Postgame Journal: Rain the story in “Futures at Fenway” doubleheader

After a long delay, the second game of the doubleheader was cancelled.

Getting to the Major Leagues is exciting in itself, but for first-round draft pick Kolbrin Vitek he got his first taste Saturday, a mere month after being selected by the Red Sox with the 2 pick in the First-Year Player Draft.

“Going from Lowell yesterday, to Fenway today is amazing,” exclaimed the Lowell third baseman. “It’s such a great park with such a great history.”

Unfortunately, for Vitek and his Lowell Spinners teammates it was not a good one from the start as Jamestown spoiled their dream day at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, 7-2, in a rain-shortened game that was stopped in the sixth inning.

The Jammers got to work right off the top in the first as Harold Brantley rocked a double to down the left field line to leadoff the game. After a groundout back to Spinners starter Madison Younginer, Marcell Ozuna singled to center to put Brantley at third. Sequoyah Stonechiper walked and then to end the inning, Aaron Senne flied out to left field.

Lowell was quick to jump on the offensive as Felix Sanchez walked and then stole second base with James Kang batting. Kang grounded out to send Sanchez to third. The threat ended without a run scored as June draft picks Kolbrin Vitek and Bryce Brentz struck out against Saul Gonzalez.

Younginer struggled in the second inning, allowing four runs to the Jammers with two outs as two walks came back to haunt him on a double to left-center field by Noah Perio. Another run scored on a single to left field by Marcell Ozuna. He advanced 90 more feet on an error by left fielder Brandon Jacobs. A Ryan Fisher single down the right field line became the third out as he was gunned down by Bryce Brentz to end the inning.

Gonzalez made quick work of Lowell in the second as he retired Brandon Jacobs, Miles Head, and David Renfroe on a strikeout, popout and a fine defensive play at second base by Dallas Poulk.

An RBI groundout by Dallas Hord made it 5-0 for the Jammers in the top of the third without any further trouble. The Spinners had two baserunners in the bottom half, but they were stranded on a grounder to short to end it.

Madison Younginer lasted just three innings and allowed six hits and five runs (four earned), while walking four and fanning one.

Charlie Rosario did not fare much better in the top of the fourth as he allowed a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna that landed deep into the Green Monster Seats (4) with two outs. Brandon Jacobs singled to right field in the bottom of the inning and that was all Lowell could get.

A great moment came in between the fourth and fifth innings when Jamestown pitching coach John Birkwell became engaged on the field in front of the Jammers dugout. It sent Fenway into a burst of cheers.

A leadoff double by Stonechiper in the fifth was the only offense of the innings as the next three were retired by Rosario.

Lowell got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a James Kang double that scraped the base of the Green Monster. David Renfroe, who walked to leadoff the inning, scored the run. The second run scored on a wild pitch on the fourth ball of Kolbrin Vitek’s walk.

Jamestown got one back on a single by Marcell Ozuna in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-2. Then, the rains came down and forced the grounds crew to cover the field. The remainder of the game was waived off giving Jamestown the win.

Gonzalez was the winning pitcher for the Jammers as he allowed five hits and two runs over 4.2 innings to improve to 1-1. Kenneth Toves recorded one out to earn his second save of the season, which were both in rain-shortened games.

Younginer was the losing pitcher and fell to 2-3. Charlie Rosario came in for the final 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs.

The day ended with sad news that the second game between Potomac and Salem was cancelled “due to the compromised condition of the field of play after a sudden, heavy downpour during the afternoon and a forecast of additional heavy rain,” a press release from the Red Sox stated. “Every effort to play the game was made, but the extraordinary rain shower caused flooding that rendered the field unplayable.”

The release also states that fans should hold onto their tickets, because special opportunities for ticket holders will be provided and may include discounted tickets and/or concessions for the 2011 “Futures at Fenway” doubleheader.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Super Saturday

For the first time in KCT Baseball history, we will cover three games in one day on Saturday!

In our first stop, we will be live from the press box at Fenway Park for the fifth annual “Futures at Fenway” doubleheader. While the Red Sox are in Toronto, the Lowell Spinners and Salem Red Sox will take part in the games.

The Spinners will take on the Jamestown Jammers (Marlins) in the opening game of the twinbill at noon. 2009 draft pick Madison Younginer (2-2) will make the start for Lowell, while Saul Gonzalez (0-1) takes the ball for Jamestown.

Lowell beat Jamestown on Friday night, 9-3, at LeLacheur Park. The Spinners are 6-15, last place in the Stedler Division, while the Jammers stand in first place in the Pickney Division at 12-9.

In the nightcap, the Salem Red Sox will face the Potomac Nationals in Carolina League action. 2007 third round draft pick Brock Huntzinger (6-4) will go for first-year manager Kevin Boles, while fifth-year National Brad Peacock (3-9) starts for Potomac.

Salem was topped by Kinston (Indians) last night, 9-0 and fell to 49-37 and 7-9 in the second half. The Sox are second in the Southern Division. Potomac is 39-46 and 8-7 in the half after a 3-2 win against Frederick (Orioles) last night.

Later, we will be back at Fraser Field, where the North Shore Navigators will face the Sanford Mainers in a battle of the East Division’s top teams. The Navs sit at 16-10, while the Mainers 16-11.

