Brandon Moss got a chuckle when told the baseball gods were watching him Tuesday night.

Moss entered Tuesday's game when J.D. Drew felt tightness in his quadriceps muscle.

Red Sox 1, Toronto 0

Jon Lester (Sea Dogs Class of '05) pitched a one-hitter over eight innings.

Jonathan Papelon (also '05) got the win with a one-hit ninth. He almost gave up a run, but second baseman Dustin Pedroia (another '05) made a sensational diving catch and throw.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Youkilis ('04) singled in the winning run.

Lyle Overbay broke up Jon Lester's no-hit bid with a line drive single to right (just over second baseman Dustin Pedroia's reach) in the fifth inning.

Lester has a one-hitter through seven innings (along with four walks).

Roy Halladay has allowed two hits (Kevin Youkilis, and Brandon Moss' 'swinging bunt' in the fifth inning) and no walks.

Moss came in for Drew because Drew felt tighness in his left quadriceps muscle when running out a ground out in the second inning.

After four innings, it's Toronto 0, Boston 0

Roy Halladay has retired all but one batter he faced (a Kevin Youkilis single), while Jon Lester has allowed only two baserunners, both by walk.

Brandon Moss replaced J.D. Drew in right field in the fourth inning. Have not heard why.

And one Sea Dogs note: Bowie scored four in the second inning to lead 4-0.

Mike Lowell is back in the Red Sox lineup, batting sixth. David Ortiz is also back after missing two games.

To make room on the Boston roster for Lowell, the Red Sox again designated relief pitcher Bryan Corey for assignment.

That means former Sea Dogs outfielder Brandon Moss is still with the big club. Moss is not only the back-up first baseman, he's also the fourth outfielder tonight, with Jacoby Ellsbury nursing a sore groin muscle.

Here's tonight's lineup

Before we get into the news, I thought I'd relate a story from Justin Masterson, on facing Casey Kotchman in the second inning of his start for the Red Sox last Thursday.

This is from my blog last month:

"Will the Rays reach the playoffs?
"Uh, no. They will give the contenders better competition, and maybe win a series or three ... but no playoffs."

I'll stand by that statement for now, but I never figured the Rays pitching to be strong.

David Ortiz is still out of the lineup with his sore knee.

Meanwhile, here in Portland, Justin Masterson has officially re-joined the team, and the local TV folks lined up to talk to him.

For more on Masterson, see today's baseball column.

For more on the last night's minor league performances, see the previous blog.

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

Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden combined for 20 strikeouts Saturday.

The two sandwich-round draft picks appear ready to take off.

Two facts were clear from Justin Masterson's start in Boston Thursday.

1. He can pitch.

2. Boston needs bullpen help.

Maybe those two facts will merge into one eventual reality - Masterson to the bullpen.

The Boston Red Sox face Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays tonight. When Garza was still with the Twins, he pitched for the New Britain Rock Cats in 2006. The Sea Dogs beat him 6-4.

And now for the lineups

Charlie Zink is having a good year so far.

The Sox top draft pick in 2007, Nick Hagadone, appears headed for Tommy John surgery

And Mike Lowell will make a minor league rehab appearance - but not in Portland.

As you probably know by now, Masterson got a no-decision after the Red Sox bullpen blew a 3-1 lead, in a 7-5 loss to the Angels.

After the game, manager Terry Francona said Masterson will return to the Portland Sea Dogs rotation.

Boston is expected to bring reliever Bryan Corey back to the majors. Corey had been designated for assignment and initially rejected an offer to pitcher in Triple-A. he then re-signed with the Sox as a minor league free agent and went to Pawtucket.

More later.

Masterson walked Guerrero to start the sixth, but got Anderson to ground into a 4-6-3 double play

He struck out Hunter on three pitches and left to a standing ovation, receiving a flurry of high fives in the dugout.

Masterson threw 95 pitches, 58 for strikes. Of the 18 outs, 11 were on the ground, 3 in the air, and 4 strikeouts.

Sox up 3-1.

I'll check in with you after the game.

Justin Masterson is in line for the win, so far, with Boston leading 3-1 (RBI doubles by Coco Crisp and Kevin Cash padded the lead in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Mike Napoli led off with a home run to center, on a 1-1 sinker.

