That 6-0 Sea Dogs lead just evaporated with a 7-run third inning by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Portland starter Kris Johnson gave up six hits and all seven runs (6 earned).

Johnson left with the score tied 6-6 and runners on 1st and 3rd. Ryan Klosterman bunted off reliever Mike James. He fielded the ball, but then lost the grip. The error brought in the go-ahead run.

Portland scored five runs in the top of the second inning to take a 6-0 lead in New Hampshire.

The Sea Dogs led 1-0 after the first inning. Jeff Corsaletti walked, reached third on Tony Granadillo's single to right center, and scored when Zach Daeges grounded into a double play.

Here is how the second inning went:

Greetings from Manchester, N.H., where the Sea Dogs start a four-game series with the Fisher cats.

As speculated, Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka has been placed on the disabled list (mild strain of the rotator cuff) and first baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey has been called up from Pawtucket.

Bailey, 29, a favorite alum of the Portland Sea Dogs (2001, '04, '05) made his Major League debut last year in a three-game series for Boston. He played three games, and went 1-for-9 with a home run.

Bailey will stay until Tuesday, when Justin Masterson will be called up to pitch in Dice-K's spot.

Now for the Red Sox and Sea Dogs lineups:

Justin Masterson has his sinker working again Thursday night, getting 11 ground outs in six innings, in his Triple-A debut.

Of course, a debut in Triple-A does not have the same shine once you've already made you Major League debut.

Masterson could be getting hs third call to Fenway Park, if the Red Sox want to give Daisuke Matsuzaka and his fatigued shoulder a break, in a start next Tuesday.

On Thursday, it was a Sea Dogs reunion on the mound in Pawtucket.

The Red Sox are off today, having flown themselves and their lifeless bats to Baltimore (that Seattle pitching was supposed to be poor ... Erik Bedard picked a fine time to show his true form).

But the Red Sox are still busy today. That is, the medical team will be on the job, trying to figure out what is wrong (if anything) with Daisuke Matsuzaka's shoulder.

Meanwhile, former Sea Dogs ace Justin Masterson is being put in line for another major league start. Masterson had his Pawtucket debut pushed up two days, to today, so he can be ready Tuesday in Boston (in case Dice-K cannot pitch).

Knowing how careful the Red Sox treat these things. Even if Dice-K passes all the test, he would likely skip a start anyway. So Masterson may be making MLB start No. 3 on June 3.

Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal had an interesting theory on what the Sox might do if Dice-K is put on the DL.

According to the Pawtucket Red Sox website, Justin Masterson will start for the PawSox Thursday ... that puts Masterson on schedule to pitch again June 3, which is when the Red Sox would need a starter if Daisuke Matsuzaka cannot go.

Matsuzaka left Tuesday's game with "shoulder fatigue." It is anticipated that Dice-K would at least miss his next start, if not go on the disabled list.

Masterson was originally scheduled to pitch again Saturday. He was given extra rest since he returned from Boston, after collecting a win May 20 for the Red Sox. Moving up his start is obviously in reaction to Matsuzaka's shoulder issue.

Daisuke Matsuzaka left the Red Sox game before the fifth inning with "fatigue in his right shoulder," according to the Red Sox.

That diagnosis did not come until after the game (the Associated Press story that was sent immediately after the game, and which appeared in today's Press Herald, speculated that Matsuzaka's problem was with his back).

But later reports, including a blog from the Providence Journal indicate shoulder fatigue.

Bartolo Colon solidified his spot on the major league roster with his second win (2.25 ERA) Monday night. Colon went 7 innings (5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K).

Meanwhile, in Pawtucket, the wind was blowing out, which means pitcher Charlie ZInk's knuckler was dancing (8 IP, 5 H, 3 earned runs, 2 BB, 3 K).

Clay Buchholz made a nice rehab appearance Sunday in Pawtucket, throwing 4 1/3 innings (3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K).

Buchholz said he would make one mre rehab start Friday for Pawtucket and then he will wait to hear from the Red Sox.

While Josh Becket did well for Boston, although he was still out-pitched, the Red Sox minor league pitchers were doing just fine.

In the Sea Dogs win Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard combined on a two-hitter.

Bard's comeback makes for a good story.

