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Red Sox call up Craig Breslow

Craig Breslow, the Pawtucket Red Sox' lone Triple-A All-Star representative, has been summoned to Boston and will pitch for the Red Sox at least through the weekend. Breslow takes the roster spot that was opened Monday when Jason Johnson was sent to Class A Wilmington.

Breslow is only expected to stay with the Sox until Monday. At that point, it's assumed Boston will send Breslow back to Pawtucket and replace him with Kyle Snyder, who will start Monday night against his old team, the Kansas City Royals.

The A's, Boston's opponent this weekend at Fenway Park, have a number of dangerous left-handed hitters and Breslow gives the Red Sox another left-handed option in the bullpen to go with Javier Lopez.

Breslow is 5-1 with a 3.40 earned-run average this season, and has an excellent 50-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45 innings.

Johnson -- who was sent to Wilmington because both Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A Portland had their own All-Star breaks earlier this week -- is expected to be called up to Pawtucket by this weekend.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Art  at 4:16 PM | Permalink

Red Sox' weekly minor-league report

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

RED SOX MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
(For the week of July 6-12)

Highlights of the Week
-- CF Jacoby Ellsbury was promoted to Double-A Portland yesterday from Single-A Wilmington...a 2006 Carolina League All-Star, Ellsbury batted .298 with 4 home runs, 5 triples, 32 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 60 games for the Blue Rocks this season . . . Boston’s top pick (23rd overall) in 2005, Ellsbury began his pro career last season with short-season Single-A Lowell, batting .317 with 28 runs scored, 19 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 35 games…the 22-year-old made the jump to Advanced Single-A Wilmington to begin the 2006 campaign.
-- RHP Chris Smith last night made the start for the Eastern League’s Northern Division All-Star team, limiting the Southern squad to a run on 4 hits and no walks in 2.0 innings, fanning one and exiting with a 3-1 lead…OF Tyler Minges made the start in left field and went 0-for-2 with a walk while 3B Chad Spann made the start at third base, going 0-for-1 with a walk…1B/DH Jeremy West went 0-for-1 in a pinch-hit appearance for the designated hitter…the Southern squad notched a 5-3, come-from-behind victory.
-- Pawtucket reliever LHP Craig Breslow yesterday represented the International League at the 2006 Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo…the International League All-Stars shut out the Pacific Coast League squad, 6-0…Breslow did not pitch…PawSox manager Ron Johnson served as a coach for the IL team . . . Breslow has gone 5-1 with 5 saves and a 3.40 ERA (17 ER/45.0 IP) in 26 games out of the bullpen…the 25-year-old has 50 strikeouts in 45.0 innings, while limiting International League opponents to a .226 batting average…the Yale product and Trumbull, CT resident signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in February.

Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
International League North Division
42-46, 5th Place, 8.0 Games Back
-- TEAM LEADERS AT THE BREAK: Batting Average – Ron Calloway (.317); Home runs – Jeff Bailey (16); RBI – Bailey (53); Runs Scored – Adam Stern (42); Wins – Abe Alvarez, Marc Deschenes and Craig Breslow (5); Saves – Jermaine Van Buren (9); Appearances – Tim Bausher (27); Innings Pitched – Matt Ginter (89.0); Starters ERA – Jon Lester (2.70); Relievers ERA – Van Buren (1.71).
-- INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS AT THE BREAK: Batting Average - Ron Calloway (.317, 5th); On-Base Percentage - Calloway (.391, 7th); Home runs - Jeff Bailey (16, T5th); RBI – Bailey (53, T5th); Slugging Percentage - Bailey (.523, 6th); Doubles - Dustin Pedroia (22, T6th); Stolen bases - Trent Durrington (16, T8th).

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Eastern League Northern Division
52-36, First Place, 4.0 Games Ahead
-- TEAM LEADERS AT THE BREAK: Batting Average – Chad Spann (.303); Home runs – Luis Jimenez (11); RBI –Brandon Moss (55); Runs Scored – Moss (47); Wins – Kason Gabbard and Chris Smith (9); Saves – Edgar Martinez (8); Appearances – Martinez and Jon Searles (31); Innings Pitched – Smith (101.2); Starters ERA – Gabbard (2.57); Relievers ERA – Barry Hertzler (1.05).
-- EASTERN LEAGUE LEADERS AT THE BREAK: Batting Average – Chad Spann (.303, 5th) and Jeremy West (.301, 6th); RBI –Brandon Moss (55, 3rd); Hits – Spann (91, T4th); Doubles – Moss (24, 2nd); Wins – Kason Gabbard and Chris Smith (9, T1st); Innings Pitched – Smith (101.2, 4th); ERA – Gabbard (2.57, 6th) and Devern Hansack (2.87, 9th).

Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks
Carolina League Northern Division
9-9, 2nd place, 2.0 Games Back
-- ON THE RISE: Promoted yesterday to Double-A Portland, CF Jacoby Ellsbury recorded 6 stolen bases in his last 7 games and joined Portland with 25 stolen bases this season, tied for 3rd-most in the Carolina League…he also had 3 triples in July, boosting his season total to 5 (2nd in the league)…Ellsbury, Boston’s top pick in the 2005 June Draft, also ranks 5th in the league with a .298 batting average.
-- TOM TERRIFIC: LHP Tommy Hottovy has won 4 of his last 5 decisions, going 4-1 with a 2.35 (8 ER/30.2 IP) in his last 6 starts beginning June 11…overall this season, the 25-year-old is 8-6 with a 2.90 ERA, the 8th-best ERA in the Carolina League…Hottovy paces the league with 105.2 innings pitched this season.
-- BE LIKE MIKE: Blue Rocks closer RHP Mike James is a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities following his perfect 9th inning last night in Wilmington’s 5-4 win vs. Frederick…10 of his 15 saves have come on the road this season despite posting a 1.80 ERA and a .135 batting average against at home and a 3.18 ERA and .319 batting average against on the road…he has 10 strikeouts and no walks in his last 7 outings (covering 7.0 innings).

Single-A Greenville Drive
South Atlantic League Southern Division
12-8, 2nd Place, 4.0 Games Back, Second Half
35-35, Tied for 5th Place, 7.0 Games Back, First Half
-- JAY WALKING TO WILMINGTON: OF Jay Johnson yesterday was promoted to Wilmington…the 24-year-old batted .356 (16-for-45) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 8 RBI and 8 runs in 10 July games to earn the promotion…Boston’s 16th pick (13th round) last year hit .283 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 43 RBI and 58 runs in 73 games for the Drive.
-- COMING UP ROZIER: LHP Michael Rozier owns a 2.31 ERA (3 ER/11.2 IP) in his last 2 starts (both no-decisions) after pitching to a 6.41 ERA (14 ER/19.2 IP) in his previous 4 outings…the 21-year-old, who was Boston’s 12th-round selection in 2004, is 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 16 starts overall…he is slated to start tonight vs. Asheville (Rockies).
-- GOOD TIM-ING: LHP Tim Cox has allowed just 3 earned runs in 29.0 innings over his last 9 appearances (0.93 ERA)…the 20-year-old Australian has not given up an earned run in his last 5 games, tossing 15.0 shutout innings in that span…he is 3-4 with a 2.14 ERA in 22 games overall.

Short-Season Single-A Lowell Spinners
New York-Penn League Stedler Division
10-10, 3rd Place, 3.0 Games Back
-- KRIS-KROSSED: LHP Kristofer Johnson has allowed just 2 hits and no earned runs in 7.2 innings over his first 4 pro games (3 starts)…the 21-year-old was Boston’s 3rd pick (sandwich round, 40th overall) in this year’s draft out of Wichita State University.
-- OBEY YOUR MASTERSON: RHP Justin Masterson boasts a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) with 12 strikeouts in 8.0 innings over his first 4 professional appearances…the 21-year-old was the Sox’ 5th pick (2nd round) in June out of San Diego State University.
-- SAVING THE DAY: RHP Joshua Papelbon has notched 2 saves without allowing an earned run through his first 6 appearances (7.1 IP)…the 23-year-old was selected by the Sox in the 48th round of this year’s draft.
-- BRINGING THE PENA: LHP Mario Pena has gone 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) through 4 starts…the 21-year-old native of Nicaragua signed with the Sox as a free agent in August of 2002.
--TAKING THE BATES: 1B Aaron Bates is batting .378 (28-for-74) with 6 doubles, 3 homers, 9 RBI and 13 runs scored in 19 games…the North Carolina State product was Boston’s 6th pick (3rd round) in this year’s draft.

Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Red Sox
Gulf Coast League South Division
7-10, 3rd Place, 4.5 Games Back
-- LUCKY 7: OF Carlos Fernandez-Oliva has hit safely 7 of his last 8 games, batting .357 (10-for-28) with 2 doubles, a triple and 7 RBI…he has raised his batting average to .304 from .222 during the run…he also has 4 stolen bases in his last 4 games…Fernandez-Oliva has a team-high 10 RBI in 13 games this season.
-- JUST DOUBRONT IT: LHP Felix Doubront is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 4 starts this season…the 19-year-old has limited lefthanders to a .083 batting average (1-for-12)…Doubront was named the 2005 Red Sox Minor League Latin Pitcher of the Year after going 7-1 with a 0.97 ERA in 13 starts for the Venezuelan Summer League team.
-- HE’S THE MANN: RHP Will Mann has 3 saves and has not allowed a run in 6 professional outings for the GCL Red Sox, covering 6 outings and 7.2 innings…he has 9 strikeouts and just one walk in the 7.2 innings while limiting foes to a .192 batting average, including a .111 mark by lefties.

Posted by Art  at 2:34 PM | Permalink

Thursday's press notes

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

UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
DATE OPP. BOS TIME RED SOX STARTER OPPOSING STARTER TELEVISION
Thurs., July 13 OAK 7:05 p.m. LHP Jon Lester (4-0, 3.06) RHP Esteban Loaiza (3-5, 6.43) NESN
Fri., July 14 OAK 7:05 p.m. RHP Josh Beckett (11-4, 4.75) LHP Barry Zito (8-6, 3.29) NESN
Sat., July 15 OAK 7:05 p.m. RHP Curt Schilling (10-3, 3.60) RHP Dan Haren (6-7, 3.52) NESN
Sun., July 16 OAK 2:05 p.m. RHP Tim Wakefield (7-8, 4.05) RHP Joe Blanton (8-8, 4.95) NESN
---All games broadcast on 103.7 WEEI-FM and the Red Sox radio network and the Red Sox Spanish-language radio network---

ONE FOR THE BOOKS
David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon turned in historic totals at the All-Star Break…Ortiz is the first in Red Sox history to hit 30 or more home runs prior to the All-Star Break, while Papelbon’s 26 saves are the most by any rookie in major league history prior to the All-Star Break.

Red Sox All-Time Leaders, Homers Before The Break
1. David Ortiz, 2006 31
2. Carl Yastrzemski, 1969 29
3. Manny Ramirez, 2004 26
Manny Ramirez, 2001 26
Jose Canseco, 1996 26
Mo Vaughn, 1996 26

All-Time M.L. Save Leaders, Rookies Before The Break
PLAYER CLUB, YR No.
1. J. Papelbon BOS, 2006 26
2. Mike MacDougal KC, 2003 24
3. Kaz Sasaki SEA, 2000 19
4. Jorge Julio BAL, 2002 17
5. Yhency Brazoban LAD, 2005 16
Thanks to David Vincent for his home run research assistance.

HOME OWNERS
The Red Sox tonight begin a stretch in which they play 26 of their first 38 games at home after the All-Star Break…winners of their last 9 games at Fenway, Boston boasts the best home record in all of baseball since the start of the 2003 season:

1. RED SOX 189-91 .675
2. New York (AL) 186-101 .648
3. Atlanta 178-109 .620
4. St. Louis 177-109 .619
5. Oakland 178-111 .616

Since the start of 2003, Boston has at least 10 fewer home losses than any other club in the majors. . . . Boston’s 9-game winning streak at home is its longest since a 14-game home winning streak July 19-August 26, 2005…the Sox tonight look to post a double-digit winning streak at home for the 3rd season in a row, as the club also won 11-straight games here August 16-September 3, 2004.

BRINGING THEIR WORK HOME: Following a 10-game road trip that led to the All-Star Break, the Red Sox tonight return to Fenway Park to begin an 8-game homestand with Oakland (4 games), Kansas City (3) and Texas (one) . . . The Red Sox have 44 home games remaining on their 2006 schedule, more than any other team in all of baseball . . . Originally scheduled for 7 games, the homestand was extended to 8 games with the make-up of the May 14 rainout vs. Texas now scheduled for July 20, what had been a mutual off day for both clubs.

ON THE RUN: Winners in 17 of their last 22 games since June 16, Boston with a 53-33 mark is off to its best start through 86 games since 2002 (53-33 with a loss in game 87) . . . Boston posted 53 wins or more at the All-Star Break for just the 6th time since 1960, joining 2003 (55 wins), 1986 (56), 1979 (56), 1978 (57) and 1969 (54).

