Today's Games (All Times Eastern):
IL: Pawtucket (Charlie Zink) vs. Buffalo (Aaron Laffey) [7:05pm]
EL: Portland (Kris Johnson) vs. New Hampshire (Jean Machi) [7:05pm]
CL: Lancaster (Chris Province) @ Stockton (Jason Glushon) [10:05pm]
SAL: Greenville (Terumasa Matsuo) @ Asheville (Shane Lindsay) [7:05pm]
NYPL: Lowell (Stolmy Pimentel) @ Hudson Valley (Diego Echeverria) [7:05pm]
GCL: Red Sox - SEASON OVER [Finished 28-27]
DSL: Red Sox - SEASON OVER [Finished 43-27]
Notes:
Portland: Josh Reddick - Day to Day with an Ankle "Bruise" after fouling a ball off his ankle last night. Mickey Hall (concussion) cleared to play tonight.
Milestones/Magic Numbers:
Pawsox need 1 victories in their final 4 games to set a franchise record for wins in the season (84). 2 of their final 4 games are against Lehigh Valley, who the Pawsox are 13-1 against this season. All 4 games are at Home (where they are 44-24).
Pawsox TRAGIC Number (for winning the Division - The Sox will be in the IL Playoffs via the Wild Card if they do not win the Division) is 2. Any Combination of 2 Pawsox losses or Scranton/Wilkes-Barre wins will lose the Pawsox the Division.
Seadogs Magic Number to enter the Eastern League Playoffs is FOUR. Any combination of 4 SeaDogs wins and Binghamton losses puts Portland in the Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year..
Jethawks Magic Number to Win the Second Half Title (to add to their 3 half-season titles already won in the 2 years the Red Sox have been affiliated with the Jethawks) is THREE. Any combination of 3 JetHawks wins or Lake Elsinore losses gives the Jethawks another division title.
Spinners Magic Number to Clinch the Stedler Division is TWO. Any combination of 2 Spinners wins or Oneonta losses puts the Spinners in the Playoffs for the first time ever.
Internet Radio Broadcasts:
Pawtucket Red Sox (WHJJ)
Portland Sea Dogs
Lancaster JetHawks (Magic 1340)
Greenville Drive [via Asheville Tourists]
Lowell Spinners (WCAP)
Full Version: 8/29 ml Gameday: Possible Lowell Playoff Clincher
Greenville killing Asheville 15-0 in the 8th.
Matsuo: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Marks: 2-3, 2 HR, 2 BB
Mailman: 3-6, 2 doubles, 1 HR
Almanzar: 3-5, 2B
CFO: 2-6, 2B
Matsuo: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Marks: 2-3, 2 HR, 2 BB
Mailman: 3-6, 2 doubles, 1 HR
Almanzar: 3-5, 2B
CFO: 2-6, 2B
Pawtucket loses 2-0.
Boxscore
Charlie Zink went 8 innings, giving up 7 hits (1 HR), 3 walks, a HBP and a WP; allowing 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 3. Kyle Snyder pitched the final inning, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2.
Chris Carter, Gil Velazquez and George Kottaras each went 1/3. Jeff Corsaletti, Jason Lane, Keith Ginter, Jeff Natale and Jonathan Van Every each went 0/3. Josh Wilson went 0/4.
Boxscore
Charlie Zink went 8 innings, giving up 7 hits (1 HR), 3 walks, a HBP and a WP; allowing 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 3. Kyle Snyder pitched the final inning, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2.
Chris Carter, Gil Velazquez and George Kottaras each went 1/3. Jeff Corsaletti, Jason Lane, Keith Ginter, Jeff Natale and Jonathan Van Every each went 0/3. Josh Wilson went 0/4.
Greenville wins 16-0.
Boxscore
Terumasa Matsuo went 7 innings, giving up 2 hits and a walk; striking out 8. Eammon Portice went the final 2 innings, giving up 3 hits and striking out 2.
