Organizational One-Stop: Apr. 7

Lancaster outfielder Bubba Bell headlines Saturday’s “Red Sox Organizational One-Stop.” Bell’s second straight two-homer game helped the JetHawks to win their first game of the year in convincing fashion. Elsewhere, the Sox fall again in Texas, the PawSox remain perfect with an extra-inning win, the Drive stays winless with a narrow loss and Sea Dogs are snowed out yet again.

RANGERS 8, RED SOX 4
The Sox continued to struggle in unseasonably cool Arlington, TX (the game-time temperature of 38 degrees was the coldest recorded temperature in the 14-season history of Rangers Ballpark) as the Rangers rode a pair of four-run innings in the third and sixth to their second straight win. The Sox racked up 11 hits—eight more than they managed Friday—but stranded 10 runners and were especially wasteful in the first and second, when they scored just once in each frame despite a stretch in which 10 consecutive batters reached base via a hit, walk or fielder’s choice. Julio Lugo, Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek all had an RBI apiece while every Sox starter had at least one hit except Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia. Starter Julian Tavarez took the loss by allowing four runs—including Sammy Sosa’s first homer since 2005—on six hits and five walks while striking out three in four innings. J.C. Romero was tagged for three runs on five hits without recording an out in the sixth. Curt Schilling will attempt to avoid the sweep tonight when he takes the mound against Vicente Padilla at 8:05 p.m.


PAWSOX 4, CHARLOTTE 3
Alex Ochoa’s two-out RBI single in the top of the 10th lifted the perfect PawSox to their third straight win over host Charlotte, the White Sox’ Triple-A affiliate, in an International League game. It’s the first 3-0 start for the PawSox since 1993. Luis Jimenez had a two-RBI single in the first for the PawSox, who received one hit apiece from seven players. Mike Timlin, making his second rehab appearance for the PawSox, started and allowed one run in the first inning before giving way to David Pauley, who allowed an unearned run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six strong innings. Edgar Martinez, making his Triple-A debut, blew the save by allowing a run in the eighth but tossed a perfect ninth to earn the win. Travis Hughes worked around a two-out hit in the 10th for his first save. Runelyvs Hernandez is scheduled to take the mound today for the PawSox, who go for the sweep at 2:15 p.m.


SEA DOGS VS. CONNECTICUT
The third time wasn’t the charm for the Sea Dogs, and they didn’t waste much time before giving up on a fourth attempt. With Portland still digging out from a blizzard earlier in the week, the Sea Dogs once again postponed their season opener against Connecticut—the Double-A affiliate of the Giants—Saturday morning and later announced today’s game would be postponed as well. The Sea Dogs will once again try to open the season and hand out the 2006 Eastern League championship rings Monday at 6:05 p.m., when they’re scheduled to host New Britain.


JETHAWKS 19, BAKERSFIELD 5
The third time WAS the charm for the JetHawks, who rode a 21-hit attack and another two-homer game from Bubba Bell in winning their first game of the season with a rout of Bakersfield, the Single-A affiliate of the Rangers. Bell, who collected four RBI, has four homers in 15 at-bats. He entered the season with eight homers in 523 professional at-bats. The JetHawks, who squandered leads in each of their first two games, scored in every inning except the fourth and eighth and left no room for another Bakersfield comeback by scoring nine times in the sixth. Iggy Suarez had four hits while Bell, Zach Daegas and Salvador Paniagua had three hits apiece. Suarez, Paniagua and Aaron Bates all had three RBI each. Kris Johnson gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out two in 2 2/3 innings. Kevin Guyette earned the win by allowing only one hit and one walk while whiffing three in 4 1/3 innings. Justin Masterson is scheduled to start today for the JetHawks, who will try to salvage a split of the four-game series at 2 p.m.


CHARLESTON 2, DRIVE 1
Charleston pitcher whiffed 17 Drive batters and recorded the final nine outs via the strikeout in the RiverDogs—the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate—beat the winless Drive for the third straight time in a South Atlantic League game at Charleston, SC. Lars Anderson had an RBI single in the sixth for the Drive, who had just three hits (the others were recorded by Reid Engel and Mike Chambers) and have scored just three runs while stranding 31 runners (including eight Saturday) in 28 innings thus far. Dustin Richardson allowed single runs in the first and fourth and took the loss after giving up four hits and four walks while striking out five in four innings. Adam Blackley followed by allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three in three innings. Brian Steinocher is scheduled to start today for the Drive, who will attempt to avoid the four-game sweep at 4:05 p.m.


Diehard managing editor Jerry Beach can be reached at [e-mail]. To receive a free issue of Diehard, call 888-979-0979.