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Thursday's lineup

Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Gabe Kapler, RF
Alex Gonzalez, SS
---
Curt Schilling, P

Posted by Art  at 5:19 PM | Permalink

Thursday's press notes

Thursday's pregame notes, courtesy of the Red Sox' P.R. department . . .

DATE OPP. BOS TIME RED SOX STARTER OPPOSING STARTER TELEVISION
Thu., June 29 NYM 7:05 p.m. RHP Curt Schilling (9-2, 3.61) LHP Tom Glavine (11-2, 3.33) NESN
Fri., June 30 @FLA 7:35 p.m. RHP Jason Johnson (3-8, 5.96) LHP Dontrelle Willis (4-7, 4.05) NESN
Sat., July 1 @FLA 6:05 p.m. RHP Tim Wakefield (5-8, 3.86) RHP Brian Moehler (5-6, 6.55) NESN
Sun., July 2 @FLA 1:05 p.m. LHP Jon Lester (3-0, 2.95) RHP Josh Johnson (7-4, 2.20) NESN
---All games broadcast on 103.7 WEEI-FM and the Red Sox radio network and the Red Sox Spanish-language radio network---

WINNING WAYS
This is the 14th time in Red Sox
history that the club has won at least
11 consecutive games, the 7th 10-
game winning streak:
No. Dates
15 April 25-May 10, 1946
13 July 18-27, 1948
12 July 28-August 8, 1937*
12 July 4-16, 1939
12 May 29-June 11, 1946*
12 July 15-25, 1988
12 August 3-14, 1995
11 May 28-June 8, 1903
11 August 4-18, 1909
11 September 13-27, 1949
11 August 15-25, 1950
11 July 28-August 10, 1977
11 August 30-Sept. 10, 1986
11 June 16-28, 2006
In the last 60 years (beginning
1947), the Red Sox have been 19 or
more games over .500 after 75
games just 4 times:
Record Year Game 76
52-23 1978 L
50-25 1986 L
47-28 1979 L
47-28 2006 --

STREAKING SOX: The Red Sox and Mets conclude this series and the homestand this evening…Boston is 8-0 on the homestand with Washington (3-0), Philadelphia (3-0), and New York (2-0) and has won 11 straight games overall since losing in Minnesota on June 15…Is the team’s longest winning streak since 12 straight victories, August 3-14, 1995…It is the longest winning streak in the majors since Houston win 12 in a row, August 27-September 8, 2004 and the longest in the A.L. since a 12-game win streak for Tampa Bay, June 9-22, 2004…Sox are 14-5 since June 8 and 17-8 beginning May 31 . . . At 47-28, Boston is a season best 19 games over .500…Is club’s best record after 75 games since 1986 (50-25/lost game 76) . . . The Sox have held a 3.5 game lead over New York in the A.L. East for the last 2 days, a season high and the team’s largest division lead since a 3.5-game margin on Sept. 12, 2005…Last larger division lead was 4 games on September 10, 2005…Club has been in the top spot the last 12 days and has been in sole possession of or in a statistical tie for first place in the division for 75 of 86 days in 2006 . . . At Fenway Park, the Sox have won 8 straight games since losing to Texas on June 11 (game 2), their longest home winning streak since 14 consecutive victories, July 19-August 26, 2005…At Fenway, club has captured 14 of 16 and 19 of the last 24 games, the longer streak beginning May 4…Boston’s 26-10 Fenway record is its best home mark after 36 games since 1979 (26-10/won game 37).

INTERLEAGUE PLAY: The Red Sox are 13-1 versus the National League this season, winning 11 straight since a loss in Philadelphia on May 21…This is Boston’s longest win streak ever in interleague play, one shy of the ML record, shared by Tampa Bay (June 9-26, 2004) and the Yankees (June 12, 2003-June 10, 2004)…Club has highest winning percentage (.929) in the majors in interleague play in 2006 and is tied for most wins…Highest winning percentage for a full season of interleague play is .917 (11-1) by St. Louis in 2004 . . . Boston’s 13 wins are its most ever versus the N.L. in one season, one more than in 2005…Team has won 18 of its last 19 and 22 of last 24 in interleague play, the longer span starting June 12, 2005…Has ML best .781 (25-7) interleague winning percentage since start of 2005 . . . Sox are 90-81 lifetime vs. N.L. in regular season, 53-36 at Fenway Park…Sox are 15-2 at home against N.L. teams since start of 2005, winning 9 straight and 14 of the last 15…With wins the last 2 nights, club has won its last 11 home series in interleague play since dropping 2 of 3 to St. Louis, June 10-12, 2003…Since that time, Boston is 26-6 at Fenway Park vs. the N.L.

