Thursday, May 23, 2013
Nice production from the bottom four of the Red Sox lineup on Wednesday: Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava, Scott Podsednik and Kelly Shoppach combined to go 8-for-13 with 5 RBI. The latter three all hit home runs.
The Sea Dogs swept a doubleheader. Juan Carlos Linares (.311) went a combined 3-for-7 with a home run, double and 3 RBI. Linares, 27, began last year in Triple-A before being injured 17 games into the season. Should he not return to Triple-A, especially since Pawtucket's roster has only three outfielders?
Bryce Brentz also homered in the doubleheader, his fifth. His sizzling May continues: .403 average and four homers.
On the mound Chris Hernandez (3.06 ERA) did not have his best outing, but kept Portland in the game: 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 K ... Reliever Brock Huntzinger got the win: 1 1/3, 2 H, 3 K ... Billy Buckner (3.28) started and won the second game: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
Salem's Jackie Bradley had ONLY 1 hit (a double). He also walked to up his on-base percentage to .495. Can he reach .500? ... Another Salem outfielder, Shannon Wilkerson, went 2-for-3 to up his average to .329.
We assume Bradley will reach Portland sometime this year, but Wilkerson, 23, in his second season in Salem, would also be a candidate.
Two pitching prospects go tonight. Stolmy Pimentel (1-0, 2.95) gets his fifth start for the Sea Dogs this season, while Matt Bares (2-0, 1.00) makes his third start for Salem.
TweetKevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases
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