Erick Aybar grounded out. Chone Figgins struck out, swinging at a slider. Gary Matthews grounded out.

Masterson threw 13 pitches/8 strikes. He's at 80 pitches. No one is warming up in the bullpen, so maybe Masterson has one more frame left in him.

So far, Justin Masterson has retired the first two Angels in the inning, and then allowed the next one on. This time, he walked Casey Kotchman. No harm again.

Both Garrett Anderson and Torii Hunter grounded out to third.

With Kotchman on first, Maicer Izturis grounded back to Masterson, who underhanded it to Youkilis.

15 pitches, 8 strikes. Total: 67/40, meaning Masterson is good for at least one more inning.

Sox still up 1-0.

Masterson is pounding the strike zone, as they say (15 pitches in the third inning, 11 for strikes). He yielded his first hit, a two-out single by Gary Matthews

Erick Aybar started the inning by flying out to shallow right.

Chad Figgins tried to bunt. Masterson raced in, on the third-base side, picked it up and threw him out.

Matthews fell behind 0-2, took two balls, and grounded a single to center.

Vlad Guerrero flied out to right with Jacoby Ellsbury charging in and making a sliding catch.

Red Sox lead 1-0 after they loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second. Manny Ramirez scored on Coco Crisp's ground out.

Masterson's second inning was almost identical. Torii Hunter flied out to center. Casey Kotchman grounded out. Maicer Izturis walked and Mike Napoli struck out on three pitches, swinging at an outside slider.

He threw 21 pitches, 13 for strikes. Total so far: 37/21.

Kotchman crushed a change-up foul of the Pesky Pole. What did Masterson do? he came back with another change-up, which Kotchman whiffed at.

Except for a two-out walk to Vladimir Guerrero, Justin Masterson got through the first inning of his Major League debut just fine.

Masterson's sinker is working. He got Chone Figgins to ground out. He struck out Gary Matthews and, after the walk to Vlad, he got Garret Anderson to ground out.

Masterson threw 16 pitches, 8 for strikes. And, surprisingly, he has not been afraid to throw his change-up. He threw three in the first inning, and got Figging to ground out on one.

So far, so good.

Greetings from Fenway. Running a little late because I forgot the parking situation for day games (I usually take the T). Drove around and found a "deal" - only $40 (sorry boss).

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Justin Masterson will be held to about 80 to 90 pitches today, which means about 5 or 6 innings, depending on how well he throws.

The lineup will feature right-handed bats (Crisp, Lowrie in; Drew, Casey out) against Angels lefty Joe Saunders.

If you saw the story in today's Press Herald about Justin Masterson making today's start for the Boston Red Sox, you'll notice a list of pitchers who began their season in Portland and then made their Major League debut the same year.

Of the six, only Clay Buchholz got a win.

Here's that list again:

To make room for Justin Masterson on the Major League roster Thursday, the Red Sox are returning reliever Craig Hansen to Pawtucket after his one appearance Wednesday.

Masterson can also expect to be pitching to Kevin Cash. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said in his televised post-game press conference that Jason Varitek would not start.

Portland Sea Dogs ace Justin Masterson is being called up to the Boston Red Sox and will start Thursday afternoon's game against the Angels, at Fenway Park.

Craig Hansen has been called up from Pawtucket to replace David Pauley on the Red Sox roster.

In news just breaking, Daisuke Matsuzaka has been scratched from his start tonight and will be replaced by Jon Lester, according to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald. Dice-K is sick, like so many of his teammates.

Can we officially call Coco Crisp the back-up outfielder now?

Crisp is a great centerfielder and a decent, though inconsistent hitter. And he will make a solid starting center fielder for some team ... just not the Red Sox.

Not when they have Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury, the ex-Portland Sea Dogs star, gave another sampling on just how much he can impact a game.

According to reports out of Boston, former Sea Dogs pitcher David Pauley will start for the Boston Red Sox tonight, in place of an ailing Josh Beckett.

Kevin Cash is catching tonight, presumably because Jason Varitek is also still too sick to play.

Pauley made his major league debut in 2006, jumping from Portland to the Sox. He spent all last year with Pawtucket.

