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.

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.

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 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 Portland Sea Dogs have a roster of 24 players.

But changes will be coming with some veteran players left behind in Fort Myers, nursing injuries.

The Trenton Thunder beat the Sea Dogs in the Northern Division playoffs last year, on the way to their first Eastern League title.

It not only was the Thunder's first championship, but it marked the end of Portland's dominance over Trenton in the playoffs (The Dogs topped the Thunder in the 2005 and '06 playoffs).

The Thunder look good again in 2008, according to John Nalbone of the Times of Trenton.

Just a public service reminder that the Portland Sea Dogs are looking for host families for some of their players.

Host families usually charge reduced-rate rent or none at all. The players are here from April through early September (although they are on the road half of the time, and usually spend most of their other time at Hadlock Field)

After losing five straight games, the Portland Sea Dogs get one more chance to reach the playoffs, when they play a home game Tuesday night at 6, at Hadlock Field, against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Tickets are on sale between 6-9 tonight at the Hadlock ticket office, and again at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

On Monday, New Britain beat Portland 11-7, while New Hampshire lost to Trenton, 8-6. It was the Fisher Cats' third straight loss.

Somebody will have to win Tuesday night.

The Boston Red Sox lead may be slipping in the American League East, but it does not compare to the Portland Sea Dogs, who lost again Monday night, 6-2 to the Binghamton Mets.

The Sea Dogs have lost 11 of their last 14 games and now lead New Hampshire by only one game, for second place in the Eastern League Northern Division (the top two teams in the division reach the playoffs.

It is rare, but the fog sometimes rolls into Hadlock Field. It is usually light, and does not last for long.

If Norwich was so lucky. The Eastern League All-Star game has just been canceled in the third inning because the fog is too thick, and it is not going anywhere.

The game should not have been started, but officials were hoping for some kind of miracle. No chance. Outfielders stood still when balls were hit, not having a clue where they were.

One other All-Star note: former Sea Dogs outfielder Brandon Moss homered in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

Clay Buchholz is pitching today and it might just be his last appearance at Hadlock Field.

In today's Sunday Telegram, we look at who could be trade bait for the Red Sox.

The Sea Dogs game in Manchester started at 7:34 (29-minute rain delay). Jed Lowrie gave Portland a 1-0 lead with a solo shot to right field.

In Pawtucket's game in Louisville, Abe Alvarez gave up a two-run single in the first inning. The batter was Mark Bellhorn. Yes, that Mark Bellhorn.

Clay Buchholz is done for the night after 5 2/3 innings. He was cruising through five innings with 11 strikeouts, having allowed 2 runs, three hits and no walks.

But Buchholz walked the first three batters in the sixth inning. He gave up a two-run single and got two outs before leaving. He finished with 12 strikeouts, one short of the franchise record.

Clay Buchholz is finished tonight and will not get a decision. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, one walk, two runs (one earned), while striking out 11.
We're now headed to the bottom of the seventh. Score still 2-2.

Clay Buchholz has 10 strikeouts in five ininngs so far, in the Sea Dogs game with Binghamton Mets. Buchholz broke Portland record for consecutive strikeouts, with eight (Beckett had six straight in his Sea Dogs debut on June 16, 2001; Jon Lester and Kason Gabbard also recorded six straight in 2005).
The score is tied 2-2. Buchholz has allowed three hits.
More later

As expected, Charlie Zink was promoted today to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he is scheduled to start tonight. Zink, the knuckleball pitcher who spent most of last year in Triple-A, has been waiting for an opening in Pawtucket. With Devern Hansack still with Boston, Pawtucket needed another arm.

Earlier we stated the obvious, that a team can never have enough arms. After John Barnes' performance Tuesday night, we now ask: Can a team ever have enough knuckleball pitchers?

Jacoby Ellsbury is not exactly looking chipper, but he plans to be in the lineup today for the Sea Dogs.

No Sea Dogs again today. That makes 7-of-10 homes games postponed, so far (two from the record, and it's only April 18) ... Thought you might like to read anoher Devern Hansack story, this from Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal.

Sea Dogs rained out again. They will try to play a doubleheader with Trenton Wednesday at noon. The rain may let up, but the field is soaked. We'll see.

When Jeremy West was traded to the White Sox organization, the Sea Dogs appeared to have no first basemen. Welcome Eric Crozier, who enjoyed his big-league cup of coffee in 2004. He is a great story (time for a plug for tomorrow's Press Herald) and he had the big hit Wednesday, a three-run homer in an 8-5 Sea Dogs win over New Britain.

How long will Jacoby Ellsbury stay in Portland? Not long, if he keeps having games like he did in the Sea Dogs opener on Monday.

Sea Dogs pitchers are warming up and stretching in right field, and the lineup is tacked up in the clubhouse. Finally, the 2007 season has arrived. Here is today's Sea Dogs lineup.

Saturday's scheduled Sea Dogs game has been postponed because of the snow. They will try to get the season-opener in Sunday at 1 p.m.

Just spent this morning with the Sea Dogs at the University of Southern Maine fieldhouse. They arrived in snow flurries and left the same way. Get used to the indoor practices, boys.

The Red Sox just annnounced two moves (of two former Sea Dogs) that certainly were not a surprise. David Murphy was sent to Pawtucket, while Jeff Bailey was assigned to the minor league camp (Bailey will also go to Pawtucket).

There was no room for Murphy as the Red Sox already have five outfielders with Ramirez, Crisp, Drew, Pena and Eric Hinske; with Hinkse also available to play the corners. Bailey is a back-up outfielder and first-baseman.

Forgot to include the pitcher when I sent in the Red Sox lineup today. Guy named Schilling. Looks like he'll make the club.

Outfielder Chris Durbin, who was expected to return to the Portland Sea Dogs for a third season, told the Red Sox he has retired. Durbin was an Eastern League All-Star in 2005. He reported to the Red Sox minor league camp at the start of this month, but recently left. I will have more on Durbin's decision in Friday's Press Herald.

A former Sea Dogs outfielder announced some good news. David Murphy and his wife Andrea are expecting their first baby.

First-baseman Jeremy West and outfielder Matt Van Der Bosch are here in Clearwater with the big-league club. Both said they expect to be back with the Sea Dogs this season. West is sporting eyeglasses for the first time.

ESPN's Gary Thorne is working today's game. He has another baseball game tomorrow, but his mind will be on the NCAA hockey tournament Friday night. "Go Black Bears," Thorne said when he saw a reporter from Maine (that would be me). Thorne, of course, is the former radio voice of the University of Maine hockey team.

Talk to you after the game.