HOMESTAND SUCCESS: The Sox have won the 1st 8 games of this homestand…Are the
most wins on a single homestand since a 10-4 stay, August 26-September 8, 2005…Club
won all games of a multi-series homestand twice in 2005, 6-0, July 29-August 4 and 5-
0, August 8-14…A look at the best homestand record (9 or more games) since 1988:

Record Dates Teams
11-0 July 15-24, 1988 Kansas City (4-0); Minnesota (3-0); Chicago (4-0)
10-1 July 15-25, 1993 Seattle (3-1); California (3-0); Oakland (4-0)
9-1 April 10-20, 1998 Seattle (3-0); Oakland (3-0); Cleveland (3-1)
9-1 Aug. 26-Sept. 5, 2004 Detroit (4-0); Anaheim (3-0); Texas (2-1)
8-1 June 21-30, 1993 Minnesota (3-0); Detroit (3-0); Milwaukee (2-1)
8-1 August 8-16, 1995 Cleveland (2-0); Baltimore (4-0); New York (2-1)

RECORD ON DEFENSE: The Red Sox have gone 15 consecutive games without an error, tying the American League record for a season set by the Texas Rangers, August 4-19, 1996…Major league mark is 16 games by the St. Louis Cardinals, July 30- August 16, 1992…Team’s last error was committed by Kevin Youkilis in the 1st inning on June 11 (Game 1) vs. Texas…Sox have handled 599 errorless chances since that time . . . Club has 3 miscues in the last 23 games and 12 errors over last 51 contests beginning May 1…Boston leads the majors with a .992 fielding percentage with 23 total errors being 11 fewer than any other major league club (Seattle)…Are the fewest errors for any major league team through June 28 since research is 1st available in 1960 . . . Sox have 4 players in top 3 in fielding percentage: SS Alex Gonzalez, 1st in ML at .996 (1 E/228 TC); 2B Mark Loretta, 2nd in AL at .991 (3 E/318 TC); 3B Mike Lowell, 2nd in AL at .982 (4 E/217 TC); RF Trot Nixon, 3rd in AL at .993 (1 E/134 TC).

SERIES WIN: The Red Sox have won the 1st 2 games of this series by a combined 19-6 score…Ten runs on Wednesday matched Boston’s most ever vs. the Mets with 10-1 win on June 15, 1997…Sox have never won all games in a series vs. New York.

TRENDS/ALL-TIME: Sox have an 8-6 advantage over the Mets since start of 2000…Boston has won 5 of last 6 meetings at Fenway beginning June 7, 1998…Sox lead, 9-8 all-time, 5-3 in Boston…Mets lead, 5-4 in New York.

TAKING THE OFFENSIVE: Wednesday was the 8th time that Boston has scored in double figures this season, 4th in last 9 games…During 11-game winning streak, Sox have a .339 (138-407) team batting average with 16 homers and 87 runs scored…Team average with runners in scoring position in this span is .363 (49-135)…Club leads the major leagues with a .303 (263-868) average and a .376 on-base percentage in June…Season average of .289 ranks 2nd in the majors (Toronto-.295) and is its highest figure since April 11 (.290) . . . Sox are batting .339 (261-770) with 156 runs in the last 22 games at Fenway Park and lead major leagues with .312 (388-1243) home average . . . Boston also leads the majors with a .330 (170-515) BA in 2006 interleague play and rank 2nd with 105 runs.

CLOSING THE DOOR: Jonathan Papelbon has allowed 2 runs in 39.1 IP this season for a 0.46 ERA, lowest in the majors among any pitcher who has worked more than 9 innings…Ranks 2nd in the A.L. with 23 saves, tying for 12th most ever by a rookie…Next on list is Dick Radatz (1962), who holds team rookie mark with 24 saves.

HELLO CY: Tom Glavine will be the 6th pitcher with a Cy Young Award on his resume to start versus Boston this season…The group of Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, and John Smoltz is a combined 2-2, 4.17 (23 ER/49.2 IP) in 8 starts in 2006.

THURSDAY MATCHUP: Curt Schilling and Tom Glavine are facing each other for the 6th time tonight, 1st since April 5, 1999…Schilling won that meeting and 3 of the 5 games overall with Glavine losing each of those…Both had no decisions in the other 2 matchups . . . Schilling has gone 45 starts since allowing his last unearned run on June 14, 2004 at Colorado, the longest streak in the majors since Schilling’s ML record 53 straight starts in 2001-02.

Posted by Art  at 4:43 PM | Permalink

Weekly minor-league report

The Red Sox' minor-league report, courtesy of the Boston P.R. department . . .

