While the Red Sox had no announcement, outfielder/first baseman Chris Carter confirmed he was being sent to Triple A Pawtucket following the Sox’ 7-3 win over Minnesota in the teams’ second game of their doubleheader, Wednesday at Fenway Park. With outfielder Rocco Baldelli on the 15-day disabled list, and recently-recalled Jeff Bailey primarily a first baseman, one player who could potentially be recalled is outfielder Jonathan Van Every, who had a grand slam for Pawtucket in his first game back from an ankle injury, Wednesday. Carter was 0 for 5 with a sacrifice fly in his stint with the Sox.

“It’s really the classiest, greatest team I’ve ever been on. I’m just really privileged to be a part of it,” said Carter just after packing his bag in front of his locker. “I’m always grateful. I’ll play baseball anywhere, and to play on what I think is the best team in baseball, and not only on the field, is fantastic. They’re just a great bunch of guys. I always look at the positives. I’ll get more at-bats, so that will be good.”

Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon came on to finish off the sweep for the Red Sox, each pitching a scoreless inning in capping the Sox’ seventh win in a row, beating the Twins in Game 2 of the teams’ doubleheader, 7-3, at Fenway Park.

More after clubhouse time …

Minnesota reliever Luis Ayala hit Dustin Pedroia with a 91 mph fastball that tailed up and in, prompting home plate Chad Fairchild to issue a warning to both sides. Ramon Ramirez had hit Delmon Young the inning before. Pedroia was ultimately caught stealing, his second caught stealing of the season (in four attempts) after getting thwarted just once in 21 regular season tries last season.

The steal attempt marked the first time this season Pedroia has gone on a 1-0 count, having tried twice on first pitches, and one other occasion with the count 1-0. He had three successful swipes on 1-0 counts last season, tying 2-0 and 0-0 hitting situations for the most successful for his steal attempts.

Oh yes, Ramirez pitched another scoreless inning, marking the seventh straight game he has appeared and not allowed a run. He gave way to Hideki Okajima in the eighth.

Brad Penny finished off his night, having gone six innings, giving up six hits, three runs (2 earned), and one walk, while striking out two. He threw 89 pitches, 56 for strikes. Overall, a strong outing for Penny, whose fastball topped out at 93 mph but was delivered with much-improved command. He would be replaced by Ramon Ramirez, who still hasn’t given up a run this season.

The outing was the second six-inning stint for Penny this season, after not having gone as many as six since June 8 of last year entering this campaign.

Also of note in the frame, Nick Green notched another hit, raising his average to .313. If you’re wondering about that home run he hit in Game 1, it wasn’t the longest he had ever launched. That, he said after the game, had come when the Red Sox traveled to Bradenton in spring training this year. Green also pointed out that he had hit 21 homers in the minors in 2007.

For more Green, check out Intern Drew’s chat with the shortstop in between games tonight.

Francisco Liriano has been replaced by Matt Guerrier. Liriano had gone 7, 4 1/3, and 6 innings in his previous three starts, and threw 74 pitches, just 43 of which were for strikes. His line: 4 IP, 4 H, 7R, 4 BB, 6 K. Guerrier has given up at least one run in each of his last three appearances, although he cruised through his first frame Wednesday night by retiring Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew, and Jason Bay in order.

The Red Sox have now struck out seven times, entering the game with the sixth-fewest strikeouts as a team in the American League. 

Brad Penny, by the way, finished the fifth having allowed six hits and two runs (one unearned). After facing one batter in the sixth he had thrown 76 pitches.

(By Drew Scott)

David Ortiz held court before Game 2 of the Red Sox’ doubleheader with the Twins. Here are some highlights:

Are you trying to hit the ball to the left or is that just happening?

I don’t know man. I just swing man, just in case I hit it.

What do you do during rain delays?

I talk to you (laughs). Naw, I just hang around and chill and I always grab my computer and watch the other guys talk trash, hear Petey (Pedroia) screaming. It’s the longest three hours ever when you have that little man screaming.

How do guys stay loose? How do they handle rain delays?

I hate rain delays. They kind of get you out of what you want to do.

What do you think of what Mike Lowell’s been doing that last few days?

Killing it man, killing! That’s what we get paid for, killing!

Read the rest of this entry »

Things started taking a turn for the worse for Brad Penny, with Justin Morneau hitting a 1-0, 91 mph fastball into the centerfield bleachers for a solo home run. Just for reference sake, Morneau didn’t hit any of his 23 home runs in 2008 on 1-0 counts. (I know, who cares.)

After a Jason Kubel ground-rule double, it looked like Penny might get out of the frame with just the one run after a Michael Cuddyer pop-up. But Brian Buscher’s grounder bounced off Nick Green’s glove, marking the shortstop’s third error of the day and allowing Minnesota’s second run.

While much has been made of Green’s offensive output, and his solid play in the field (highlighted in Tim Wakefield’s flirtation with a no-hitter in Oakland), it should be noted that shortstop is anything but Green’s natural position. Coming into this season he had played just 23 games at short in the majors after having totaled 191 at second base. (Note: Green did once again help his plus-minus by doubling in his second at-bat.)

That leads us to the Julio Lugo rehab update — 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk with Pawtucket.

Through four innings Penny has thrown 66 pitches, 41 for strikes.

The Red Sox responded to the Twins’ comeback thanks to a Jeff Bailey walk, Green’s double, a Jacoby Ellsbury run-scoring ground out to second, and Dustin Pedroia’s sacrifice fly.

Red Sox 7, Twins 2