The Portland Sea Dogs showed off two more pitching prospects of the Boston Red Sox this afternoon, in a 4-1 Portland win over New Britain.

Michael Bowden pitched a 1-hitter over seven innings. The one hit allowed was an infield single on a close play in the second inning. Bowden struck out five and retired the last 17 batters he faced.

Bowden's "heavy fastball" was working as New Britain got few hard hits against him. He did not walk a batter.

Bowden, 21, has seen teammates Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson make it to the majors. He believes he is close.

Some quick notes for a lazy Saturday:

The Sea Dogs cracked five home runs at Hadlock Field Friday night, the most at their barn since 2003. The wind was blowing to right, but not that hard (12 m.p.h.). The sluggers were Jeff Corsaletti (2), Bubba Bell, Mark Wagner, and Andrew Pinckney

Portland Sea Dogs lefty Dustin Richardson left a few pitches up in the first inning, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats did not miss them.

New Hampshire scored four runs in the first, on the way to a 7-3 win over the Sea Dogs Thursday afternoon at Merchantsauto.com Stadium..

The loss ended the Sea Dogs nine-game road trip with a 6-3 mark. They return to Hadlock Field for 14 home games over the next 18 days.

Greetings from Manchester, N.H., where the Portland Sea Dogs bus pulled in about 30 minutes ago - in plenty of time for a 11 a.m. game here with the Fisher Cats (busloads of screaming school children will be filing in later ... can't wait).

Dustin Richardson will be pitching for the Sea Dogs. The tall lefty has had some trouble lately, but he is still quite the prospect.

He is one of many Red Sox pitching prospects ... and just what is Boston going to do with so many pitchers?

Bartolo Colon pitches for the Red Sox tonight, and Matt Goodson comes off the DL to pitch for the Sea Dogs.

Here are the lineups.

As I mentioned in the last blog, the Sea Dogs have lost starting pitchers to promotions to Triple-A before. Jonathan Papelbon and Clay Buchholz did not finish their seasons with Portland.

But Justin Masterson's promotion comes sooner than either of those two. He won't see Memorial Day at Hadlock Field ... Then again, neither Papelbon nor Buchholz had two major league starts by this time, with an ERA at 1.46.

As expected, the Red Sox are sending Justin Masterson back to the minors after his successful start on Tuesday.

But Masterson is not returning to Portland.

The Red Sox are sending Masterson to Triple-A Pawtucket. He follows the footsteps of Jonathan Papelbon and Clay Buchholz, two other Sea Dogs aces who were promoted early in their Double-A season.

Ron Johnson's PawSox team could have a strong rotation. Buchholz is expected to join Pawtucket once he is off the disabled list (especially if Bartolo Colon makes a successful re-entry into the majors, starting Wednesday.

Justin Masterson just left the mound to a standing ovation in the seventh inning.

With left-hander Ross Gload coming to bat, manager Terry Francona summoned lefty Javier Lopez.

Masterson pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits (all three by Alex Gordon). He walked three and hit a batter. Masterson struck out five and got 10 ground outs with his sinker.

Masterson walked Mark Teahen to begin the seventh, and then got Billy Butler to ground out, with a bouncer back to the mound. Teahen advanced to second

There will not be back-to-back no-hitters at Fenway Park. Kansas City third baseman Alex Gordon hit an opposite field double down the left field line off Justin Masterson, with two outs in the first inning.

Gordon was stranded. Masterson threw 13 pitches in the first inning, 9 for strikes.

In other Red Sox news, Julian Tavarez cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket. Expect it to be a short stay. Tavarez should be traded shortly.

Greetings from Fenway. The tarp is on the field. There is a possibility of "light showers" tonight, according to the Red Sox. But they expect the game to be played.

As expected, the Red Sox sent Chris Smith back to Pawtucket, to make room for tonight's starter, Justin Masterson. Check the end of the blog for tonight's Boston lineup.

Also have some more no-hitter trivia for you, thanks to the Sea Dogs staff and some alert fans.

Remember when the Boston Red Sox had visions of Johan Santana on the mound this past off-season, or Alex Rodriguez at shortstop for the 2004 season?

Jon Lester's name popped up in both trade scenario's (the A-Rod deal almost becoming a reality). I remember talking to Lester about that deal during the 2005 Portland Sea Dogs season, for a story on Lester making the Eastern League All-Star team.

