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June 10, 2007
PAWTUCKET - When pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last February, Red Sox manager Terry Francona made it a point to tell all the young arms in the organization the big club is looking for reliability.
Kason Gabbard took that message to heart and has become the model of consistency for the Pawtucket Red Sox this season.
The lefthander improved to 6-2 yesterday, while helping the PawSox to a 6-3 victory over the Ottawa Lynx in front of 9,731 at McCoy Stadium. Gabbard worked six solid innings, allowing just two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
“Obviously I have a lot of confidence in all my pitches,” said Gabbard, who threw 99 (63 for strikes). Batterymate Kevin “Cash did a great job calling the game, and I haven’t faced these guys yet this year, so we just went after them.”
The two runs Gabbard allowed yesterday were by way of a two-run homer by the Lynx’ Danny Sandoval, who belted the roundtripper in the top of the fourth inning.
“I tried to go in with a two-seamer,” said Gabbard. “It didn’t do nothing, obviously, except go over the fence.”
Of the 25 earned run Gabbard has allowed this season, 17 of them have come off the long ball. He’s allowed seven two-run homers and three solo shots.
Despite the two-run homer yesterday, Gabbard was efficient, had command of all his pitches, especially his curveball and he worked quickly.
“He’s becoming a very professional pitcher,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson.
“He’s professionalized himself, and I know I use that term a lot maybe because of lack of a better term, but just watching the total package he’s been consistent.”
Gabbard didn’t do it alone yesterday, however, as his offense banged out nine hits, including a three-run homer by Brandon Moss in the five-run third inning before Michael Tucker added a solo shot in the sixth inning.
“If we can get Michael Tucker swinging the bat the way he can there’s no doubt in my mind that will upgrade everyone else’s performance,” said Johnson. “He’s that guy in the lineup, a veteran guy, who can make other people better. It was really nice to see him [hit that home run] today.”
Gabbard agreed.
“When we’re scoring runs it’s a lot easier to pitch,” he said. “You just try to throw strikes and get guys out.”
After Gabbard was done for the day, reliever Craig Breslow, after a three-day rest, got himself into a jam to begin the seventh inning. The crafty lefty surrendered back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. After a wild pitch scored Ottawa’s third run of the game, Breslow struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning relatively unscathed.
“He had three days off and maybe he felt a little too strong,” said Johnson. “He looked liked he was overthrowing a little bit, but all of a sudden he strikes out the side.”
The PawSox manager had reliever Edgar Martinez throwing in the bullpen as Breslow closed out the inning and the southpaw told Johnson “I’m fine.” So, Johnson sent him back out for the eighth inning where he retired the first two batters he faced and allowed back-to-back singles before Johnson gave him the hook. Travis Hughes came in and earned his fifth save of the season for his 1 2/3 innings of work with two strikeouts.
It was a solid day at the ballpark for the PawSox, especially after having a very difficult night on Friday in a 6-2 loss where nothing went right, then having a day game yesterday.
Johnson said he learned a lot about the character of his team.
“I’m really proud of these guys to see them bounce back,” he said.
--JOE McDONALD
Posted by Corey Bourassa 
at 6:14 PM to PawSox
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