Michael Almanzar went 4/6 with a double. Manny Arambarris and David Mailman each went 3/6; Mailman with 2 doubles and a HR. David Marks went 2/4 with 2 HRs and 2 walks. Thomas DiBenedetto went 2/5 with a walk. Will Vasquez and Carlos Fernandez each went 2/6 with a double. Oscar Tejeda went 1/6. Rafael Cabreja went 0/4 with 2 walks.
Boxscore
Terumasa Matsuo went 7 innings, giving up 2 hits and a walk; striking out 8. Eammon Portice went the final 2 innings, giving up 3 hits and striking out 2.
Michael Almanzar went 4/6 with a double. Manny Arambarris and David Mailman each went 3/6; Mailman with 2 doubles and a HR. David Marks went 2/4 with 2 HRs and 2 walks. Thomas DiBenedetto went 2/5 with a walk. Will Vasquez and Carlos Fernandez each went 2/6 with a double. Oscar Tejeda went 1/6. Rafael Cabreja went 0/4 with 2 walks.
Lowell loses 4-1... but their magic number moves to one as Oneonta also loses again.
Boxscore
Stolmy Pimentel went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and a HBP; allowing a run while striking out 6. Charlie Rosario went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits, a walk and a WP; striking out 2. Mitch Herold pitched the final inning, giving up 3 hits and 2 walks; allowing 3 runs (2 earned).
Zach Gentile went 1/2 with a double and a HBP before being replaced by Mitch Dening who went 1/1 with a double. Tim Federowicz went 1/2 with 2 walks and a SB. Wilfred Pichardo, Ryan Lavarnway, Will Middlebrooks, Peter Hissey and Casey Kelly each went 1/4; Lavarnway with a double, Pichardo with a SB, Kelly with a CS. Ricardo Burgos went 0/3 with a walk. Jonathan Hee went 0/4.
Boxscore
Stolmy Pimentel went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and a HBP; allowing a run while striking out 6. Charlie Rosario went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits, a walk and a WP; striking out 2. Mitch Herold pitched the final inning, giving up 3 hits and 2 walks; allowing 3 runs (2 earned).
Zach Gentile went 1/2 with a double and a HBP before being replaced by Mitch Dening who went 1/1 with a double. Tim Federowicz went 1/2 with 2 walks and a SB. Wilfred Pichardo, Ryan Lavarnway, Will Middlebrooks, Peter Hissey and Casey Kelly each went 1/4; Lavarnway with a double, Pichardo with a SB, Kelly with a CS. Ricardo Burgos went 0/3 with a walk. Jonathan Hee went 0/4.
Portland reduces the magic number to three with a 9-2 win.
Boxscore
Kris Johnson went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 5 hits (1 HR) and 3 walks, allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. Chad Rhoades went 2 innings, walking one, hitting 2, throwing a WP whole commiting a Balk and striking out 2. Daniel Haigwood went 2 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out 3.
Aaron Bates and Lars Anderson each went 2/4 with a walk; Bates with a double. John Otness went 2/5 with a double. Mickey Hall went 1/2 with a double and 3 walks. Iggy Suarez went 1/4. Jered Stanley and Argenis Diaz each went 1/5; Diaz with a double, Stanley with a HR and 4 Ks. Zach Daeges went 0/2 with 3 walks. Tony Granadillo went 0/4 with a walk.
Boxscore
Kris Johnson went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 5 hits (1 HR) and 3 walks, allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. Chad Rhoades went 2 innings, walking one, hitting 2, throwing a WP whole commiting a Balk and striking out 2. Daniel Haigwood went 2 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out 3.
Aaron Bates and Lars Anderson each went 2/4 with a walk; Bates with a double. John Otness went 2/5 with a double. Mickey Hall went 1/2 with a double and 3 walks. Iggy Suarez went 1/4. Jered Stanley and Argenis Diaz each went 1/5; Diaz with a double, Stanley with a HR and 4 Ks. Zach Daeges went 0/2 with 3 walks. Tony Granadillo went 0/4 with a walk.