If you missed it, check out the ESPN highlights, or the NESN highlights in the morning. Jon Lester threw a no-hitter Monday night against the Kansas City Royals.

Lester, who was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year in 2005 with the Portland Sea Dogs, allowed two walks and got some solid defense, including a diving catch by Jacoby Ellsbury in the fourth inning.

Many thoughts for a Monday.

Boston, with its tough opening schedule, a relentless flu bug and a few other injuries, is sitting at 27-19, best in the American League.

If Bartolo Colon pitches well for the Red Sox, beginning Wednesday, does Clay Buchholz get back to the majors this season, if there are no injuries?

You can expect Justin Masterson to make his second major league start Tuesday, when the Red Sox play host to Kansas City.

The move is not official. But assuming Masterson gets the nod, he will be joining former Sea Dogs pitcher Chris Smith in the Fenway clubhouse. Smith was called up from Pawtucket Saturday night.

Masterson, who pitched for the Sea Dogs on Thursday, would be going on his normal days' rest. There was speculation that Bartolo Colon would get the start Tuesday, with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.

But Masterson has shown he can perform at Fenway. In his debut on April 24, he held the Angels to 2 hits and 1 run over 6 innings (4 walks, 4 strikeouts).

It's possible that Colon could still start Wednesday for the Red Sox because Firday's rainout left Boston without a starter on normal days' rest for Wednesday.

Pitcher Daniel Bard, the Boston Red Sox first-round draft pick in 2006, is joining the Portland Sea Dogs, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.

Bard, with an 0.64 ERA in 28 innings pitched for low Class A Greenville, is bypassing advanced Class A Lancaster.

The speculation of a Bard move to Portland has been building in recent weeks because Bard had not gone to Lancaster, despite his domination in Greenville.

Will Bartolo Colon pitch Tuesday for the Boston Red Sox?

The speculation is on both sides. Some media outlets in Boston say yes, others no. (In Buffalo, Colon told a correspondent for the Providence Journal that he was scheduled to have two more starts, but that could change).

What could change is that Boston could use Colon Tuesday, with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list, and Colon showing fine form Thursday (6 IP, 1 hit, 0 walks)

Unless the Red Sox have a surprise plan, pencil Bartolo Colon into the Boston starting rotation - say, this Tuesday against the Royals.

The Portland Sea Dogs bullpen held up. The Red Sox pen did not.

When the Sea Dogs beat the Trenton Thunder 10-6, Portland relievers came in an retired 11 straight batters (and 13 of the 15 batters they faced).

Boston held a 3-2 lead over Baltimore, with two outs in the seventh.

Every off-season, teams pad their roster with extra players, just in case.

For outfielder Jon Van Every, "just in case" may be happening now, with J.D. Drew suffering a sprained wrist Tuesday night

Bartolo Colon is scheduled to throw 75 pitches (about 4 to 5 innings) in his next rehab start, Thursday for Pawtucket.

Will Colon be ready for the majors after that? It would seem Colon could use one more start after that ... then again, it may be time for Clay Buchholz to re-group in Triple-A.

Here in Pawtucket, Jed Lowrie walked through the clubhouse doors, returning from his impressive stint with the Boston Red Sox.

Craig Hansen won't be joining Lowrie, however.

It was figured that Hansen would be sent back down to Pawtucket once the Red Sox activated Sean Casey from the DL today.

Instead, the Red Sox designated veteran reliever Julian Tavarez for assignment.

In 2004, Abe Alvarez was one of the first big Red Sox prospects to come to the Portland Sea Dogs (Kevin Youkilis and Kelly Shoppach came through in 2003).

But Alvarez seemed on the fastest track. He was picked in the second round of the 2003 draft out of Long Beach State, put up a 0.00 ERA that year in Lowell, and then skipped two levels of Class A to join the Sea Dogs in 2004.

Not only that, but Alvarez was called up to Boston on July 22, 2004 for a spot start.

The Pawtucket Red Sox notes report that reliever Bryan Corey has been traded to the San Diego Padres. He is being traded for future considerations (it won't be much; Corey had an out in his contract anyway. This a deal to give him a chance in the majors, which he was not going to get in Boston).

