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Baseball Today: Wednesday, August 22 »

PawSox 9, Chiefs 7

PAWTUCKET -- There’s been a lot of focus surrounding catchers in the Boston Red Sox organization this week.

After Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli was placed on the disabled list last Friday with a strained right calf muscle, Boston summoned the services of Kevin Cash from Pawtucket to replace him. Cash started two games behind the plate for the Red Sox, including a solid job working as Tim Wakefield’s batterymate Monday in Tampa.

PawSox catcher George Kottaras, who is considered a prospect by the Red Sox, rebounded from a recent knee injury suffered in a home-plate collision during the team’s last home stand earlier this month, and put on an offensive display with two homers in Monday’s loss.

Now Dusty Brown put is in the mix.

Called up from Double-A Portland on Saturday, the 25-year-old catcher made his Triple-A debut on Sunday and was behind the plate again last night and helped the PawSox to a 9-7 victory over Syracuse Chiefs at McCoy Stadium with a 1-for-4 performance, including two RBI.

The Red Sox will need a solid backup catcher for Jason Varitek, and eventually someone who will replace the Boston legend. The Red Sox had the future catcher with Kelly Shoppach, but traded him to Cleveland as part of the Coco Crisp deal two seasons ago and now the Red Sox are looking elsewhere.

Cash, Kottaras and now Brown all want to make an impact.

“Even when I was in Portland I felt [like I was in the mix] because I was playing real well, especially behind the plate,” said Brown. “I kept hearing good things from rovers, but now that I’m up here I get to play against the other guys I’m in the mix with and see how I compare, and let other people see how I compare. It’s good to be here.”

With the PawSox trailing by a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brown provided a much-needed spark with a two-run single to tie the game at 7-7.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s awesome. I couldn’t have picked a better spot to get a hit.”

Pawtucket’s Ed Rogers and Jacoby Ellsbury added a RBI each in the bottom of the eighth for a 9-6 lead before closer Travis Hughes allowed one run in the ninth, but still earned his 21st save of the season to become the club’s all-time leader in that category.

“It wasn’t pretty but I got the job done,” said Hughes, who broke Cory Bailey’s mark of 20 set in 1993. “It’s been a good year. I just need to stay consistent because it doesn’t matter how you start the year, it’s how you finish. I’m glad I got [the record], but it just means I’ve been here all year.”

It was an eclectic game for the PawSox as they close out the home stand and head out on the road. Ellsbury went 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Brandon Moss belted a pair of solo home runs, and Bobby Scales 2-for-4 with a home run.

“There were a lot of good things that happened on the field tonight,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson.

Still, it seems like the catching position in the organization is answering some questions this week, and Brown has quickly made an impact.

“This guy is a good receiver,” said Johnson. “He got rave reviews from Double-A.”

Now that he’s that much closer to the big leagues, Brown can taste it.

"You’re one step closer and only a phone call away,” he said. “Now it’s even a shorter phone call.”

--JOE McDONALD

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 10:53 PM to PawSox | Permalink