|
Baldelli hopes rehab stint is done with PawSox |
|
|
Friday, 21 August 2009 |
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Sports writer
PAWTUCKET – After going hitless in his first 10 at-bats at McCoy Stadium this season, Rocco Baldelli finally got off the schneid Thursday night, courtesy of an infield single in the fourth inning.
The Rhode Island native’s last hit in this ballpark certainly qualifies as momentous. It occurred nine years ago when Baldelli drilled a walk-off home run to win the state championship for Bishop Hendricken High.
“Obviously I only got one hit in my games here this year, but every hit I get is nice. I like them all,” said Baldelli following a 1-for-3 outing in what is likely his final rehab outing with the PawSox. “I don’t know anything, but I’ll go see those guys (today) and probably go from there. I’ll wait (after the conclusion of Boston’s game in Toronto) before I talk to (management).”
Baldelli joked “it’s great to see a knuckleball pitcher on a rehab assignment,” in Rochester starter R.A. Dickey. “Either way it was good to be back out there.”
Currently on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain, Baldelli put a charge into a Dickey offering in his first at-bat, lifting a deep fly to dead-center that was corralled on the warning track. “I had two strikes on me, so I wanted to protect the plate, but I was able to swing the bat pretty good,” assessed Baldelli, who said the last knuckleball pitcher he faced was, ironically enough, Dickey earlier this season while Dickey was up with Minnesota.
Baldelli’s final turn came in the sixth, a pop up to shortstop.
***
Just when the PawSox appeared on the verge of snapping out of their malaise, the unfathomable happens.
Up two runs and with three defensive outs waiting to be obtained, Pawtucket watched in horror as Rochester put up a four-spot in the top of the ninth inning en route to a 5-3 victory Thursday.
Pawtucket’s losing streak now stands at a painful 10 games as the locals have now dropped 36 of their last 46.
With All-Star closer Fernando Cabrera and his 20 saves (in as many chances) now pitching in Boston, Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson faced a decision. He ultimately stayed with Marcus McBeth, who was coming off a scoreless eighth.
Simply put, McBeth imploded. He walked the first two Red Wings before allowing two straight hits that tied the game at three.
The Red Wings would go on to tack on two more runs, both coming at the expense of McBeth, normally Pawtucket’s chief setup operator. The right-hander, who was added to Boston’s 40-man roster last month, was tagged for four runs on two hits in one-inning plus. He saw his ERA balloon from 2.29 to 2.85.
“Marcus has been fantastic for us this year. He’s kept us in so many games, so that was unfortunate,” said Johnson. “I felt as comfortable as I possibly could feel going into that ninth inning.”
Pawtucket entered the seventh having scored just one run in its previous 26 innings. The drought ended courtesy of a hard liner by catcher Dusty Brown, scoring Aaron Bates. Brown and Bates combined for half of Pawtucket’s 10 hits.
The PawSox took the lead in the same inning when Angel Chavez singled.
***
Randor Bierd did everything he possibly could to become Pawtucket’s first starting pitcher to earn a victory since Michael Bowden on Aug. 11. Bierd was splendid in seven innings in which he allowed one run on four hits, striking out seven while walking no one.
“His stuff was really impressive,” said Johnson, who moved Bierd to the rotation earlier this month. “His stuff plays and gets disruptive swings.”
***
Shortly after ended last night’s disastrous conclusion with a flyout to right, Chris Duncan was released. The burly right-hander, who came to the Red Sox in the Julio Lugo swap with St Louis on July 23, was never able to find his power stroke with the PawSox. He ended his brief tenure with a .188 average and two home runs in 27 games.
It’s likely the PawSox will fill Duncan’s vacated spot when, as expected, Brian Anderson gets sent down today.
***
EXTRA BASES: The PawSox will turn to Tim Wakefield tonight in hopes he can prevent the unenviable. The last time Pawtucket was swept at home in a five-game series was July 1983 against Toledo. … Chris Carter (cramps) sat out last night. … Paul Byrd got in a workout at McCoy yesterday before flying home to Atlanta to attend to a family matter. He’s expected to next work Monday here against Lehigh Valley. … George Kottaras, who will catch Wakefield tonight is now 5-for-9 in his rehab stint after stroked a double in the eighth.
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )
|
Horoscope
