Wednesday, June 19, 2013
When closing my laptop for vacation, the Red Sox were seven games behind the Yankees. Now they are 6.5 game back.
That's the good news.
Boston keeps losing to bad teams, evidenced by the 6-5 defeat to Cleveland Monday night. While Boston can't seem to gain ground on the Yankees, the Rays have tied New York for first place (each with a 66-39) mark.
That means that Boston (60-46) is also 6.5 games behind a wild-card playoff spot.
The injuries continue. Mike Cameron goes back on the DL, maybe for the rest of the season, with his abdominal tear. Kevin Youkilis left Monday's game with a thumb injury. It will be looked at again today.
Jacoby Ellsbury continues to play rehab games, like today's in Pawtucket. If he's not risking further injury by playing in the minors, isn't it time to try the majors?
Meanwhile, the Red Sox outfield featured Ryan Kalish and Daniel Nava Tuesday night. Kalish went 3-for-3 with a walk, while throwing out a runner at home. In his three major league games, he's batting .500 (5-for-10).
Who would have bet that Nava and Kalish would be in the majors in August, while Josh Reddick remained in Pawtucket.
Maybe Reddick is thinking the same thing. He has been on a tear recently. After Tuesday's 4-for-5 game (5 RBI), he is batting .435 (20-for-46) in his last 11 games, with seven doubles and three home runs.
Robert Coello pitched 6 innings for Pawtucket (2 H, 1 BB, 9 K) ... Michael Bowden relieved (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 K) ... Catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia, in his Pawtucket debut, was 0-for-4 with a walk.
In other PawSox news, Felix Doubront has gone to the bullpen temporarily, as Boston sees if he can help down the stretch.
Also, Sea Dogs infielder Yamaico Navarro has been promoted to Pawtucket. Navarro played third base for Portland until shortstop Jose Iglesias hurt his hand. He showed remarkable talent, but was inconsistent. He was batting .278 with 8 HR and 55 RBI.
Navarro, 22, is eligible for the Rule V draft this winter. Boston must decide if it wants to put Navarro on the 40-man roster, so the Sox are getting a look at him in Triple-A.
Iglesias, meanwhile, is playing rehab games with Lowell. He went 1-for-3 Monday with a triple.
The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field tonight after a 2-5 road trip, including a four-game sweep in Harrisburg.
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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