Replacing Corey in Pawtucket will be Jose Vaquedano, promoted from Portland after recording a 0.41 ERA in 13 appearances.

Replacing Vaquedano on the Sea Dogs roster is outfielder Jered Stanley, who gives Portland a fourth outfielder (with Bubba Bell still limping with a sprained ankle).

Now here's the Sea Dogs lineup for today:

In today's Sunday notes column we talk about which Lancaster pitchers might make it to Portland.

Poor James Russ was not one of them. Russ was the starting pitcher last night for advanced Class A Lancaster. He lasted one inning (6 H, 3 BB, 7 R).

But that was just the beginning for Island Empire, in a 25-1 win over Lancaster.

While the focus is on Jonathan Papelbon's second straight blown save, in Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Twins, the fact remains that shortstop Julio Lugo again contributed a costly error.

The last time, against the Tigers, Lugo's error came in the ninth, so it was a highlight in the loss.

It looked worse, and Bubba Bell thought it sounded worse. But, to Bell's relief, the diagnosis of his injury Friday night is a high ankle sprain.

Jon Lester pitches for Boston. Dustin Richardson starts for Portland.

Two left-handers with good stuff, when they command it.

Here's the lineups:

When Jon Lester (2-2, 3.94) takes the mound tonight in Minnesota, against Boof Bonser (2-4, 4.29 ... yes, that's his legal first name), Lester needs to be "effectively wild."

Here's why:

According to Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal, Brandon Moss has already begun his rehab, a week after his appendectomy. He is scheduled to go to extended spring training in Fort Myers today and could be in a rehab game in 10 days.

And now for tonight's lineups from the Red Sox and Sea Dogs ... Manny Ramirez gets a day off in Detroit.

The Killer B's - Clay Buchhol, Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard - were all on the mound Wednesday.

Bowden was the best.

The big story in the Red Sox 5-0 win over Detroit was the 8 shutout innings thrown by Tim Wakefield.

But what of the guy catching those pitches?

The Red Sox hope to keep it going (as in wins).

The Sea Dogs plan for it to stop tonight (the losses, that is).

Here are the lineups:

Curt Schilling said he is ready to start playing catch today, the first throws that he hopes leads him back to the Fenway Park mound.

Meanwhile, in Fort Myers, Bartolo Colon threw two innings in a minor league extended spring training game.

Before you ask where these two guys will fit in the rotation, remember the mantra - 'You never have too much pitching" - especially with things like tired arms, strained obliques and flu bugs popping up here and there.

Justin Masterson gave up 4 earned runs over 5 1/3 innings Monday night.

But don't think it was a bad outing. Masterson had his stuff working.

Hopefully, the Red Sox are not as tired as the Sea Dogs. Coming back from Trenton, N.J. on Sunday, the bus broke down twice. The Dogs did not get in until 5 a.m.

Here are the lineups for both teams:

While the Red Sox are on a roll, the Sea Dogs have dropped out of first place with a six-game losing streak on their trip to Bowie and Trenton.

The Sea Dogs return home tonight and the game features two top prospects on the mound. Justin Masterson pitches for Portland, while the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will feature Brett Cecil, the Toronto Blue Jays first-round draft pick from last June.

By now, you have probably heard of the college softball game, where the opponents carried an injured runner around the bases after she hit a home run. It has nothing to do with the Red Sox, but it's a great story. The Oregonian has a follow-up story.

Back to the Red Sox. Brandon Moss' wonderful day Friday was followed by a horrible Saturday. Moss underwent an emergency appendectomy at Mass. General Hospital.

In case you didn't stay up, Brandon Moss played a major role in Boston's 7-3 win over the Devil Rays.

Moss went 2-for-4 with two runs, including his second major league homer. He also threw out a runner, trying to score from second on a single.

It's a battle for first in the Ameircan League East. And if you're looking for a Red Sox-Yankees rivalry ... you need to check out a different league.

Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays (16-12) and Boston Red Sox (17-13) begin a 3-game series. They are tied in the division.

Yes, I know it's only May 2. But when could we ever hype a Rays-Sox series?

You want Sox-Yankees? Look to the Eastern League.

How did you like Brandon Moss' at-bat, with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night?

Moss had struck out previously, swinging wildly at two low curveballs. This time, he stayed away from the curve, worked the count to his favor and singled to center.