The Red Sox have won 7-of-8. The Sea Dogs have won 7 straight.

The pitching is good (including Jon Lester, who found the strike zone on Saturday night), the hitting clutch.

Justin Masterson has a 0.95 ERA in 4 starts - 23 K's, 5 BB's in 19 IP. Seems likely he won't be in Portland too long, although I'd like to see him pitch at least through May (April weather usually favors the pitching numbers)

Pawtucket lost to Buffalo 7-0 Saturday with mixed pitching results. Chris Smith started (5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 3 K). His ERA nudged up to 2.40.

Craig Hansen pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings (0 H, 0 BB, 1 K). In 11 innings, Hansen's ERA remains at 0.00, with 11 strikeouts, 1 walk and only 2 hits allowed. Opponents are batting .056 against him. (Like Msterson, I want to see a greater sampling, as in May ... although Hansen is the likely replacement if anyone goes down in the Boston bullpen).

Abe Alvarez also relieved in the Buffalo game (1/3 IP, 2 H, 1BB, 3 R). His ERA is now 7.71.

Portland reliever Jose Vaquedano has shined so far. See the story. He could be the first reliever headed to Pawtucket.

One more minor league note: Pitcher Mike MacDonald of Camden, and the University of Maine, has been moved back up to Triple-A Syracuse in the Blue Jays organization. MacDonald, who started for Syracuse last year, was sent to the bullpen at the end of spring training and was briefly assigned to Double-A New Hampshire to get used to relieving.

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