Lancaster loses 8-7 in 10 innings
Boxscore
Chris Province went 4+ innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 walks and a WP; allowing 6 runs (3 earned) while striking out one. Kyle Fernandes went 2 innings, giving up 3 hits (1 HR) and a run, striking out 4. Josh Papelbon pitched an inning, hitting a batter. Bryce Cox pitched 2 innings, walking one and striking out 4. Cody McAllister went 2/3rds of an inning, giving up 2 hits and a run; striking out one.
Jason Place and Yamaico Navarro each went 2/5; Place with 2 HRs and 6 RBI (a 7th innning Grand Slam and an 8th inning 2 Run HR). Ryan Kalish went 1/4 with a walk. Luis Exposito went 1/4 before being replaced by Zak Farkes who went 0/1. Kris Negron and Kade Keowen each went 1/4; Negron adding a HBP. Jon Still and Michael Jones each went 1/5. Aaron Reza went 0/3 with a walk and a HBP.
Boxscore
Chris Province went 4+ innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 walks and a WP; allowing 6 runs (3 earned) while striking out one. Kyle Fernandes went 2 innings, giving up 3 hits (1 HR) and a run, striking out 4. Josh Papelbon pitched an inning, hitting a batter. Bryce Cox pitched 2 innings, walking one and striking out 4. Cody McAllister went 2/3rds of an inning, giving up 2 hits and a run; striking out one.
Jason Place and Yamaico Navarro each went 2/5; Place with 2 HRs and 6 RBI (a 7th innning Grand Slam and an 8th inning 2 Run HR). Ryan Kalish went 1/4 with a walk. Luis Exposito went 1/4 before being replaced by Zak Farkes who went 0/1. Kris Negron and Kade Keowen each went 1/4; Negron adding a HBP. Jon Still and Michael Jones each went 1/5. Aaron Reza went 0/3 with a walk and a HBP.
Province got plastered by Stockton, Jethawks still scoreless
7-0 bad guys bot 6
7-0 bad guys bot 6
Place just hit a granny.
Fernandes has been pretty filthy since getting to Lancaster.
Fernandes has been pretty filthy since getting to Lancaster.
Damn, Place just hit a 2-R job, tied up now.
Cox dominated.
Cox dominated.
McAllister blows it in the 10th.
QUOTE(SoxScout @ Aug 30 2008, 01:43 AM) 
Damn, Place just hit a 2-R job, tied up now.
Cox dominated.
Cox dominated.
Place 10-30, 4 HR in his last 7 games.
STORIES
PAWSOX
Game Story
SEADOGS
Game Story
Game Story
DRIVE
Game Story
Game Story
PAWSOX
Game Story
QUOTE
•THE HIGHLIGHTS: Scott Lewis (2-2) shut down Pawtucket’s high-powered offense, striking out six and walking none while limiting the PawSox to just two hits through six innings to help Buffalo beat Pawtucket last night at McCoy Stadium.
Todd Linden blasted a solo home run over the fence in center field in the top of the sixth inning to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead, and Chris Gimenez scored from third base with two outs on an error by Pawtucket second baseman Josh Wilson, who dropped a routine fly ball hit by Andy Cannizaro in the top of the seventh. The PawSox managed only three hits off of four Buffalo pitchers.
•PROSPECT WATCH: Pawtucket knuckleballer Charlie Zink, the International League pitcher of the year, who is tied with three other pitchers for the most wins in the league (14), had another strong outing. He scattered seven hits and struck out three in eight innings. He gave up only one earned run. … Chris Carter had one of the three PawSox hits. He is 8-for-13 since returning to the PawSox lineup Tuesday after missing 18 games with a strained oblique. He entered last night’s action 10th in the I.L. with a .302 batting average. ... George Kottaras and Gil Velazquez had Pawtucket’s other hits. Kottaras has 11 hits in his last 27 at-bats and Velazquez has a five-game hitting streak.
