him out of action until July 10, when his return to Pawtucket on July 29 was preceeded by rehab stints in the Gulf Coast League and Lowell, beginning on July 10.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder entered yesterday’s game batting .227 (5-for-22) with a double and a homer since returning. Natale went 0-for-3 with a walk in the PawSox’ 5-2 win over the Knights yesterday.
“Every at-bat feels a little better,” said Natale, who will turn 26 in two weeks. “There are some swings that are difficult, but it’s getting back to 100 percent. You couldn’t come back at a better time with a month left to the season and the team in a pennant race.”
Outfielders Jonathan Van Every and Chris Carter still were hampered by their respective oblique strains, so they were unavailable for Pawtucket in its game against Charlotte at Fenway Park as part of the Futures at Fenway doubleheader.
“It’s an unfortunate situation you don’t want to happen, but it just gives opportunities for other guys to get some at-bats and go to work,” said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson.
Infielder Jeff Natale was one of those “guys.” And Natale, a Connecticut native who starred at Trinity College, was thrilled to have that opportunity, serving as the PawSox’ designated hitter against the Knights after Lowell’s 4-3, 12-inning win over Hudson Valley in a Class-A game in the opener.
“This is a great precursor for what it’s like to play at the next level, playing in front of 25,000 or 30,000 people or however many there will be,” said Natale.
“It’s a learning experience for everybody. You can‘t take it for granted playing in a place like this. Just stepping on the field is exciting,” he said.
Actually, just being back on any baseball field is a happy moment for Natale the way his season has gone this year.
After a solid season in Double-A Portland in 2007, Natale was boosted from the Sea Dogs to Pawtucket on April 16 this year. But in his fifth game with the PawSox, Natale was hit by a pitch, suffering a broken left forearm that kept him out of action until July 10, when his return to Pawtucket on July 29 was preceeded by rehab stints in the Gulf Coast League and Lowell, beginning on July 10.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder entered yesterday’s game batting .227 (5-for-22) with a double and a homer since returning. Natale went 0-for-3 with a walk in the PawSox’ 5-2 win over the Knights yesterday.
“Every at-bat feels a little better,” said Natale, who will turn 26 in two weeks. “There are some swings that are difficult, but it’s getting back to 100 percent. You couldn’t come back at a better time with a month left to the season and the team in a pennant race.”
SEADOGS
Game Story
QUOTE
This one hurt big time.
Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning, capping a rally that erased a four-run deficit and gave the Connecticut Defenders a 5-4 victory against the Portland Sea Dogs in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.
Connecticut pounded Dustin Richardson and T.J. Large for 16 hits, including a season-high five home runs, en route to a 14-6 romp in the opener.
[...]A 24-year-old left-hander, Richardson is 1-2 with four no-decisions and a 10.69 ERA in six starts since he was activated.
The Sea Dogs appeared to be in good shape in the second game when they built a 4-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth in the seven-inning game, led by Lars Anderson's bat and Kyle Jackson's right arm.
Anderson smashed a two-run double in the first off Adam Cowart and then another two-run double in the third.
Jackson held Connecticut to one run on four hits through the first 41/3 innings.
Dave Maroul singled with one out in the fifth, but first baseman Anderson robbed Kyle Haines of a hit and flipped the ball to Jackson for the second out.
Jackson then walked Ryan Rohlinger, and Olmo Rosario doubled home Maroul.
Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler had seen enough at that point and summoned a Double-A rookie, Richie Lentz, who was promoted July 9 from Lancaster.
Sandoval crushed a 3-and-2 pitch over the left center-field fence for a winning three-run homer.
"You've got a base open so you don't have to throw a strike," Beyeler said. "I think the whole thing snowballed because we didn't throw strikes and couldn't put hitters away.
"We haven't been getting ahead of guys, but when we do get to two strikes we don't put hitters away."
Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning, capping a rally that erased a four-run deficit and gave the Connecticut Defenders a 5-4 victory against the Portland Sea Dogs in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.
Connecticut pounded Dustin Richardson and T.J. Large for 16 hits, including a season-high five home runs, en route to a 14-6 romp in the opener.
[...]A 24-year-old left-hander, Richardson is 1-2 with four no-decisions and a 10.69 ERA in six starts since he was activated.
The Sea Dogs appeared to be in good shape in the second game when they built a 4-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth in the seven-inning game, led by Lars Anderson's bat and Kyle Jackson's right arm.
Anderson smashed a two-run double in the first off Adam Cowart and then another two-run double in the third.
Jackson held Connecticut to one run on four hits through the first 41/3 innings.
Dave Maroul singled with one out in the fifth, but first baseman Anderson robbed Kyle Haines of a hit and flipped the ball to Jackson for the second out.
