MANCHESTER, N.H. – With eight TV cameras and approximately 20 reporters jammed into a corner annex of Merchantsauto.com Stadium, John Smoltz said he can almost taste his first start in a Red Sox uniform.

The 42-year-old right-hander allowed three hits and one run, earned, over his 3 1/3 innings for Double-A Portland against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, his second major league rehab start. He left with one out in the fourth and the Sea Dogs leading 3-1 in a game won by Portland, 5-1.

“I’ve done this before, maybe not to this length of time,” Smoltz said. “My radar screen has Boston on it and as long as that’s the carrot dancing in front of you, you just keep doing what you have to do.” Read the rest of this entry »

MANCHESTER, N.H. – John Smoltz will make his second major league rehab start here in Manchester and his first with Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.

The 42-year-old righthander is expected to throw in the neighborhood of 50 pitches or three innings for the visiting Sea Dogs against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Smoltz pitched last Thursday for Single-A Greenville, allowing just one hit and striking out two over three scoreless innings at Augusta and reported that his right shoulder felt strong.

He will wear the No. 44 as his customary No. 29 is already being worn by lefty hurler Dustin Richardson.