More Wins than Ever!Todd Linden blasted a solo home run over the fence in center field in the top of the sixth inning to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead, and Chris Gimenez scored from third base with two outs on an error by Pawtucket second baseman Josh Wilson, who dropped a routine fly ball hit by Andy Cannizaro in the top of the seventh. The PawSox managed only three hits off of four Buffalo pitchers.
•PROSPECT WATCH: Pawtucket knuckleballer Charlie Zink, the International League pitcher of the year, who is tied with three other pitchers for the most wins in the league (14), had another strong outing. He scattered seven hits and struck out three in eight innings. He gave up only one earned run. … Chris Carter had one of the three PawSox hits. He is 8-for-13 since returning to the PawSox lineup Tuesday after missing 18 games with a strained oblique. He entered last night’s action 10th in the I.L. with a .302 batting average. ... George Kottaras and Gil Velazquez had Pawtucket’s other hits. Kottaras has 11 hits in his last 27 at-bats and Velazquez has a five-game hitting streak.
QUOTE
It has been a memorable season for the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Not only have the PawSox made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but they are on pace to break several club records.
The PawSox need only one more victory to break the club record for most wins in a season. (They had 83 in 2003.)
No matter what happens in the postseason, Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson considers this season to be a success.
“When you go into a Triple-A season, you are looking for two or three things,” Johnson said. “One is obviously the development of younger players coming up.”
The second thing that he tries to do when entering a season, he said, is to prepare the developed players so they are able to contribute for the Red Sox if they are called up.
“We’ve had that,” Johnson said, referring to the 13 players who have been promoted to Boston so far this season.
“And you want to have your six-year free-agent guys that sign with you to come in and be very positive people on your team and also be that guy that can back up your big-league club and we’ve had that,” Johnson said. “When you combine that all and it equates into wins and you get to a point where you are one of the four teams in the playoffs, that’s a pretty good year.”
That’s why this season has meant so much to Johnson.
Not only have the PawSox made the playoffs for the first time in five years, but they are on pace to break several club records.
The PawSox need only one more victory to break the club record for most wins in a season. (They had 83 in 2003.)
No matter what happens in the postseason, Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson considers this season to be a success.
“When you go into a Triple-A season, you are looking for two or three things,” Johnson said. “One is obviously the development of younger players coming up.”
The second thing that he tries to do when entering a season, he said, is to prepare the developed players so they are able to contribute for the Red Sox if they are called up.
“We’ve had that,” Johnson said, referring to the 13 players who have been promoted to Boston so far this season.
“And you want to have your six-year free-agent guys that sign with you to come in and be very positive people on your team and also be that guy that can back up your big-league club and we’ve had that,” Johnson said. “When you combine that all and it equates into wins and you get to a point where you are one of the four teams in the playoffs, that’s a pretty good year.”
That’s why this season has meant so much to Johnson.
SEADOGS
Game Story
QUOTE
After 21 straight scoreless innings, the Portland Sea Dogs found their stroke Friday night.
The Sea Dogs sailed past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9-2 before 6,923 at Hadlock Field.
Aaron Bates and Jered Stanley clubbed three-run home runs.
Portland (73-64) remained a game ahead of the Binghamton Mets (73-66) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern League playoffs. With three games to go, the Sea Dogs' magic number is three (combination of Portland wins and Binghamton losses).
Binghamton beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 3-1.
The Sea Dogs suffered back-to-back shutout losses to New Britain on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday they blistered a group of Fisher Cats relievers for 10 hits and accepted nine walks.
New Hampshire's schedule starter, Jean Machi, was scratched because of an "internal matter," according to Manager Gary Cathcart, who offered no more details.
Sea Dogs starter Kris Johnson gave up two runs on five hits and three walks. He didn't get the decision because he lasted only 42/3 innings -- a victim of his pitch count (96).
