Organizational One-Stop: 4/6/08

The rain didn’t wreck havoc with Red Sox affiliates Saturday, when Pawtucket split a doubleheader while Portland and Lancaster earned victories. But Nick Hagadone’s full-season debut was a rocky one as Greenville fell. Here’s the recap:

Red Sox: The Blue Jays scored six runs off relievers Kyle Snyder and Bryan Corey in the sixth inning to break open a close game and cruised to a 10-2 rout of the Sox in front of 35,238 in Toronto. Snyder walked the first two batters he faced, Aaron Hill and Marco Scutaro, before Gregg Zaun sacrificed the runners to second and third. David Eckstein greeted Corey with a two-run single and the Jays piled on with two outs thanks to an RBI double by Alex Rios, an RBI single by Vernon Wells and a two-run homer by Frank Thomas. Clay Buchholz took the loss for the Sox after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew had two hits apiece for the Sox while Manny Ramirez and Sean Casey each had one RBI. Casey, making his first start of the season in place of reigning Gold Glove winner Kevin Youkilis, muffed the first chance he fielded. The Sox will attempt to avoid the sweep today, when Josh Beckett makes his season debut.

Triple-A Pawtucket: David Pauley allowed an unearned run in five innings to lead the PawSox past Indianapolis, 6-2, in the opener of a doubleheader in Pawtucket, RI, but Charlie Zink surrendered six runs (five earned) in three innings in the nightcap as Indianapolis salvaged a split with an 8-0 win. Pauley allowed only two hits and walked none while whiffing three. George Kottaras hit a three-run homer while Jonathan Van Every added a solo blast. Bobby Kielty had two RBI. In the second game, Zink was tagged for four hits and issued four walks while striking out three. Abe Alvarez and Jon Switzer each walked three in two innings of relief. Chris Carter had two of the PawSox’ four hits. The PawSox will conclude a four-game series against Indianapolis today, when Devern Hansack takes the mound.

Double-A Portland: Jeff Natale’s made his homecoming a dramatic one by hitting a tie-breaking solo homer with two outs in the top of the ninth to give the Sea Dogs a 2-1 win over New Britain in front of 3,691 in New Britain, CT. Natale is from Hamden and played collegiately at Trinity in Hartford. Natale and Andrew Pinckney had two hits each while Pinckney had an RBI in the fifth inning. Natale’s homer made a winner out of Chad Rhoades, who struck out two in two perfect innings in his Double-A debut. Mike James notched the save. Starter Michael Bowden allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings. The Sea Dogs will go for a sweep of the rain-shortened three-game series today, when Kris Johnson is scheduled to make his Double-A debut.

Single-A Lancaster: Christian Lara, Reid Engel and Mickey Hall all hit solo homers to spark an 11-hit attack as the JetHawks beat High Desert, 14-8, for their first win of the season in front of 1,383 in Adelanto, CA. Jorge Jimenez had two RBI and three hits while Engel had two hits. It was the third straight multi-hit game for both players. Catcher Dennis Blackmon, making his first start in the Sox organization, had two hits and three RBI. Jon Still was one of two starters without a hit, but he drew four walks for the JetHawks, who have scored 27 runs in three games. Brian Steinocher earned the win in relief by allowing one run on one hit and no walks while striking out two in three innings. Starter Jimmy James gave up six runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out six in four innings. The JetHawks will go for a series split today, when Chris Jones makes his first start.

Single-A Greenville: Just like a year ago, Nick Hagadone’s first start of the season was a rough one as gave up three unearned runs on two hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings to take the defeat in the Drive’s 6-2 loss to Kannapolis in front of 3,954 in Greenville, SC. Hagadone gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings in his professional debut for short-season Single-A Lowell last year but didn’t allow another run all season, a span of 23 innings. Josh Reddick had the only RBI for the Drive while Manuel Arambarris had two hits. The Drive committed four errors. The four-game series is scheduled to conclude today with a doubleheader. Felix Doubront will start the first game for the Drive while the second game’s starter is yet to be determined.