David Shinskie allowed a triple to Bubba Bell (3-for-5) and an RBI single by Aaron Bates in the seventh before retiring the next eight batters he faced for his first save.

The Boston Red Sox No. 3 pitching prospect (ranked seventh in the organization overall by Baseball America) is typically even more frank with himself. Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler described Bowden (pronounced like Bowdoin) as a perfectionist.

"He's a tireless worker and very hard on himself," Beyeler said. "He's one of those guys you never really know is around. He takes care of his business all the time."

As a youngster, Bowden had to learn how to take care of business on the mound pretty much on his own, which may explain why he's seldom satisfied and, as Sea Dogs catcher John Otness said, is a "maniac work guy."

Bowden grew up poor outside of Chicago. As a result, he received no extra instruction on pitching. He didn't have a pitching coach at Waubonise Valley High School, either, so his unorthodox over-the-top pitching motion, with the hitch in the back, was entirely self-taught.

Barring a change in plans, Jed Lowrie will make his big-league debut tonight for the Sox, most likely at third. With Sean Casey just 3 for 21 (.143) against Cleveland's starter tonight, Paul Byrd, Francona said he was thinking of moving Kevin Youkilis back to first, with Lowrie playing third. Not a bad birthday present for Lowrie, who turns 24 Thursday. "I've been taking most of my ground balls at third," he said. "A lot of the early work I've been doing has been all at third. A few at short, just to stay fresh so I don't forget." Lowrie, who played two games at third last season for Pawtucket, said the extra work at the position with infield coach Luis Alicea is paying dividends. "The more work, the more comfortable I get over there," he said. "It's always a work in progress, but I feel pretty comfortable over there."

A natural shortstop, Lowrie got some playing time at third in spring training and played some at the position in Pawtucket before being called up to Boston.

"The more I work at it," he said, "the more comfortable I get. It's a little different (than shortstop) because of the (shorter) reaction time."

Lowrie has been watching Lowell and Kevin Youkilis at the position and working with infield coach Luis Alicea.

Zink, Kottaras help PawSox get split

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Charlie Zink surrendered only one hit in five shutout innings and George Kottaras drilled a pair of tape-measure home runs, leading the Pawtucket Red Sox to an 8-2 victory over the Louisville Bats in the second game of their doubleheader last night in front of 5,902 fans.

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Kottaras finished with five RBI in the nightcap and Joe Thurston chipped in by going 3-for-3. Zink evened his record at 1-1.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Dan Goldberg - Anderson, Still focus on grabbing grounders

LANCASTER - Bruce Crabbe, Boston's infield coordinator, joined the contingent of Red Sox roving trainers, who are currently with the JetHawks.

Before Sunday's game he worked with first basemen Lars Anderson and Jon Still.

Anderson committed two errors in Saturday's loss to Lake Elsinore but Crabbe said the timing was purely coincidental.

"This is just maintenance," Crabbe said. "I do this with everyone."

Crabbe hit dozens of groundballs to the pair, correcting their fielding stance, imploring the 6-foot-4 Anderson to bend from the knees and not the waist.

"You got to be lower to the ground," Anderson said. "You want to use your legs more than your body."

Crabbe also wanted both Still and Anderson to keep their head level, preventing their eyes from darting up and down.

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Outfielder Jason Place returned to the lineup Saturday, his first game back after bunting a ball into his face during the finish of the JetHawks 18-inning game against Inland Empire on Wednesday.

Place said, at first, the swelling affected his vision, but once his right cheek returned to human size, he was able to resume baseball activities.

Dan Goldberg - So Very Sloppy; Feeble defensive play has JetHawks reeling

Good numbers were hard to find in the JetHawks' first home series, but Epperson pointed to Josh Papelbon, preferring to focus on three innings of one-hit ball than shoddy defense.

JetHawks infielders have committed 17 errors in 11 games.