In Sea Dogs news, outfielder Jay Johnson did indeed ruptured his Achilles tendon Monday night and is gone for the year.

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

Pitchers Craig Hansen and Daniel Bard, two first-round draft picks who have had their bumps in in their pro careers, are on respective rolls.

Neither has been scored upon.

A couple of notes before we get to tonight's lineups.

Infielder Jeff Natale, who was filling in in Pawtucket, suffered a broken arm in today's game, when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. Natale was promoted on April 16.

Today's game features the Double-A debut of the Blue Jays No. 1 prospect, 20-year-old outfielder Travis Snider, a first -round draft choice out of high school in 2006. He is considered a superb hitter.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-4 Sunday with a run and two stolen bases (total of 6 for the season)

Jed Lowrie batted second on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. In three starts, Lowrie is batting .417 with five RBI.

Ellsbury and Lowrie, who began last season in Portland, still ask how the Sea Dogs are doing. Told Friday about last week's 17-inning win, they wanted all the details, especially Jay Johnson's pitching win.

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)

Wihle at Fenway last night and working on my story on David Murphy and Jed Lowrie, I was writing a line about the Red Sox keeping some of their good prospects. Just then Jed Lowrie doubled. Jacoby Ellsbury (another member of the Sea Dogs last year) then walked, as did Dustin Pedroia (Sea Dogs Class of '05).

Jed Lowrie is taking grounders at short as I write this. he will be starting tonight's game in place of Julio Lugo (normal day off, according to manager Terry Francona)

David Murphy, by the way is batting sixth for the Rangers (Murphy is out on the field talking to Dustin Pedroia right now, before Boston's BP).

Murphy and fellow ex-Boston player, Kason Gabbard, are expected to receive their World Series rings tonight.

On the injury front, Mike Lowell said the pain in his sprained right thumb is lessening, but Lowell has no idea when he might be ready. "As soon as I can hit, I'll have an idea. It's all based off that."

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.

Slept in this morning (meaning later than 6 a.m.) and realized those poor Sea Dogs were still on the road to Binghamton, where they will start their game soon.

In case you did not hear, the Sea Dogs won their game over Connecticut in the 17th inning Wednesday night. See the story

Introducing the new relief pitching prospect for the Boston Red Sox:

Jay Johnson.

Johnson, who is actually an outfielder for the Portland Sea Dogs, threw two innings of scoreless relief to get the win Wednesday night, in the Sea Dogs' 8-7 win over Connecticut - a game that lasted 17 innings.

The Boston Red Sox placed Alex Cora on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. The move is retroactive to April 10.

The move had a Domino affect in Pawtucket and Portland.

The Red Sox called up infielder Joe Thurston from Pawtucket. So Pawtucket plucked infielder Jeff Natale from Portland. In turn, the Sea Dogs activated outfielder Jeff Corsaletti from extended spring training.

Joe Borowski said their must have been something wrong with his arm after giving up three runs in the ninth inning. The Indians believed him and put him on the disabled list.

As for tonight's game, former Sea Dogs infielder Jed Lowrie will make his major league debut, as promised. Lowrie is batting eighth and playing third base (Youkilis goes back to first base for tonight).

Jacoby Ellsbury is in for J.D. Drew in right.

Reports out of Cleveland are that Jed Lowrie will make his Major League debut Tuesday against the Indians.

The Red Sox also announced that pitcher Kyle Snyder, who was designated for assignment, has accepted a spot on the Triple-A Pawtucket roster.

Pawtucket certainly enjoyed some individual performances Monday in a doubleheader split with Louisville, paced by George Kottaras (2 home runs, 5 RBI) in the second game.

It is not a secret that the Manchester Fisher Cats would love to have the Red Sox affiliation.

You can't blame them. Watching Red Sox prospects come through Portland has been a blast.

But I don't know how to explain the recent story in the Manchester Union Leader.

David Ortiz is back in the lineup, but Jed Lowrie has yet to get penciled in. Manager Terry francona said it was going to be a challenge to get Lowrie in, but I figured it would happen by now.

Here in Portrland, Justin Masterson makes his third start.

Here are the lineups for your Sox and Dogs tonight:

Manny Ramirez has looked locked in since spring training. He's batting .300 with 12 RBI.