Jack Mayfield (0-0/Oklahoma) is set for the start for the Navigators, while Michael Augliera (3-0/Binghamton) will go for Sanford.

The Navs have been off since Thursday when they topped Lowell, 9-3, while Sanford topped Holyoke by an 8-0 score yesterday.

Get a quick lodown of everything you need to know for the games with this quick audio podcast.

No-Hit Night

* In his Advanced-A debut, Frederick (Orioles) lefthander Nathan Moreau tossed the first nine-inning individual no-hitter in the Carolina League since 2002, as the Keys shutout Salem (Red Sox), 7-0, on Wednesday night at Lewis-Gale Field. Moreau did not walk anyone and struck out six, including Alex Hassan to end the game.

* Yarmouth-Dennis righthander Jordan Pries (Stanford) tossed a no-hitter tonight as the Red Sox topped the host Orleans Firebirds, 2-0, at Eldredge Park. Pries struck out four and allowed three walks, while he had a perfect game going through six innings.

Sox Notes: Signings, Single-A, and the Spinners

* The Red Sox are winners of six straight games after going 8-1 on am Interleague homestand against the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. Jon Lester opens a three-game series at Colorado tomorrow night.

Calgary Vipers pitcher Jay Broughton was signed by the Red Sox from the Golden League. (Ted Rhodes/Calgary Herald)

* The Calgary Herald is reporting that the Red Sox have purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Jay Broughton from the Golden League’s Calgary Vipers. The Vipers’ rookie pitcher was signed by the Sox Thursday night, following a 6-4 road loss to the Orange County that he started, throwing six scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits and struck out five Flyers. He was a 2004 Milwaukee draft pick, but chose to play on partial scholarship at Ball State, where he pitched for four seasons. He was signed by assistant general manager Allard Baird, who was also the general manager in Kansas City when Calgary skipper Morgan Burkhart played for the Royals in 2003. He has been assigned to Short-A Lowell.

* The Red Sox also announced the signing of fifth-round draft pick Henry Ramos. He was a an outfielder from Alfonso Casta Martinez High in Maunabo, Puerto Rico. Peter Abraham reported that he was a converted soccer player that will need some development time in baseball as he will begin in the Gulf Coast League.

* Yesterday, the first half of the Minor League season came to an end for Single-A Salem and Greenville. Both clubs had winning first halves in the Carolina and Southern League’s South Division, respectively.

The Salem Sox finished with a 42-28 record and fell a game short of Winston-Salem (White Sox) for a share of a Carolina League division title. Second baseman and clean-up hitter Oscar Tejada leads the Salem lineup with a .338 average, eight home runs and 37 RBI, which is the top mark in the organization among full-season players. Designated hitter Ryan Lavarnway and right fielder Mitch Dening each have a respectable .302 average, while Lavarnway leads the system with 14 home runs and 54 RBI. Brock Huntzinger finished with a 6-3 record and 2.83 ERA in 76.1 innings, which currently ranks fourth-best in the system. Huntzinger, Tejada, and Lavarnway will join infielder Will Middlebrooks at tomorrow’s All-Star Game at Myrtle Beach (Braves). You will be able to catch the Salem Red Sox take on Potomac (Nationals) on July 10 as part of the Futures at Fenway doubleheader.

The Drive finished in third place with a 36-34 record, six games behind Savannah (Mets) for the division title. Catcher Dan Butler was fourth in the organization and sixth in the Carolina League with a .313 average to go along with five home runs and 25 RBI in the first half. Four of the system’s top five base stealers currently hail in Greenville, including Jeremy Hazelbaker and his 32 thefts. Reymond Fuentes (27), Derrik Gibson (17), Wilfred Pichado (16) and Pawtucket’s Ryan Kalish (14) round out the top base stealers. On the pitching side, Yeiper Castillo’s 4-4 record and 2.86 ERA in 69.1 innings led the staff in the first half, while his 62 strikeouts were tops in the organization. Greenville hosts this year’s SAL All-Star Game tomorrow night, featuring five Drive representatives: manager Billy McMillon, head trainer David Herrera, Butler, outfielder Ronald Bermudez, and relief pitcher Dennis Neuman.

Madison Younginer was a seventh-round selection out of Mauldin (SC) High School in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. (MauldinMavsBaseball.com photo)

* The Lowell Spinners opened their 2010 season this weekend by dropping two of three games at Vermont (Nationals). Rookie Madison Younginer allowed just one hit over five innings to earn the win as the Spinners were 6-2 winners on Saturday. Their home schedule commences tonight as Tri-City (Astros) visits LeLacheur Park for the first of a two-game set. Tyler Wilson makes his Lowell debut tonight, while Colby Cervenka makes his tomorrow.

Minors: Futures at Fenway presented by Comcast set for July 10, 2010

The Boston Red Sox announced on Wednesday that the fifth annual Futures at Fenway presented by Comcast will take place on Saturday, July 10, 2010.

After a one-year break, the short-season Lowell Spinners will return to Fenway to face the Jamestown Jammers (Florida Marlins) at noon. Following the first game, the Salem Red Sox will face the Potomac Nationals in a South Atlantic League battle.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and range from $5 to $30.