If you're reading this, you are showing patience with our website. Thank you. After we do a quick recap of the Sox and minors, I've included a story from Tuesday's Sea Dogs game, with the Sea Dogs send out.

If I was able to blog on Tuesday, the plan was to compare Justin Masterson's outing with Boston and Clay Buchhholz's outing with Pawtucket. The idea being that Buchholz is showing the command the Red Sox want and he should be ready to go back up to the majors.

Masterson is still pitching well, but is not showing his usual command and he still has a problem with lefties hitting him hard.

The idea of Masterson pitching Saturday in Yankee Stadium must not be appealing to the Red Sox

And, according to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are looking to bring Buchholz back up for Saturday's start in the Bronx ... the Globe also reported that Michael Bowden is close to a promotion to Triple-A and possible call-up to the majors in August (Hmm. Where would you put him? Maybe a spot start somewhere).

If Bowden goes up, the ace tag goes to Kris Johnson ... Portland closer Beau Vaughan ought to be nearing a call to Pawtucket after recording his 10th save for the Dogs.

The Sea Dogs are getting a new starter. Matt Goodson, as expected, went on the disabled list after his elbow tightened up in his last start. According to soxprospects.com, Lancaster pitcher Adam Mills (7-4, 2.87) is joining the Sea Dogs, most likely for Thursday's start. Mills, 23, is moving up quickly. He was an 8th round draft pick in 2007, out of North Carolina-Charlotte.

In Pawtucket, George Kottaras hit his 16th home run ... Sean Danielson went 2-for-4, and is up to .244 ... David Pauley (7 IP 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K) got the start and Hunter Jones (1 IP, 2 K) picked up his fifth start.

In Lancaster, two of the usuals were hitting - Lars Anderson (.312) and Josh Reddick (.353) were both 2-for-4 ... Jason Place (.247) continues to get better and was 2-for-5.

Jered Stanley (4-for-5, .373) keeps smacking low Class A pitching for Greenville.

Now for the Sea Dogs story:

JOHNSON FIRES BLANKS AS PORTLAND WINS IN TRENTON, 4-1!
Kris Johnson extends his scoreless streak to 24 innings - a new franchise record!

(Trenton, NJ) - Kris Johnson (7-3) hurled six scoreless frames on six hits and Portland used a 3-run first inning to beat Trenton, 4-1, Tuesday night at Waterfront Park in front of 4,165. The 4-game series is tied at one game a piece with game three on Wednesday night.

Johnson is 4-0, 0.61 ERA in five straight starts away from Hadlock Field. His last home appearance came on June 4 when he lost to Erie. The lefty lowered his ERA to 3.09 and extended his scoreless streak to a franchise record 24 consecutive innings. Johnson snaps the previous record held by Phil Seibel, who worked 21.1 scoreless frames from May 20-June 11, 2006.

Trenton had five of six hits off Johnson with two outs and only two runners reach scoring position. He fanned three and didn't issue a walk for just the second time this season.

George Kontos (3-8) allowed all four runs in 5 IP to take the loss for Trenton. Portland scored three in the first inning off the righty. Bubba Bell led of the game with a single, Tony Granadillo walked and Jeff Corsaletti delivered a 2-run triple down the right-field line. Zach Daeges knocked in the third run with a sacrifice fly. Daeges tied a franchise record with his second sac-fly in the fifth inning.

Daniel Bard stranded two and fanned three during a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh. Chad Rhoades worked the eighth and allowed an unearned run. Jose Tabata reached on a throwing error by 3B Jorge Jimenez, scoring Austin Jackson. Beau Vaughan secured the win with a scoreless ninth to earn his team-leading 10th save of the season (most in the organization).

Corsaletti finished 2-for-4, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Trenton had a baserunner in eight of nine innings but went 0-for-8 with runners-in-scoring position.

Zach Kroenke and Eric Wordekemper combined to pitched four scoreless innings in relief for Trenton. Iggy Suarez and Mickey Hall were the only baserunners, picking up singles.

Portland and Trenton meet on Wednesday night at Waterfront Park beginning at 7:05 PM. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:40 PM with the Correct Deck Pre-Game Show. RHP Kyle Jackson (4-1, 4.82) takes on LHP Chase Wright (6-1, 2.59)

Notes...Bubba Bell has reached base safely in 20 straight games...Beau Vaughan hasn't allowed an earned run in 13 straight appearances...Both Carlos Mendoza and Jose Tabata left the game with leg injuries.

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