Then there is J.D. Drew (.353), Kevin Youkilis (.341) and Sean Casey (.318).

David Ortiz goes in a slump and Mike Lowell goes on the DL. Others are coming through.

Forgot to mention that Jonathan Papelbon will not be available tonight (no big surprise there).

Hideki Okajima, who has relieved in three straight games, is doubtful.

Matsuzaka's command had not been terrific (45 pitches, with one out in the third), so the bullpen will have to come through.

In a move that Terry Francona hinted to Saturday night, David Ortiz is not in the lineup tonight against the Yankees.

The move seemed to lighten the load on Ortiz' shoulders. He arrived in the clubhouse, laughing, joking with teammate. However, he did not want to talk to the media, referring to "my full day off."

Here are the lineups for tonight:

Teh adjectives are pouring in to describe Jonathan's Papelbon's performance Saturday night.

Terry Francona: "Phenomenal"
Jason Varitek: "Pretty amazing"
Josh Beckett: "That's what great players do"

After a two-hour delay, Papelbon retired all four batters he faced, three by strikeout.

Jonathan papelbon just finished warming up again in the bullpen. The Red Sox are taking the field.

In case you're still hoping to catch the end of the Red Sox-Yankees game, word at Fenway Park is that the latest batch of rain is expected end soon (in fact the grounds crew is preparing to lift the tarp off as I write).

The Red Sox situation is interesting. They lead 4-3 in the top of the 8th. Two out and two Yankees on base with A-Rod up. Closer Jonathan Papelbon has warmed up twice - at 6:22, and an hour later when everyone thought the game would resume.

No word yet on if he is still scheduled to pitch.

I'll check in later.

Jed Lowrie took grounders at third and short before BP, but he's not in today's lineup. "He's going to play sometime," manager Terry Francona said. "Got to figure out where and when, and when is the best time.

Here's the lineups:

Brandon Moss and Dusty Brown continue to hit away, both batting .333 for Pawtucket. Brown hit is first homer of the season last night.

Another former Sea Dogs player, relief pitcher Craig Hansen, still has his 0.00 ERA after another scoreless inning.

Here is hoping the games get in.

Rain is threatening both the Red Sox and the Sea Dogs. Here in Portland, the mound and home plate area are covered, but Michael Bowden is about to warm up in the bullpen.

Here's the lineups for both games:

That 2005 draft continues to shine, while other drafts are looking good ...

Infielder Jed Lowrie was one of three sandwich draft picks (a sandwich is an extra pick between the first & second round) in 2005. He joined the Red Sox Thursday night, replacing the injured Mike Lowell (sprained thumb).

That means the top four Red Sox picks have made it to the majors - Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz (tonight's starter) and Lowrie. (Hansen is back in Triple-A, for now)

It is with extreme caution that we point out Craig Hansen's domination so far in Triple-A.

Hansen retired the six batters he faced Wednesday night, two by strikeout.

In three outings (6 innings), he has allowed 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 walks, while strking out 8

Back in Norwich where the Sea Dogs-Defenders game is underway (Bubba Bell grounded out to lead off), we bring you a few words from Portland native, former Red Sox reliever and Defenders pitcher coach Bob Stanley:

From crowded Fenway park on Tuesday to Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT tonight, where the Sea Dogs will be playing the Connecticut Defenders ...

I'll be blogging soon on Bob Stanley's reaction to the Bill Buckner appearance at Fenway. Stanley, the Portland native who also played on that '86 Red sox team, is the Defenders' pitching coach.

In Sea Dogs news, Portland added pitcher Miguel Asencio to the roster, replacing the void left by Chris Smith's promotion.

The Tigers are struggling because of poor pitching, and the Red Sox won Tuesday because of Dice-K and company coming through.

Some solid performances were also turned in Tuesday, from Pawtucket, and Portland.

When Bill Buckner took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch, the Boston Red Sox players were among the loudest to cheer. Kevin Youkilis made a point of meeting Buckner and shaking his hand.

Here is what manager Terry Francona and Youkilis said of the moment:

Bill Buckner made an emotional return to Fenway Park today to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Bill Buckner is going to throw out the first pitch in today's game.

