Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Carl Crawford went 2-for-5 Saturday for Pawtucket and appears ready to join the Boston roster when the Red Sox return to Fenway Monday (a day which will be highlighted by the return of one Kevin Youkilis).
While Crawford heads to Boston, how long will it be before Pawtucket shortstop Jose Iglesias joins him? Iglesias fouled a ball off his knee Friday and looked to need a day or two off (one reason why Ryan Dent was sent from Portland to Pawtucket).
But Iglesias may be trying to lose the perception that he is injury-prone. He was back in the lineup Saturday and went 2-for-5, including a double off the wall.
Also in Pawtucket, Juan Carlos Linares (.277) hit his first Triple-A home run, while Alex Hassan (.267) was 2-for-4. Hassan had a slow start in Triple-A, but batted .300 in June and is at .333 in July.
In Portland, Stolmy Pimentel put in his most encouraging start to date. He carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and lasted seven innings (2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K). See TODAY'S STORY.
Sea Dogs outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. broke out of an 0-for-18 slump with a 2-for-3 night, upping his average to .319.
After the Sea Dogs game Saturday night, reliever Chorye Sppone was released. Spoone, 26, came up through the Orioles organization and signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in the off season, with an invitation to major league spring training. He began the year in Pawtucket and had a 2.79 ERA in 14 games before being sent down to Portland. He had a 4.15 ERA in 12 appearances with the Sea Dogs.
Also in the Sea Dogs game, third baseman Marquez Smith had three hits. Smith was the first of three Sea Dogs signed from the independent Atlantic League this season. The others were pitchers Jason Urquidez and Mike MacDonald, the Maine native. See TODAY'S COLUMN.
Pitching prospect Matt Barnes had struggled in his previous three outings with Salem, but fared better Saturday (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K).
Today, Boston (Josh Beckett) is at Tampa Bay (James Shields) at 1:40 p.m. The Sea Dogs have Chris Hernandez on the mound at 1 p.m.
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Chorye Spoone
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Pimentel
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Kevin 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
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws on Holding Court
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