Jackson then walked Ryan Rohlinger, and Olmo Rosario doubled home Maroul.
Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler had seen enough at that point and summoned a Double-A rookie, Richie Lentz, who was promoted July 9 from Lancaster.
Sandoval crushed a 3-and-2 pitch over the left center-field fence for a winning three-run homer.
"You've got a base open so you don't have to throw a strike," Beyeler said. "I think the whole thing snowballed because we didn't throw strikes and couldn't put hitters away.
"We haven't been getting ahead of guys, but when we do get to two strikes we don't put hitters away."
JETHAWKS
Game Story
QUOTE
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes refused to let a big lead get away two days in a row. A day after the JetHawks rallied for six runs, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes jumped out early and never let up as they defeated the JetHawks 7-2. The loss ended the JetHawks four-game winning streak, and their string of six straight wins at home. With a loss by Lake Elsinore, the JetHawks magic number to clinch the #1 seed in the South is 16.
The game got out of hand early. JetHawks starter Chris Province was pounded for seven runs and ten hits and only lasted an inning and 2/3. The bullpen held the Quakes quiet the rest of the way, not allowing any runs and scattering just two hits. Josh Papelbon pitched a career-high five and 1/3 innings while Craig Molldrem retired all six batters he faced.
While the bullpen restored order, the JetHawks high-powered offense never got into gear against the Quakes. They scored twice in the fourth inning on RBI doubles by Daniel Nava and Luis Exposito, but had only two hits the rest of the way.
DRIVEThe game got out of hand early. JetHawks starter Chris Province was pounded for seven runs and ten hits and only lasted an inning and 2/3. The bullpen held the Quakes quiet the rest of the way, not allowing any runs and scattering just two hits. Josh Papelbon pitched a career-high five and 1/3 innings while Craig Molldrem retired all six batters he faced.
While the bullpen restored order, the JetHawks high-powered offense never got into gear against the Quakes. They scored twice in the fourth inning on RBI doubles by Daniel Nava and Luis Exposito, but had only two hits the rest of the way.
Game Story
QUOTE
Levi Maxwell retired the first ten batters he faced and cruised his way to eight shutout innings in a 5-0 Intimidators (23-22) win over the Greenville Drive (20-27). It was the fourth straight win for the Intimidators and was their sixth win in the past seven games.
Maxwell (12-4) was perfect through 3.1 innings before giving up a one-out single in the fourth frame to Carlos Fernandez. Maxwell would yield just two other hits and finish with eight scoreless innings, three hits allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts. Maxwell handed it off to Charlis Burdie for a scoreless ninth inning.
Maxwell has tossed 19.1 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to his start in Delmarva on July 29th. The shutout for Kannapolis is the team’s third in the past 15 days and the 8th of the season.
The Intimidators started the scoring in the first inning with a RBI from Sergio Miranda to plate Eduardo Escobar.
Kannapolis tacked on three more runs in the fifth. With two on and one away Brent Morel tripled in two runs. Sergio Miranda follows with a double to plate Morel for a 4-0 lead. The I’s score an additional run in the eighth for insurance but it isn’t needed.
Maxwell (12-4) was perfect through 3.1 innings before giving up a one-out single in the fourth frame to Carlos Fernandez. Maxwell would yield just two other hits and finish with eight scoreless innings, three hits allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts. Maxwell handed it off to Charlis Burdie for a scoreless ninth inning.
Maxwell has tossed 19.1 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to his start in Delmarva on July 29th. The shutout for Kannapolis is the team’s third in the past 15 days and the 8th of the season.
The Intimidators started the scoring in the first inning with a RBI from Sergio Miranda to plate Eduardo Escobar.
Kannapolis tacked on three more runs in the fifth. With two on and one away Brent Morel tripled in two runs. Sergio Miranda follows with a double to plate Morel for a 4-0 lead. The I’s score an additional run in the eighth for insurance but it isn’t needed.
SPINNERS
Game Story
QUOTE
Here where prospect Will Middlebrooks' journey to the major leagues is supposed to end, it might have also been the beginning.
Middlebrooks, who received a $925,000 signing bonus from the Red Sox, has struggled for much of his first professional season with the Lowell Spinners. The last few days might have been the darkest of all for the Spinners third baseman. In his last 10 at-bats before yesterday he had struck out eight times and grounded into two double plays, lowering his batting average to .225 with just 10 RBI in 142 at-bats.
But yesterday Middlebrooks played at venerable Fenway Park like he belongs here.
Middlebrooks drilled three hits and knocked in three runs, including the game-winner with a bases-loaded single and two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, lifting the Spinners to a 4-3 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades in front of a team record 36,234 attending the Futures at Fenway minor-league doubleheader.
The Renegades are an affiliate of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, so yesterday's game was a microcosm of the newest rivalry in the AL East.
