Organizational One-Stop: 4/19/08

The PawSox, Sea Dogs and JetHawks all posted impressive wins, but a perfect Friday eluded the Red Sox’ affiliates as a late comeback by the Drive fell short. Here’s the recap:

Red Sox: The slumping David Ortiz hit a grand slam and finished with five RBI and Daisuke Matsuzaka became the first four-game winner in the majors as the Sox throttled the Rangers, 11-3, at Fenway Park. A recap of that game appears elsewhere on this site.

Triple-A Pawtucket: The PawSox scored seven runs in the second inning and four more in the third as they cruised to a 17-5 win over Indianapolis in front of 7,032 in Indianapolis, IN. Chris Carter went 5-for-6 with three RBI while Brandon Moss was 3-for-6 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI. Jonathan Van Every was 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI and Jeff Bailey was 2-for-3 with a solo homer. Every starter except Jeff Natale had at least one hit for the PawSox, who pounded out 17 hits, including eight for extra bases. Charlie Zink benefited from the outburst and earned the win by allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings. Jon Switzer struck out one in two perfect innings of relief. The PawSox begin a six-game homestand tonight, when Chris Smith is scheduled to take the mound against Buffalo.

Double-A Portland: Bubba Bell hit a grand slam, five players had at least two hits and Dustin Richardson had another impressive start as the Sea Dogs won their sixth in a row with a 9-3 victory over Binghamton in front of 4,212 in Binghamton, NY. Mark Wagner had three hits while Iggy Suarez had two hits and three RBI. Sean Danielson, Jeff Corsaletti and Sandy Madera each had two hits apiece. Richardson allowed two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out six in six innings. Richardson is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA, a 20/6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has limited opposing hitters to a .145 average. Beau Vaughan struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning. The Sea Dogs will attempt to extend their winning streak today, when Justin Masterson is scheduled to take the mound against Binghamton.

Single-A Lancaster: Travis Beazley allowed just three hits while walking none and striking out seven in six shutout innings to lead the JetHawks to a 4-0 win over Bakersfield in front of 2,316 in Bakersfield, CA. Beazley, who gave up eight runs (three earned) in just 1 1/3 innings Sunday, allowed only one runner as far as second base. Richie Lentz struck out five in two perfect innings and T.J. Large allowed a hit and struck out two to close it out in the ninth. The three pitchers didn’t walk anyone. Mickey Hall was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Chih-Hsien Chiang hit a solo homer. Jorge Jimenez went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. The JetHawks, who have won three of four, will face Bakersfield again tonight, when Adam Mills is scheduled to pitch.

Single-A Greenville: Greensboro broke a tie with a four-run seventh inning and the Drive stranded the tying run at third base in the ninth inning as it fell, 9-8, in front of 6,178 in Greenville, SC. Mike Jones and Anthony Rizzo remained red-hot at the plate for the Drive as Jones went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI to extend his streak of multi-hit games to five and his overall hitting streak to 10 games. Rizzo went 3-for-4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He’s enjoyed seven multi-hit games in that span. Che-Hsuan Lin was 3-for-5 while Manuel Arambarris had a homer and two RBI for the Drive. Ryne Lawson, the second of three Drive pitchers, took the loss after he gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out one in 2 1/3 innings. Starter Terumasa Matsuo allowed five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two in 4 2/3 innings. Daniel Bard continued his remarkable resurgence by walking one and striking out two in two hitless innings. Bard has yet to allow a run in 11 2/3 innings, during which he’s struck out 16 and walked just two. The Drive will begin a three-game series at Augusta tonight.