The Boston Red Sox released minor league third baseman Chad Spann today, making room for Jeff Natale to re-join the team from the DL.

Spann, 24, once was a rising prospect. A fifth-round draft pick out of high school in 2002, Spann is known in Portland for his walk-off grand slam in the 2005 playoffs.

Spann batted .294 for Portland in 2006 and received an invite to major league spring training. But it seemed to go downhill from there.

Spann batted .223 in Pawtucket and was sent back to Portland at the end of last year. This season, Spann was batting .185 in Triple-A.

Natale, 25, began the season in Portland and was sent to Pawtucket in a fill-in role. He was hit by a pitch and broke his arm. He has been playing rehab games with Lowell.

Here are the Red Sox and Sea Dogs lineups for tonight:

RED SOX
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Alex Cora, SS
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
(Clay Buchholz, P)

SEA DOGS
Mickey Hall, RF
Jorge Jimenez, 3B
Zach Daeges, LF
Aaron Bates, B
Mark Wagner, C
Josh Reddick, CF
Tony Granadillo, DH
Argenis Diaz, SS
Iggy Suarez, 2B
(Dustin Richardson, P)

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