As of this post, I am officially on vacation. It gives me a chance to recharge the batteries and enjoy some quality time with my family.
I will be separated from e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and all my other tehnological tethers until the end of the month. You should too. See you all then! Thanks for your support!
Charlotte Knights pitcher Carlos Torres is credited with throwing a perfect game in the Knights 5-0 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox last night at McCoy in a game shortened to five innings due to rain. The win earned Charlotte a split of the four game series. Torres is the first International League pitcher to throw a five inning perfect game.
Torres (5-4) struck out five in retiring all 15 batters he faced.
The Knights scored all five runs off PawSox starter Charlie Zink (4-6) in the top of the fifth on a Keith Ginter bases loaded walk and a grand slam by Josh Kroeger.
The PawSox hit the road to begin a four game series tonight (7:05 pm) with the Durham Bulls in North Carolina. Michael Bowden (3-3, 2.48 ERA)will pitch for Pawtucket. He’ll be opposed by Wade Davis (6-4, 3.17 ERA) for the Bulls.
Here is a second video featuring PawSox radio broadcasters Dan Hoard and Steve Hyder. This clip gets the guy’s opinions on minor league travel as well as thier best Triple A ballparks, other than McCoy of course…
For those who graced McCoy Stadium for last night’s doubleheadder between the PawSox and the Charlotte Knights hoping for a lot of offense, they were disappointed. What they got instead was a pair of solid pitching performances and the teams splitting the two games. Charlotte took game one in 8 innings 1-0 while the PawSox took the nightcap 3-2.
The Knights took the opener on a solo home run by Josh Kroeger off PawSox reliever Hunter Jones (0-2).
The game was dominated by the shutout work of both pitching staffs. PawSox starter Kris Johnson had arguably his best outing of the season, giving up only two hits, three walks, and five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Randor Beird pitched 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball for Pawtucket. Charlotte’s John Van Benschoten threw five innings of scoreless ball while Adam Russell (1-2) threw three innings for the win.
The PawSox needed to come from behind to take game two. Chris Carter knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Pawtucket would take the lead in the fifth on an RBI double by Travis Denker.
The PawSox used a set of relivers to pitch in game two with Jose Vaquedano (4-1) earning the win.
Overall the PawSox offense continued to struggle, collecting a total of only 8 hits over the course of the doubleheadder.
The Knights and PawSox play game three of their four game set tonight at McCoy. John Smoltz will make his third rehab start for the PawSox. Clay Buchholz, who missed his start after Monday’s rainout, will follow Smoltz from the bullpen. Jack Egbert will pitch for Charlotte.
Luck is once again not on my side as I will be unable toi attend tonight’s game. Instead I will be at Fenway to catch the Red Sox battle the Marlins (as a fan, not in the press box)
NOTES: Bubba Bell made his PawSox debut last night, playing in both ends of the twin bill. He went a combined 0-3 with three walks.
Circumstances have kept me away from the site the last few days…and I’m sorry to say will continue to do so as I have work commitments this week then I’ll be away on vacation until June 30th.
One item I was able to accomplish was to sit down with PawSox broadcasters Dan Hoard and Steve Hyder. Here is my report…
Thanks to Dan and Steve for their cooperation. I’ll have another video from the radio guys soon.
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