Blog.WBRU

The Sports Rundown airs every Saturday at noon. This week, Jenna and Jeff discussed:

• the Pats first regular season game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, including the key match-up of the game, final score predictions, clips from coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and what would make Jeff cry
• the mastery of Theo Epstein’s in-season moves that have helped the Red Sox stay hot since the start of August, as well as a discussion of Dustin Pedroia for A.L. MVP, and why his chances just increased
• the current opening-round playoff series for the PawSox, including the underlying story of the series so far, what to look for the remainder of the series, and why the game tonight should be very interesting
• and what happened at Wrigley Field in Chicago this past week that might give Manny Ramirez some ideas, for better or for worse

Click here to listen to Part 1 of the sports show, with Pats and Red Sox talk

Click here to listen to Part 2 of the sports show, with PawSox and Manny talk

It was just one of those nights for the PawSox. Knuckleballer Charlie Zink couldn’t make it out of the 6th inning and the offense couldn’t get that big hit. Zink gave up 6 runs in less than 6 innings, and the offense was powered only via a solo blast from SS Gil Velazquez. Some more notes:

Tomorrow Night: Devern Hansack will start tomorrow’s game against Ian Kennedy. Hansack went on the DL after a start on the 17th of August, and has only pitched 2 innings in a game since. Manager Ron Johnson isn’t too concerned with Hansack tomorrow, but did say he’d be limited to 75-80 pitches.

A Rare Hit: In the 4th inning, Yankees C Chris Stewart was hit by a live ball off one of his teammates’ bat on his way from second to third base. He was called out.

The Deflation: The PawSox had the bases loaded in the 5th inning, but C Dusty Brown struck out, and then the Yankees built their lead with 3 more runs the following inning.

Thurston’s Throw: In the 6th inning, 2B Joe Thurston ran out to right field to cover a fly ball, caught the ball, and then twisted towards home and hurled a strike into home plate to beat the Yankees’ runner from third. The throw was there, but the runner was called safe.

Ouch! There were 3 players hit by pitches, 2 by Zink.

- JE

The PawSox cruised to their club-record 85th win this afternoon, romping the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, 9-2. The PawSox batted around and scored 5 runs in the 4th inning. Meanwhile, Bartolo Colon was sharp and efficient. In his 6th appearance since he rejoined the PawSox in August, he threw 66 pitches in 6 innings, throwing better than 70% for strikes and allowing just 4 hits and a run.

Some managerial notes after the game from Ron Johnson:

• He spoke on the phone with a member from the organization once the game concluded regarding Colon. It looks like Colon is very close to returning to Boston. Johnson said that the decision is out of hands, but that he’s unsure whether his next start will be with the PawSox or the major league club.
• There have been no discussions with Johnson about Clay Buchholz potentially pitching for the PawSox during the playoffs. After Buchholz’ impressive last start for Portland, the temptation is there, but it seems doubtful the organization would want to mess with his psyche after losing his confidence with Boston.
• The plan is for Charlie Zink to pitch the first game of the playoffs at home Wednesday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Devern Hansack is slated to pitch game two against Ian Kennedy.

The records the PawSox broke this season:

• Most wins (85) and highest winning percentage (.594) in club history
  
• Most victories over a single IL club ever (15-1 vs. the Iron Pigs) in club history
  
• Fewest errors (87) in club history, 19 errors fewer than the previous record in 2006
• Best home attendance in the league this season, edging out Louisville (636,788 to 631,457)

Listen to the sports report Tuesday through Thursday morning this week at 7:15 and 8:15 for your chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to see the PawSox take on the Yankees in their first-round playoff series at McCoy this week!!

So if you’ve been in a cave the last 4 years, this just in: the Boston Red Sox are good and so is their farm system. Not only have the Sox churned out prospects faster than butter with the likes of Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, etc., but this season, the Pawtucket Red Sox are enjoying their best season ever!

Here’s a short list of their recent accomplishments:

• on Tuesday, 1B/OF Jeff Bailey was named the International League MVP and teammate knuckleball P Charlie Zink was named the IL MVP pitcher. This is the first time the PawSox have ever swept these awards. Meanwhile, Bailey was just called up to Boston and had a clutch single in the 5th inning to bat in 2 runners on Tuesday in New York against the Yankees.
• with their win on Wednesday against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the PawSox improved to 83-56, which ties a franchise mark with 83 wins (with 4 games still remaining) and is a franchise-record 27 games above .500
• the PawSox will host playoff games at McCoy Stadium for the first time in 5 years, most likely Wednesday, September 3rd and Thursday, September 4th (if they remain in the wild-card spot)

Wow!

The PawSox beat the Chiefs last evening 8 to 5, lead by the offensive prowess of Jeff Corsaletti, who drove in 4 runs off a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly.

With this win, David Pauley becomes the league’s first 14-game winner.  Pauley went 6 and a third innings and struck out two batters.

Pawtucket now needs just 3 wins to clinch a playoff spot, there are 11 games remaining in the season.  Bartolo Colon hopes to make it just 2 wins tonight in the series finale.  Game time is at 7:05 in Pawtucket.

The Pawtucket Red Sox lost to the Scranton Yankees 8-6 in a 10-inning game that lasted four hours, 17 minutes.
Although Pawtucket starter Devern Hansack started out well for the Sox, reliever Chris Smith faltered later in the game and wasn’t able to carry any momentum.
Smith allowed six runs.
Scranton leads Pawtucket by two-and-a-half games in the International League North.

Charlie Zink: The knuckleballer struggled in his major league debut, earning a no-decision after 5 innings of work in Boston’s 19-17 blowout turned come from behind slugfest.  Zink retired the side to start off the game, but his outing quickly turned sour. Zink surrendered 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings, giving up 8 earned runs.

Clay Buchholtz: The Red Sox acquired RHP Paul Byrd from the Cleveland Indian yesterday to replace the struggling hurler in the rotation. Sox manager Terry Francona has repeatedly prasied Bucks for his progress and said he would stand by the young pitcher. Buchholtz will likely be sent back down to Pawtucket, but Red Sox brass won’t make a final decision on that until later today.

After 7 1/2 seasons in the minors, Pawsox knuckleballer Charlie Zink finally got the call he’s been waiting for. Yesterday the Red Sox called up the 28-year-old righty to replace the injured Tim Wakefield in the rotation.

Read the rest » »