July 3, 2005 at 6:01 PM
Early fireworks: Papelbon, Sanchez promoted; Dinardo, Gonzalez to Boston; Alvarez, Vazquez to Pawtucket
Jeremi Gonzalez and Lenny Dinardo were called up to Boston, and pitcher Abe Alvarez and infielder Ramon Vazquez were sent down to Pawtucket. With the mass player movement in AAA, the much-deserved promotions of Jon Papelbon to AAA and Anibal Sanchez to AA finally occured.
In 14 starts with the Portland Sea Dogs this season, Papelbon went 5-2 with a 2.48 ERA. His gaudy peripherals include a 0.94 WHIP and 83/23 K/BB ratio in 87 IP (8.59 K/9). While Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson didn't know who would be starting Wednesday's game after Sunday's contest, there's a chance Papelbon would fit into that slot on three-days rest. He threw 97 pitches in his no-hit, six-inning performance on Saturday. Papelbon was great last year for Sarasota in high-A ball. The 24-year-old doesn't appear to be far from making his Major League debut, especially if he proves himself in AAA and Boston's bullpen woes continue.
Sanchez established himself as a legit blue-chip prospect at high-A Wilmington this season, earning the start for the Carolina League in the Carolina/California League All-Star Game. His numbers are eerily similar to Papelbon's: In 13 starts, he was 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA. He had a 0.99 WHIP, 89/23 K/BB and 10.98 K/9 in 75 IP. After dominating at short-season Lowell last year, the 21-year-old is certainly ready for AA.
Dinardo had no record with a 4.23 ERA in 22 games in Boston last year. In a short stint with the Red Sox this year, he pitched 1.1 innings in two games, giving up two hits and no runs while striking out two. He was 2-2 as a starter in Pawtucket with a 3.72 ERA.
Gonzalez appeared in five games for Boston earlier this season, starting three. He posted a 1-1 record with a 6.65 ERA in 21.2 innings. He had much more succes in Pawtucket, starting 11 games, going 5-2 and notching a 2.61 ERA.
Alvarez did not appear in a game for Boston, coming up for only two games. In 16 starts for Pawtucket, he is 7-3 with a 4.23 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. He will take Dinardo's scheduled start for the Pawsox on Tuesday.
Vazquez has been slowed by a hamstring injury and has not seen many innings with Boston. In 21 games, he had 61 at bats, batting .197 with a .234 OBP and a .230 slugging percentage.
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In other news, Pawsox manager Ron Johnson said Curt Schilling will be limited to either six innings or 90 pitches in his start Monday, whichever comes first. He did not know whether it would be his final rehab start.