IN GOOD STANDING: The Red Sox lead the American League East heading into post-All-Star Break play for the 2nd season in a row, as Boston led Baltimore by 2.0 games at this point in the campaign in 2005 . . . Boston’s 3.0-game lead at the All-Star Break is its largest since 1995, when Boston led Detroit by 3.0 games in the American League East at this point in the season . . . The Red Sox have held sole possession of first place in the A.L. East for the last 25 days…Boston has also been in sole possession of or in a statistical tie for first in the A.L. East for 90 of 101 days in 2006.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Jon Lester tonight looks to become the first Red Sox rookie starter to win his first 5 decisions since Aaron Sele won his first 6 decisions in 1993 he is the first Red Sox rookie left-handed starter to win his first 4 decisions since Rick Jones in 1976 . . . Since 1960, only 8 Red Sox left-handed starters have won as many as 4 games in their rookie campaigns, most recently done by Vaughn Eshelman, who won 5 starts as a Red Sox rookie in 1995 . . . Already this season, 5 Red Sox pitchers have earned their first major league win: Lester, Lenny DiNardo, Jermaine Van Buren, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen.

DIVISIONAL MATTERS: The Red Sox are in the midst of a 24-game stretch against clubs outside of the division…prior to the 4 games at Tampa Bay last week, Boston had played 22 games in a row outside of the A.L. East….therefore, the Sox are in a stretch in which 46 of 50 games are against non-A.L. East teams after starting the year with 40 of their first 57 games against A.L. East foes . . . Overall, the Red Sox are 28-14 (.667) against non-A.L. East teams this season and are 25-19 (.568) against their division.

HE'S A GOLIATH: David Ortiz has already connected for 31 home runs this season, his 4th campaign with at least 30 homers in 4 seasons with the Red Sox…he joins Manny Ramirez (first 5) and Jimmie Foxx (first 5) as the only players in club history with 30 homers in their first 4 seasons as a Red Sox . . . According to Elias, Ortiz became the fastest Red Sox to 30 homers in club history in 84 team games, breaking the mark of 96 games set by Manny Ramirez in 2001 . . . Including 8 homers in his last 37 at-bats Ortiz leads the majors with 31 homers and 87 RBI…Ortiz is on a 162-game pace for 58 homers and 164 RBI in 2006, numbers that would shatter his career highs of 47 homers and 148 RBI set in 2005 and break Foxx’s 68-year-old Red Sox franchise record of 50 homers in 1938.

THE RED SOX AND ATHLETICS
-- 2006 SEASON: The Red Sox and Athletics meet 10 times in 2006, though these 4 games this weekend represent Oakland’s lone trip to Boston in 2006…the Red Sox make 2 trips to the Bay Area this season for a pair of 3-game series: July 24-26 and August 28-30.
-- 2005 SEASON: The Red Sox went 6-4 against the Athletics last season and have now won 10 of their last 13 games against Oakland at Fenway . . . The Red Sox have finished with a .500-or-better record at home against the Athletics in 14 of the last 15 seasons, all but 2003 (1-2).
-- ALL-TIME: The Red Sox lead the all-time series 246-192 since the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968...the Red Sox are 141-80 at Fenway Park and 105-112 in Oakland . . .The Red Sox are 9-3-1 in the last 13 season series with Oakland, going 86-49 vs. the A’s since the start of the 1993 season (48-22 at Fenway Park and 38-27 in Oakland).

RECORDS AND MILESTONES
-- THE 19-INNING MARATHON: On Sunday, the Red Sox and White Sox played 19 innings at U.S. Cellular Field, with Chicago capturing a 6-5 win . . . At 6 hours, 19 minutes, Sunday’s game was the 3rd-longest by time in franchise history, trailing only a 6:35, 18-inning loss August 25, 2001 at Texas, and a 6:30, 19-inning win April 11, 1992 at Cleveland . . . It was only the 9th game of 19 innings or more in club history, the longest since August 1, 2000 at Seattle, a 5-4, 19-inning loss.
-- DEFENSE RECORD: The Red Sox set a new major league record by playing 17 games in a row without an error from June 11-30 . . . Boston surpassed the previous major league record set by the St. Louis Cardinals July 30-August 16, 1992 and broke the A.L. mark of 15 previously held by the Rangers from August 4-19, 1996…the Red Sox cleanly handled 668 chances between errors.
-- SAVE ME! Jonathan Papelbon has already set the Red Sox single-season rookie saves record with 26 saves, breaking Dick Radatz’s mark of 24 saves as a rookie in 1962 . . . Papelbon’s 26 saves already tie for the 9th most by a rookie in major league history, only 11 shy of the record set by Seattle’s Kaz Sasaki in 2000.

Posted by Art  at 2:25 PM | Permalink