Shortstop Jed Lowrie continued to cement himself into the Red Sox starting lineup. He is batting .299 and his game-winning home run Sunday gives him a .407 average with runners in scoring position since he was recalled from Pawtucket.

Now for the tale of another shortstop, Carson Blair, 18. Blair was one of those late-round high school picks in the draft and required big money to sign (and give up his scholarship to Tulane).

Blair, who signed at the deadline for $200,000, had his first professional at-bats Sunday. He singled in a run in the first inning, then hit a grand slam in the second inning. Nice start.

Blair played a doubleheader and finished 4-for-7 ... In the second game, reliever Dustin Mercadante (1.50) got his 7th save (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K). Mercadante, 19, is 6-7, 230 pounds, a 41st-round pick out of San Diego Community College.

In Triple-A, Charlie Zink (14-5) got the win with an okay outing (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K).

Portland's Kris Johnson was also okay, going 6 innings (3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K).

Lancaster shortstop Yamaico Navarro (.344) went 2-for-5 with a triple ... outfielder Jason Place (.246) was also 2-for-5 with 16th home run ... reliever Kyle Fernandez (1.37) pitched 3 hitless innings (2 K).

Greenville shortstop Oscar Tejeda, 18, was 1-fo-3. he is hitting .263, but is at .410 for his last 10 games.

Lowell reliever Seth Garrison (1.20) recorded his 9th save (1 IP, 1 H).

I'll check back later from Hadlock for Clay Buchholz Night (both in person and bobblehead form).

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