Scout.com > Boston Organizational One-Stop: Apr. 8 Story URL: http://redsox.scout.com/2/634037.html Jerry Beach DiehardMagazine.com Apr 9, 2007 Jonathan Papelbon looked like he’d never left the closer’s role as he slammed the door on the Rangers in convincing fashion Sunday. In other action: The PawSox dropped their first game of the season, Lancaster’s Bubba Bell remained red-hot, the Drive’s offense remained ice-cold and so did the city of Portland, where the Sea Dogs’ season opener was postponed for a fourth straight day. RED SOX 3, RANGERS 2 It didn’t take long for Jonathan Papelbon’s move back to the closer’s role to pay huge dividends for the Sox. Papelbon inherited a first-and-third situation with one out in the eighth and the Sox clinging to a one-run lead, but he needed just 15 pitches to retire all five batters he faced as the Sox avoided a sweep at the hands of the Rangers by winning the finale of a three-game series in Arlington, TX. Papelbon struck out Michael Young and got Mark Teixeira to pop up to end the eighth and retired Sammy Sosa to start the ninth before striking out Hank Blalock and Brad Wilkerson to earn his second save in as many chances. Curt Schilling bounced back from a brutal Opening Day outing against the Royals by allowing only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six in seven innings. Joel Pineiro opened the eighth by allowing all three batters he faced to reach base, but Javier Lopez got Nelson Cruz to hit into a fielder’s choice to set the stage for Papelbon. The slumping David Ortiz hit his first two homers of the season to account for all the Sox runs. The Sox are off today before the home opener Tuesday against the Mariners. CHARLOTTE 4, PAWSOX 3 The PawSox scored two runs in the top of the 10th to break a tie, but Charlotte—the Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox—scored three times in the bottom of the frame to avoid a four-game sweep and hand the PawSox their first loss of the season in an International League game in Charlotte, NC. Jeff Bailey hit a leadoff homer in the 10th and Bobby Scales, whose homer in the fifth gave the PawSox a 1-0 lead, added a sacrifice fly. But Craig Breslow and losing pitcher Bryan Corey combined to give up three runs on three hits and one walk while recording just one out in the Charlotte half of the inning. Bailey and Scales each had two hits for the PawSox. Starter Runelyvs Hernandez allowed one run on just three hits and no walks while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Mike Burns, Manny Delcarmen and Breslow combined for four scoreless innings prior to the Knights’ rally. Abe Alvarez is scheduled to start tonight, when the PawSox open a four-game series at Durham at 7 p.m. SEA DOGS VS. CONNECTICUT Mother Nature 4, Sea Dogs 0. Cold temperatures have left Hadlock Field covered in snow following last week’s blizzard and forced the postponement of the entire four-game series against Connecticut, the Double-A affiliate of the Giants. The Sea Dogs will again attempt to open the season tonight against New Britain. Tommy Hottovy is scheduled to take the mound for the 6 p.m. start. JETHAWKS 12, BAKERSFIELD 7 The JetHawks rode three homers—including another one by the scalding-hot Bubba Bell—and a 16-hit attack as they completed a sizzling season-opening series with a split-salvaging win over Bakersfield, the Single-A affiliate of the Rangers, in a California League game in Lancaster, CA. The JetHawks scored 47 runs and racked up 62 hits over the four games. They scored in every inning Sunday except the third and sixth and scored multiple runs in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh. Bell went 4-for-6 with five RBI and has five homers, 15 RBI and a robust .571 average in just 21 at-bats. He has 11 hits in his last 16 at-bats. Zach Daegas had three hits, including a homer, and three RBI while Aaron Bates had two hits, including a homer, and two RBI. Scott White and Tony Granadillo also had two hits while Jay Johnson had two RBI. Chad Rhoades, the third of four JetHawks pitchers, was credited with the win after he allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four in 2 1/3 innings. Justin Masterson started for the JetHawks and gave up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in three innings. The JetHawks will look to stay hot tonight, when Mike Rozier is scheduled to take the mound against Lake Elsinore at 6:30 p.m. CHARLESTON 8, DRIVE 1 The Drive’s early-season offensive struggles continued as Charleston, the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees, limited the Drive to four hits and completed a four-game sweep in a South Atlantic League game in Charleston, SC. Lars Anderson’s RBI groundout brought home Carlos Fernandez-Oliva with the Drive’s only run. Jon Still had two hits for the Drive, whose first three batters went 4-for-11. The rest of the order was hitless in 20 at-bats. Brian Steinocher was tagged with the loss after he gave up six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in three innings. Eric Beattie and T.J. Large combined to throw three scoreless innings of two-hit relief. The Drive, who scored just four runs in the series, will try to get in the win column again tonight, when it hosts Columbus in the home opener at 7 p.m. Diehard managing editor Jerry Beach can be reached at diehardmag@yahoo.com. To receive a free issue of Diehard, call 888-979-0979. Copyright © Scout.com and DiehardMagazine.com