Paw Sox Streak Snapped

It was a great day for baseball in Pawtucket yesterday afternoon, unfortunately the Paw Sox couldn't continue their season-high six game win streak. The game marked the return of Jacoby Ellsbury who began his rehab after he fractured his ribs back in April. He led off in the DH role and went 1 for 3 on the day with a walk. He was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the ninth with the Paw Sox down by one and the game-tying runner on base...I guess it was a strict three-at-bat appearance for him?!

Boof Bonser got the start for Pawtucket and once again was not spectacular. He was yanked after 4 1/3 innings, tying his longest outing of the season. Bonser gave up two earned runs on five hits and three walks. I have now seen him pitch twice on the season and have not been impressed at all. He pops his heat in the very low 90s, his breaking ball isn't bad when it's on, but if he is expecting to make the big club at any point this season, he has to find better control overall.

In the seventh inning with two runners on, Josh Reddick hit a ball out to right field that was misplayed by a charging Chris Duncan. The ball got under his glove and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Reddick to believe that he has Ellsbury speed (and his manager too, who was waving him in from third). Of course Reddick was gunned down at the plate, but Pawtucket was now up 4-3.

The lead was short lived as Syracuse picked up two runs in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI double by Eric Bruntlett and an RBI single by Pedro Lopez. That put the score at 5-4, where it would stay

Syracuse 5 PawSox 4

W: Atahualpa Severino (2-0)

L: Joe Nelson (3-2)

S: Joel Peralta (9)

HR: SYR - Chris Duncan (4)

Since New Hampshire, Portland and New Britain all had off days, you would expect a quiet news day. But there is certainly some things to take note of before they all get back to business tonight.

New Hampshire's Adam Calderone was named the Eastern League Player of the Week! For the week of May 10-16 he batted .393 with 4 HR, 11 RBI, .929 slugging percentage. Calderone became the third Fisher Cats player to win the award so far this season, following Luis Perez and Darin Mastroianni. Congrats to Adam for this well-deserved honor.

The Sea Dogs are getting ready to welcome the rehabbing Jacoby Ellsbury to Portland starting with tonight's game against the New Britain Rock Cats. He is expected to start in the outfield after DH'ing for the Pawtucket Red Sox on Monday. There is no timetable set for when Ellsbury will return to Boston, but based on last night's outfielding debacle against the Yankees, they'll probably want him back with the big club as soon as possible...so go check him out while you have a chance.

Finally, down in New Britain they have decided to shake things up with their roster. Joe Benson, Chris Parmalee and Estarlin de los Santos have all been sent down to Single-A Ft. Myers while Toby Gardenhire was sent up to Triple-A Rochester. First baseman Eric Lis was sent down from Rochester to New Britain and making their way up the pike from Ft. Myers is Chris Cates, Brandon Roberts and the return of the seven-foot wonder LOEK VAN MIL (I've been waiting for this moment all season long)!!!! Relief pitcher Spencer Steedley hit the DL with a left arm strain. The Rock Cats are hoping these moves turn around their dismal start.