Terry Francona chatted with the media before today's game, like he always does. Here's a sampling:

Got a few complaints that my last blog "Red Sox Trade" got people thinking it was a big trade (as in a Coco Crisp deal).

Just a minor one. Sorry if you got excited.

Here's the lineups for today's game:

BOSTON - Shortstop Christian Lara used to be considered a hot prospect. As a 19-year-old, Lara batted .433 in the Gulf Coast League. He did little after that, including a .238 average last year in hitter-friendly Lancaster.

On Tuesday morning, the Red Sox finally gave up on Lara, trading him to the LA Dodgers for right-handed reliever Eric Hull

When the Boston Red Sox invited Dustin Richardson to its selective Rookie Camp in the off-season, it raised an eyebrow or two, since he skipped over some prospects not invited (including Sea Dogs teammate Kris Johnson).

So far, so good.

Clay Buchholz will keep his major league job a little longer. Bartolo Colon, who has look impressive in recent outings, has been put on the 7-day disabled list with a right oblique strain.

The move affects the Sea Dogs, since Chris Smith has been promoted to Pawtucket to make Tuesday's start in place of Colon.

Justin Masterson will pitch for Portland Tuesday on the regular four days' rest (the Sea Dogs were rained out Thursday), but their starter Wednesday is TBA.

So much has been said about the Red Sox 3-country road trip. Everyone, including the Red Sox, are tired of all the "tired talk."

At least it's over.

As for the Portland Sea Dogs, their 3-state trip is going nicely. No signs of fatigue.

Kyle Snyder is the first reliever to go, as he will reportedly be designated for assignment today, to make room for Josh Beckett's return.

The move makes sense. Snyder is a good guy with potential. But the promise never really materialized. The Red Sox have another long reliever/spot starter (Julian Tavarez).

Snyder walked two in Saturday's 10-2 loss to Toronto. It was a game that could make other decisions easier for the Red Sox.

Three of Boston's four minor league teams rained out Friday.

And there's not much to say about the Red Sox major league game (Shaun Marcum shows that the Jays do indeed have a deep pitching rotation ... as along as A.J. Burnett's health holds up).

The one minor league game played was in the California League, where Lancaster lost 7-5 at High Desert. A couple of players stood out. And while it's only two games into the season, maybe we can bookmark them and check their progress later.

We start our wrap-up from Thursday night with a note to Clay Buchholz:

While Justin Masterson threw pitched four scoreless innings for the Sea Dogs, Bartolo Colon was throwing a shutout in his outing in Triple-A.

Colon continues to look like the Red Sox No. 5 starter (meaning Buchholz goes to Pawtucket). In the Pawtucket opener in Rhode Island Thursday, Colon pitching five innings, allowing one hit, one walk, no runs, while striking out five. Providence Journal writer Joe McDonald blogged that Colon hit 94 on the radar gun.

Masterson allowed three hits in his four innings, walking none and striking out three.

The field is holding up so far, but the power went out in New Britain Stadium, causing a 27-minute delay.

There was also a problem with the wireless, but I think we're okay.

After 3 innings, we're scoreless. Justin Masterson has allowed two infield singles. He's thrown 38 pitches so far, with 25 strikes.

Catcher Mark Wagner threw out the first runner trying to steal on him, in the third.

The start of the Portland Sea Dogs game tonight in New Britain was in doubt until just a few minutes ago.

The Sea Dogs start playing baseball and there is no snow in the forecast.

Granted, the Sea Dogs-Rock Cats game on Friday is almost a guarantee rainout, but tonight the teams should play in New Britain Stadium.

A few other notes of Sox and Dogs nature:

The Red Sox rank No. 4 and No. 2, which eventually may mean No. 1 again.

Got that?

The Red Sox had the fourth highest payroll, according to figures released by the Associated Press (if you like lists, see below). That's a switch from big-spending Boston always being No. 2 behind the big, big spenders in the Bronx. Detroit and the Mets have passed the Red Sox.

As far as No. 2, that's where the Red Sox are ranked by Baseball America when it comes to talent in the farm system.

Returned to Maine to find two jokes. One is the remaining mountains of snow (I'm not laughing).

The other comes from the Boston Dirt Dogs site, announcing that Roger Clemens is re-joining the Boston Red Sox. Appropriate story for April 1.

In other news ...