Real life work and family commitments have kept me away from the blog quite a bit during the early goings of the 2009 season.  I apologize to those who follow this blog. This labor of love needs to take a back seat to what pays the bills.  That’s just the way it is..

The good thing is that you don’t have to miss any news from the team in my absence.  The PawSox themselves are doing a great job in providing daily updates on the team.  A visit to the team’s website will provide any fan with a daily dose of team information and statistics.  There is always enough news and notes to be found in the great work done by Bill Wanless.  Don’t forget to add the blogs from radio guys Dan Hoard and Steve Hyder to your favorite news aggregator.  They have the inside scoops that come with their daily access to the club.  And he new MLB-look to the site is a plus in and of itself!

Now back to the team.  I really don’t think you can expect much more than its 9-6 start after 15 games.  The number of players moving to and from Manager Ron Johnson’s club makes it difficult for the team to develop any consistency.  As of Friday the PawSox have already used 31 players (16 position and 15 pitchers).  More moves are on the way for today as IF Gil Velazquez is expected to retrun to the PawSox after being optioned by Boston yesterday.  The outfield has been in shambles with the latest news that Zach Daegas has been placed on the 7 day DL with a right ankle injury.  Chris Carter just returned to the team on Friday.  Chip Ambres has been the only consistent member of the tandom through 15 ganes.

Although the starting rotation has been intact since opening day, the bullpen has been taxed.  Over the last two days alone RJ has had to employ his entire pen.  I can’t wait to see when the injury situation settles down in Boston how this team will look and beigin to work as one unit.

Elsewhere across the International League, the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees at 14-1?  I’m sure they’ll cool down soon, right?  The PawSox are in second place, already five games off the pace.   Once SWB comes back to earth we may come to enjoy another Sox-Yankees division race.  Let’s hope so.

I am hoping to be back at McCoy when the club returns from its road trip on Thursday.  Talk to you then…if not sooner.

As we mentioned in today’s game story…Jeff Bailey has been recalled by Boston to take the spot of Rocco Baldelli, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.

PAWTUCKET- The Pawtucket Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning, then rode another solid staff-wide pitching performance to beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 2-0 to earn a split of their four game series this afternoon at McCoy.

The PawSox scored their runs on a wind-aided two-run homer to left by DH Paul McAnulty, his second homer of the season.

PawSox starter Michael Bowden (1-0) once again put in a solid performance, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up only three hits.  He walked one and struck out seven.  He lowered his ERA to 0.64.  The win was Bowden’s first Triple A victory.

“He’s made progress each and every outing” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson of Bowden, “His slider was impressive today. I was impressed with everything he did today.”

“It definitely felt well” said Bowden, “I felt comfortable out there, getting ahead of guys.”

Fernando Cabrera followed Bowden by throwing 2 2/3 innings of no hit ball.  Daniel Bard came in to pitch a scoreless ninth to pick-up his third save of the season.  PawSox pitchers struck out a total of 10 IronPig batters.

Bowden’s only shaky inning came in the top of the fourth, when he loaded the bases with one out.  But he settled down, inducing Lehigh Valley right fielder Jeremy Sladen to ground to third where Angel Chavez forced a runner at home.  Chavez then made a diving stop on a grounder to force out J.J. Furmaniak at first to end the threat.

“Anything in Chavez’ vicinity he’s gonna grab.” said Bowden, “He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen over there.”

IronPigs starter Kyle Kendrick (1-1) could not duplicate the success of his first two starts of 2009.  He had trouble commanding his pitches in taking the loss, throwing 88 pitches through only four innings of work.

PawSox RF Chip Ambres led all PawSox hitters with two of the PawSox’ five hits.

Pawtucket opens up a two-game home series tomorrow night (6:15 pm) with the Rochester Red Wings.  Kris Johnson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) throws for the PawSox.  He’ll be opposed by Anthony Swarzak (0-2, 0.82) for the Red Wings.

AFTER THE FACT: With Boston’s Rocco Baldelli injuring his hamstring in today’s win over the Orioles, could the Sox be calling up Jeff Bailey to take his spot on the Red Sox roster?  As of this writing nothing is official…but Bailey was replaced in the field in the top of the ninth by Zach Daegas and Manager Ron Johnson was not coaching third base in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Could a call have come in from Boston?  We’ll wait and see.

Michael Bowden’s day is over, leaving with a 2-0 lead.  He pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on three hits.  He walked  one and struck out seven.  He threw 92 pitches, 61 for strikes…

The PawSox still lead the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 2-0 after four innings on this Patriot’s Day matinee…

The PawSox scored their runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer to left by Paul McAnulty…

Starter Michael Bowden has held the Iron Pigs scoreless through four.  He did struggle a bit in the fourth, loading the bases with one out.  But he induced LHV right fielder Jeremy Sladen to ground to third where Angel Chavez forced a runner at home.  Chavez then made a diving stop of a grounder to force out J.J. Furmaniak at first to end the threat…  Through four Bowden has thrown 75 poitches, 48 for strikes…