"(Johnson) got guys out and made big pitches," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said. "He just threw too many pitches."
Chad Rhoades (5-3) got the win with two hitless innings.
Iggy Suarez and John Otness gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead on a nice hustle play in the second. With Otness on second and two outs, Suarez hit a slow grounder toward first. Suarez beat the pitcher covering first and Otness raced around to score on the infield single.
Then came the big bashes. Bates waited on a 2-0 fastball from Jo Matumoto (2-1) in the third inning and launched it to right-center field. It cleared four tiers of signage and landed in the trees beyond. Bates' 11th home run gave Portland a 4-0 lead.
JETHAWKSThe Sea Dogs sailed past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9-2 before 6,923 at Hadlock Field.
Aaron Bates and Jered Stanley clubbed three-run home runs.
Portland (73-64) remained a game ahead of the Binghamton Mets (73-66) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern League playoffs. With three games to go, the Sea Dogs' magic number is three (combination of Portland wins and Binghamton losses).
Binghamton beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 3-1.
The Sea Dogs suffered back-to-back shutout losses to New Britain on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday they blistered a group of Fisher Cats relievers for 10 hits and accepted nine walks.
New Hampshire's schedule starter, Jean Machi, was scratched because of an "internal matter," according to Manager Gary Cathcart, who offered no more details.
Sea Dogs starter Kris Johnson gave up two runs on five hits and three walks. He didn't get the decision because he lasted only 42/3 innings -- a victim of his pitch count (96).
"(Johnson) got guys out and made big pitches," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said. "He just threw too many pitches."
Chad Rhoades (5-3) got the win with two hitless innings.
Iggy Suarez and John Otness gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead on a nice hustle play in the second. With Otness on second and two outs, Suarez hit a slow grounder toward first. Suarez beat the pitcher covering first and Otness raced around to score on the infield single.
Then came the big bashes. Bates waited on a 2-0 fastball from Jo Matumoto (2-1) in the third inning and launched it to right-center field. It cleared four tiers of signage and landed in the trees beyond. Bates' 11th home run gave Portland a 4-0 lead.
Game Story
QUOTE
wo Jason Place homeruns keyed a furious JetHawks rally. However, the bombs were not enough as the Ports recovered to win 8-7 in ten innings Friday night.
Stockton scored the winning run off reliever Cody McAllister in the bottom of the tenth when Jermaine Mitchell doubled home Mike Massaro.
Down 7-0 entering the seventh inning, the JetHawks began their comeback. The bottom of the order loaded the bases for Place. With the bases juiced, he hit the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall for a grandslam to pull Lancaster within three runs at 7-4. Three batters later, 1B Jon Still singled into centerfield to make the score 7-5.
In the eighth, with Aaron Reza at first, Place drilled his second homer of the game nearly straight-away to centerfield to tie the game at 7-7.
Stockton began the scoring with three unearned runs in the third off starter Chris Province. The Ports added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings sandwiched around two runs in the fifth.
Stockton scored the winning run off reliever Cody McAllister in the bottom of the tenth when Jermaine Mitchell doubled home Mike Massaro.
Down 7-0 entering the seventh inning, the JetHawks began their comeback. The bottom of the order loaded the bases for Place. With the bases juiced, he hit the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall for a grandslam to pull Lancaster within three runs at 7-4. Three batters later, 1B Jon Still singled into centerfield to make the score 7-5.
In the eighth, with Aaron Reza at first, Place drilled his second homer of the game nearly straight-away to centerfield to tie the game at 7-7.
Stockton began the scoring with three unearned runs in the third off starter Chris Province. The Ports added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings sandwiched around two runs in the fifth.
DRIVE
Game Story
QUOTE
One night after the Tourists racked up 16 hits, the Greenville Drive turned the trick. With 18 hits of their own tonight, the Drive romped to a 16-0 stomping of the Asheville Tourists on Friday night.
