David Murphy and Kason Gabbard, former members of both the Sea Dogs and Red Sox, receive their World Series rings today when the Texas Rangers visit Fenway Park tonight.

Both Murphy and Gabbard put in time with Boston last year before being traded for reliever Eric Gagne (it seemed like a good idea at the time).

But Murphy and Gabbard are not the only ex-Dogs facing the Red Sox.

Luis Mendoza, 24, is tonight's starting pitcher for Texas, vs. Dice-K. Mendoza signed with Boston out of Venezuela when he was 17. He was once a rising prospect inthe Red Sox organization.

His last stop was in Portland, where he was 1-5, 6.38 in nine starts in 2006. He was traded that August for reliever Bryan Corey (who recently was released and refused an assignment to Pawtucket, making him a free agent).

Mendoza is 0-1, 1.80 after one start.

Murphy, coming off a 3-for-4 game Thursday, is batting .305 with a team-leading seven doubles.

Gabbard is 1-0, 2.41 in three starts.

And now for a quick look at the minors ...

Pawtucket's catchers keep hitting. George Kottaras (.304) went 2-4 Thursday with his fifth home run. Dusty Brown (.303) served as the DH Thursday, going 2-for-3 with his fifth double ... Jeff Natale went 1-for-4 in his second game, 'dropping' to .444.

Portland recovered from its 17th-inning game to beat Binghamton 5-4. Iggy Suarez (3-for-4) had the game-winning RBI. Newcomers to the roster, Jeff Corsaletti and Sandy Madera, both homered.

Third baseman Jorge Jimenez, 23, was a 15th round pick in '06. He's still hitting through 13 games with Lancaster (.444, 25-for-54).

In Greenville, another pitcher signed as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela is dealing. Feliz Doubront, now 20, is 3-0, 0.57. He has thrown 15 2/3 inings (17 K, 1 BB).

I'll check back later from Fenway.

E-mail this entry to a friend