RED SOX MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
(For the week of June 22-28)

Highlights of the Week
-- RF Brandon Moss (Double-A Portland) earned Eastern League Player of the Week honors for the period ending June 25…the 22-year-old batted .478 (11-for-23) with 4 doubles, a triple, a homer and 7 runs scored in 6 games last week…Moss is the 2nd Sea Dogs batter to take home Eastern League Player of the Week honors this season, joining 3B Chad Spann…LHP Phil Seibel and LHP Kason Gabbard have been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week this year.

-- Moss is riding a 9-game hitting streak, batting .432 (16-for-37) with 12 runs scored and 11 RBI during the tear…Boston’s 8th-round pick in 2002 is batting .372 (29-for-78) with 7 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored in 22 games in June after batting .178 (16-for-90) in 22 games in April and .260 (26-for-100) in 26 games in May.

3B Andrew Pinckney, CF Jacoby Ellsbury and closer RHP Mike James represented Wilmington at the Carolina League vs. California League All-Star Game Tuesday in Salem, a 6-3 win by the Carolina League…Pinckney made the start and went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored…Ellsbury went 0-for-1 as a defensive replacement and James allowed one run on 2 hits and a walk in 1.0 inning, striking out one.

Pawtucket reliever LHP Craig Breslow yesterday was named to the International League team for the 2006 Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo on July 12…PawSox manager Ron Johnson was named as a coach for the IL team.

-- Breslow has gone 5-1 with 5 saves and a 3.23 ERA (14 ER/39.0 IP) in 23 games out of the bullpen…the 25-year-old has 43 strikeouts in 39.0 innings, while limiting International League opponents to a .214 batting average…the Yale product and Trumbull, CT resident signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in February.

The rosters for the 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game were announced today…4 Portland Sea Dogs have been selected to participate in the mid-summer classic: OF Tyler Minges, RHP Chris Smith, 3B Chad Spann and 1B/DH Jeremy West…the All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 12 at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, Pennsylvania…the Sea Dogs’ coaching staff consisting of manager Todd Claus, hitting coach Russ Morman, pitching coach Ace Adams and trainer Masai Takahashi will coach the Northern Division All-Star squad.

Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
International League North Division
38-38, Tied for 4th Place, 6.5 Games Back

STERN RETURNS: OF Adam Stern has gone 9-for-16 (.563) in his last 3 games to break out of a 1-for-12 (.083) slide in his previous 3 contests…the 26-year-old went 4-for-5 with 2 homers, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored on Tuesday vs. Ottawa (Orioles)…he is batting .254 with 13 doubles, 7 homers, 23 RBI, 38 runs and 13 stolen bases in 57 games overall.

PEDROIA-LTY: 2B/SS Dustin Pedroia is riding a 10-game hitting streak, batting .386 (17-for-44) with 5 doubles, a homer, 7 RBI and 4 runs…during the streak, he has lifted his average from .269 to .290…rated by Baseball America as the “Best Hitter for Average” in the Red Sox farm system, the 22-year-old is batting .340 (34-for-100) in 24 June games.

THE FILE ON KYLE: RHP Kyle Snyder made his first start for the PawSox on Monday vs. Ottawa, limiting the Lynx to one run on 5 hits in 6.0 innings (no-decision)…he is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday night at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Phillies)…claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on June 16, Snyder made one start with Boston (June 19 vs. Washington) before being optioned to Pawtucket on July 20.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Eastern League Northern Division
46-28, First Place, 6.0 Games Ahead

MR. SMITH THRIVES IN PORTLAND: Chris Smith joined recently-promoted Sea Dog Kason Gabbard as the lone 9-game winners in the Eastern League with a 7-3 win at New Britain Tuesday…he improved to 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA (6 ER/31.0 IP) in 5 starts in June and now boasts a 2.27 ERA this season…the 25-year-old righthander now owns a 7-game winning streak and has 11 quality starts this season.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN: 1B/DH Jeremy West is batting .372 (29-for-78) with 10 doubles, 4 homers, 15 RBI and 16 runs scored in 23 games in June…he has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games…the 24-year-old has seen action in 26 games at first base and 39 games at designated hitter this season.

STILL THE ONE: Portland has won 6 of its last 8 games and is 18-6 (.750) in June…the Sea Dogs enter the day with a 6.0-game lead in the Eastern League’s Northern Division.

THEY’RE MADE TO BE BROKEN: Last Thursday the Sea Dogs set a single-game attendance record with 7,368 fans at Hadlock Field to see Portland’s 5-4 win against Connecticut…the Sea Dogs are just a few games away from welcoming their 5 millionth fan in Hadlock Field history.

Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks
Carolina League Northern Division
5-2, Tied for First place, Second Half
35-35, First Place, First Half

BACK AT IT: Fresh off their All-Star Break, the Blue Rocks tonight return to action for the first time since Sunday to start a 6-game homestand…tonight, Wilmington plays the first of 3 with Lynchburg…the Blue Rocks conclude their homestand with 3 games against Salem starting Sunday.

A VARIED BUNCH OF LEADERS: At the All-Star Break, CF Jacoby Ellsbury leads the Blue Rocks with a .313 batting average and 18 stolen bases…1B Ian Bladergroen leads the club with 7 home runs while LF Jeff Corsaletti has 35 RBI and 19 doubles to lead the way…RF Mickey Hall leads the team with 7 triples while 2B/SS Iggy Suarez paces Wilmington with 32 runs scored.

AND ON THE PITCHING SIDE…: LHP Tommy Hottovy leads Wilmington’s starting rotation with 7 wins and RHP Kyle Jackson paces the bullpen with 6 wins (a perfect 6-0 mark)…Jackson also leads all Blue Rocks pitcher with 63 strikeouts…closer RHP Mike James has 13 saves to lead the team…LHP Justin Sturge leads the team with 25 appearances, posting a 1.57 ERA.

Single-A Greenville Drive
South Atlantic League Southern Division
5-2, Tied for First Place, Second Half
35-35, Tied for 5th Place, 7.0 Games Back, First Half

YOUNG BUCH: RHP Clay Buchholz has allowed just one earned run in 20.0 innings over his last 4 starts for a 0.45 ERA…Boston’s 3rd pick (sandwich round) last year has gone 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 13 starts, striking out 73 batters in 62.1 innings of work.

JAY WALKING: RF Jay Johnson set a Greenville single-game season high for hits on Tuesday vs. Lexington (Astros), going 5-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored…Boston’s 16th pick (13th round) last year ranks 7th in the league with 50 runs scored, while batting .275 with 8 homers and 35 RBI in 61 games for the Drive.

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: There are several members of the Drive who currently rank among South Atlantic League leaders…LF Chris Turner is 2nd with 16 homers and tied for 5th with 49 RBI…CF Yahmed Yema is tied for 3rd with 6 triples…C Mark Wagner ranks 9th with a .315 batting average…RHP Blake Maxwell is tied for 3rd with 30 appearances and tied for 6th with 10 saves.

Short-Season Single-A Lowell Spinners
New York-Penn League Stedler Division
3-5, 3rd Place, 4.0 Games Back

FIRST THINGS FIRST: 1B Aaron Bates has hit safely in 7 of his 8 games (including 7 in a row), batting .323 (10-for-31) with a double, homer, 2 RBI, 3 runs and 3 walks…the 22-year-old was Boston’s 6th pick (3rd round) in this year’s draft out of North Carolina State.

PAPELBON CATCHING ON: RHP Joshua Papelbon has tossed 4.0 scoreless innings over his first 3 appearances…the University of North Florida product has 5 strikeouts and no walks in 4.0 innings, while allowing just one hit…the 23-year-old was selected by the Sox in the 48th round of this year’s draft.

THE BUSINESS ON BEAZLEY: RHP Travis Beazley boasts a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP) through 2 starts (both no-decisions)…the 23-year-old allowed just 3 hits over 6.0 shutout innings last night vs. Tri-City (Astros).

Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox
Gulf Coast League Southern Division
3-5, 4th Place, 1.5 Games Back

CATCHING ON: C Roberto Sosa is off to a strong start, batting .409 (9-for-22) with 3 doubles, a homer an RBI and 4 runs scored…2006 marks Sosa’s first season of pro ball in the United States…he played the last 3 years with Boston’s Dominican Summer League club.

HOMER HAPPY: In addition to Sosa, both Carlos Fernandez and Michael Jones have hit a home run for the GCL Red Sox thus far…Jones is batting .267 (4-for-15) in early action while Fernandez is 5-for-22 (.227).

GOOSE EGGS: LHP Jose Capellan has not allowed a run in 10.1 innings this season, including 6.0 scoreless frames Tuesday vs. the Pirates…he has 11 strikeouts in 10.1 innings…Capellan combined to go 5-4 with a 1.84 ERA in 25 appearances (9 starts) during the last 2 seasons with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, earning the club’s Pitcher of the Year honor in 2004.

IN HIS PLACE: Boston’s first pick of the 2006 Draft, OF Jason Place, made his pro debut this week and is 3-for-6 (.500) through his first 3 games.

Posted by Art  at 3:41 PM | Permalink