The victory ended a three-game skid for the Spinners and might have also be the beginning of another hot streak for the first-place club. After posting wins at Fenway in each of the previous two years, the Spinners won eight of 11 in 2006 and nine of 12 last summer.
With the game deadlocked 3-3, Mitch Dening led off the bottom of the 12th with his third hit of the game for the Spinners. Dening stole second with one out, and after Robert Della Grotta walked Luis Sumoza intentionally both runners moved up on a wild pitch.
Tim Federowicz walked to load the bases, and Zach Gentile lined out to center fielder Anthony Scelfo, who was playing shallow. Middlebrooks worked the count full, then lined a single to center to win the game.
For a moment Middlebrooks was worried Scelfo might catch his ball, too. Scelfo had robbed Kade Keowen of a game-winning hit with a diving catch to end the previous inning with a runner on third.
"I really was because he made three great catches out there today," Middlebrooks said.
Playoffs?!? Talking about Playoffs?!?Middlebrooks, who received a $925,000 signing bonus from the Red Sox, has struggled for much of his first professional season with the Lowell Spinners. The last few days might have been the darkest of all for the Spinners third baseman. In his last 10 at-bats before yesterday he had struck out eight times and grounded into two double plays, lowering his batting average to .225 with just 10 RBI in 142 at-bats.
But yesterday Middlebrooks played at venerable Fenway Park like he belongs here.
Middlebrooks drilled three hits and knocked in three runs, including the game-winner with a bases-loaded single and two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, lifting the Spinners to a 4-3 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades in front of a team record 36,234 attending the Futures at Fenway minor-league doubleheader.
The Renegades are an affiliate of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, so yesterday's game was a microcosm of the newest rivalry in the AL East.
The victory ended a three-game skid for the Spinners and might have also be the beginning of another hot streak for the first-place club. After posting wins at Fenway in each of the previous two years, the Spinners won eight of 11 in 2006 and nine of 12 last summer.
With the game deadlocked 3-3, Mitch Dening led off the bottom of the 12th with his third hit of the game for the Spinners. Dening stole second with one out, and after Robert Della Grotta walked Luis Sumoza intentionally both runners moved up on a wild pitch.
Tim Federowicz walked to load the bases, and Zach Gentile lined out to center fielder Anthony Scelfo, who was playing shallow. Middlebrooks worked the count full, then lined a single to center to win the game.
For a moment Middlebrooks was worried Scelfo might catch his ball, too. Scelfo had robbed Kade Keowen of a game-winning hit with a diving catch to end the previous inning with a runner on third.
"I really was because he made three great catches out there today," Middlebrooks said.
QUOTE
If the Lowell Spinners win their first division title this season, it will be pitching and defense that earned it for them.
Going into the weekend the Spinners were leading the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division by 3 1/2 games over the Oneonta Tigers.
The Spinners, who didn't make the playoffs in the first 12 years of their existence, have been in first place at a later date in the season. But they've never held a bigger lead this late in the season.
In fact, their 3 1/2 -game edge matches the largest they've ever had at any point in a season.
Even though the Spinners lost ace Brock Huntzinger, the NY-PL's best pitcher, to a promotion a couple of weeks ago, their pitching continues to be strong and ranked fourth in the league with a 3.17 ERA heading into the weekend.
Huntzinger, who was 5-0 with a league-leading microscopic 0.64 ERA, was promoted to Class A Greenville.
Defensively, the Spinners have averaged just a fraction over one error per game, which is excellent at this low level of pro ball. They are on a pace to commit just 79 errors this season. The team record for fewest errors is 100, set last year. (They committed 154 errors in 1998.)
But when the final stats are in, this will likely be the weakest offensive team the Spinners have ever had.
Going into the weekend the Spinners were leading the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division by 3 1/2 games over the Oneonta Tigers.
The Spinners, who didn't make the playoffs in the first 12 years of their existence, have been in first place at a later date in the season. But they've never held a bigger lead this late in the season.
In fact, their 3 1/2 -game edge matches the largest they've ever had at any point in a season.
Even though the Spinners lost ace Brock Huntzinger, the NY-PL's best pitcher, to a promotion a couple of weeks ago, their pitching continues to be strong and ranked fourth in the league with a 3.17 ERA heading into the weekend.
Huntzinger, who was 5-0 with a league-leading microscopic 0.64 ERA, was promoted to Class A Greenville.
Defensively, the Spinners have averaged just a fraction over one error per game, which is excellent at this low level of pro ball. They are on a pace to commit just 79 errors this season. The team record for fewest errors is 100, set last year. (They committed 154 errors in 1998.)
But when the final stats are in, this will likely be the weakest offensive team the Spinners have ever had.
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