Beazley, however, was confident he could focus on his improved control and good changeup, not the mental miscues that deemed them irrelevant.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Dan Goldberg - Starters making it hard on 'Hawks

They were 1-for-12 against the Nuts and have just four hits in their last 36 such opportunities (.111). The JetHawks loaded the bases in the first, but Jorge Jimenez flied out to right to end the inning.

Their best opportunity came in the fourth. Trailing 8-2, Reid Engel - the JetHawks' leading hitter - stepped to the plate with bases loaded and no one out. He hit a line drive to second baseman Jason Van Kooten, who was positioned perfectly. He snared the line drive and then flipped to first to double off Jason Place.

Lars Anderson worked the count to 3-2, fouled of a series of pitches, but struck out to end the inning.

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"The bullpen is stepping it up right now," Epperson said. "(Lentz) dominated with his fastball."

The JetHawks futility in clutch spots continued in the seventh when Luis Segovia came up with runners on second and third and two out. He hit a ball right back up the middle, which kicked off the pitcher Will Harris, but went right to Van Kooten, whose throw just beat Segovia to first.

Despite the four-game losing streak - the JetHawks longest since July, 2006, Epperson remained unconcerned.

First baseman Lars Anderson sat with Boston's hitting coordinator Victor Rodriguez in the manager's office after the JetHawks' April 10 game hunched over a laptop, looking at video from last season.

"It was interesting to see where I was a year ago," Anderson said. "I noticed now that I am seeing the ball a lot better."

The two have been working on Anderson's timing. The third-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization began Monday hitting .250 with two home runs and feels he is still late on pitches.

"On all pitches," Anderson said. "I'm just trying to get comfortable and stay back with my swing."

Ellsbury, the Red Sox rookie outfielder, walked on seven pitches to jump start last night's series finale. He then stole second, advanced to third when Jose Molina's throw eluded Robinson Cano, and scored on Manny Ramirez's sharp line drive to right.

Three hours and 55 minutes later, the Red Sox were 8-5 winners.

Believe it or not, though, Ellsbury wasn't the most hyped 23rd overall pick on the field last night. That distinction belonged to Yankees starter Phil Hughes, who was making his debut against Boston.

It's always a work in progress," he said, "but I'm getting pretty comfortable over there." The difference between short and third, he added, is mostly a matter of learning the footwork. "Once you field it," Lowrie said, "the throwing is the same."

He's been watching Mike Lowell, and now Youkilis, play the position to pick up some pointers.

When he has a question, though, Lowrie goes to first base coach Luis Alicea for advice.

Eastern League Announces Bank Of America Weekly Award Winners

Justin Masterson, a right-handed starting pitcher for the Portland Sea Dogs, is the Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 13th. Masterson, who went 4-3 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 games with the Sea Dogs last season following a promotion from Single-A Lancaster, has made two starts for Portland this year and is 0-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in nine innings of work. In his season debut for the Sea Dogs the 23-year old surrendered three hits and struck out three batters without issuing a walk over four innings in a no-decision on the road against the New Britain Rock Cats. The 6'6", 250 lb. hurler was even more impressive in his second start of the season last Tuesday at Dodd Stadium, limiting the Defenders to two hits while striking out seven batters in five shutout innings of work. Justin, who is ranked by Baseball America as the 4th best prospect in the Red Sox organization, was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2006 draft out of San Diego State University.

Portland had one hit in seven innings off Connecticut's bullpen until picking up two in the 11th inning. Hedrick fanned Bates and Natale to begin the frame but Johnson and Otness delivered singles. Ryan Khoury walked and Hedrick's wild toss came on the first pitch to Iggy Suarez.

Jose Vaquedano became the first 3-game winner in the Eastern League by pitching a scoreless 11th.

Otness had three hits for the Sea Dogs, who played their first extra-inning contest at home since September 9, 2006 against the Trenton Thunder in the Northern Division Championship Series. Brandon Moss sent Portland into the E.L. Championship with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11th.

Justin Masterson tossed five innings for the 'Dogs, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks and two strikeouts. Portland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Adam Cowart. Bubba Bell and Aaron Bates provided RBI singles.