The hits and runs came early and often for the Drive. Greenville scored in every inning but the third and ninth. After an unearned run in the first, The Drive sent 11 hitters to the plate in the second and picked up six runs off Shane Lindsay. Lindsay (1-2) in two innings of work allowed seven runs, though only six were earned, on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
With a commanding 7-0 lead after two innings, Terumasa Matsuo settled in and pitched a gem against a Tourists team that had clobbered him in two previous outings. Matsuo (7-5) tossed seven scoreless innings on two hits with just a walk and eight strikeouts. The Tourists did not get a runner to second base until the eighth inning, when Jeffrey Cunningham made it there on back-to-back singles.
After single runs in the fourth and fifth, Greenville exploded for three in both the sixth and the eighth and put together one more in the ninth. Michael Almanzar led the way for the Drive with a double as part of a 4-6 night. David Mailman had three hits - a home run and a pair of doubles - while Carlos Fernandez, David Marks, Manny Arambarris, Will Vazquez and Thomas DiBenedetto also had multi-hit games for the Drive. Both Marks hits were home runs against Cory Riordan, who fired six innings in his first relief outing of the season.
SPINNERSThe hits and runs came early and often for the Drive. Greenville scored in every inning but the third and ninth. After an unearned run in the first, The Drive sent 11 hitters to the plate in the second and picked up six runs off Shane Lindsay. Lindsay (1-2) in two innings of work allowed seven runs, though only six were earned, on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
With a commanding 7-0 lead after two innings, Terumasa Matsuo settled in and pitched a gem against a Tourists team that had clobbered him in two previous outings. Matsuo (7-5) tossed seven scoreless innings on two hits with just a walk and eight strikeouts. The Tourists did not get a runner to second base until the eighth inning, when Jeffrey Cunningham made it there on back-to-back singles.
After single runs in the fourth and fifth, Greenville exploded for three in both the sixth and the eighth and put together one more in the ninth. Michael Almanzar led the way for the Drive with a double as part of a 4-6 night. David Mailman had three hits - a home run and a pair of doubles - while Carlos Fernandez, David Marks, Manny Arambarris, Will Vazquez and Thomas DiBenedetto also had multi-hit games for the Drive. Both Marks hits were home runs against Cory Riordan, who fired six innings in his first relief outing of the season.
Game Story
QUOTE
The Spinners clinched a tie for the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division title last night when the Oneonta Tigers lost 3-2 in Brooklyn.
But the Spinners missed an opportunity to clinch the title outright when they lost 4-1 to the Hudson Valley Renegades.
The Spinners, who finished their arduous nine-game road trip through the powerful McNamara Division with a 5-4 record, can wrap up their first-ever division title at home this evening against the Tigers at LeLacheur Park. Game time is 5:05 p.m.
The Renegades snapped a 1-1 tie with three eighth-inning runs off reliever Mitch Herold last night.
Jacob Jefferies drew a walk to start the rally, and first baseman Ricardo Burgos fumbled a sacrifice bunt for an error.
After Herold retired the next batter, Jeremy Reynolds singled home the tie-breaking run. Michael Ross and Robi Estrada added RBI singles later in the inning.
But the Spinners missed an opportunity to clinch the title outright when they lost 4-1 to the Hudson Valley Renegades.
The Spinners, who finished their arduous nine-game road trip through the powerful McNamara Division with a 5-4 record, can wrap up their first-ever division title at home this evening against the Tigers at LeLacheur Park. Game time is 5:05 p.m.
The Renegades snapped a 1-1 tie with three eighth-inning runs off reliever Mitch Herold last night.
Jacob Jefferies drew a walk to start the rally, and first baseman Ricardo Burgos fumbled a sacrifice bunt for an error.
After Herold retired the next batter, Jeremy Reynolds singled home the tie-breaking run. Michael Ross and Robi Estrada added RBI singles later in the inning.
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