The last full weekend in April

Photo stolen from Francis Specker/AP

Sox Update: Pablo Ozuna (#38 in the picture above) shows some spirit on the base paths and caps the Sox 3-game sweep in the Tragic Kingdom of the Los Angeles County Angels Baseball Club of Anaheim, California Angels. Friday was a nice 8-5 win. Dye homers and Iguchi goes 3 for 5. Garcia is just good enough to squeak out his 4th win of the season. Saturday AJ gets plunked in an exciting 2-1 Sox win. Contreras was nearly untouchable again and is now 4-0. Thome homered. Sunday it was Ozuna pinch running around the bases to score the come-from-behind winning run in a 6-5 victory. Crede was 3 for 3, Garland gives up 5 ER in 7 IP.

One injury note - Dye left the game both saturday (blood blister) and sunday (sore calf). Keep an eye on this....

DOWN ON THE FARM:

Charlotte (AAA): the Knights are on a nice little 6-game win streak. Wednesday a 12-5 win over Ottawa. Gonzales goes 4 for 6, Rogo gets 3 hits and drives in 3. Thursday beat Ottawa 4-2. Rivera homers. Sean Tracey is not convincing in the win (5 IP, 5 walks, 3 Ks 2 ER). Friday beat Ottawa again. Hager gets the win, but walked 5. Hummel struck 4 times. Saturday was a 13-10 win against Buffalo. Hummel and Sweeney homer. Sunday the Knight won 14-8 at Buffalo. Fields had 4 hits and 5 RBIs. Randolph did not have a good outing (3 1/3 rd IP, 6 ER, 7 walks).

Birmingham (AA): Wednesday lost 8-3 to Montgomery. It wasn't Liotta's fault ( 6IP, 3 hits, 0 ER)... the relief blew it - West and Pollack combine to give up 8 ER in just 2 IP. Thursday was a 1-0 win over Montgomery as Broadway throws 6 scoreless innings. Friday the Baron defeat Montgomery 7-1. Molina drives in 4 and Lumsden gets the win. Saturday beat Montgomery 9-6. Collaro goes 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs. Sasser homers. Sunday they lost 8-4 to Montgomery. Smith homers.

Winston-Salem (High A): Wednesday rained out. Thursday beat Fredrick 19-2. Kelly gets 4 hits and 4 RBIs. Allen also collected 4 RBIs. Friday was an uneventful 3-2 loss to Wilmington. Saturday lost 4-3 to Wilmington in 12. Egbert struck out 7 in 7 IP. Sunday Whister is at it again, and gives up 6 ER and 5 walks in just 6 IP, leading the Hog to a 9-4 loss.

Kannapolis (Low A): I'm almost afraid to look. Wednesday 4 Intimidator errors help Greenville cruise to a 4-0 win. Thursday just 2 errors in an 8-3 loss. This time it was the pitching - D. Rodriguez gives up 7 ER in 4 IP. Friday 2 errors are responsible for 3 of the 8 runs in a shutout loss to Charleston. Saturday just one error keeps it close, 4-3, but still the same result - an Intimidator loss. N. Rodriguez strikes out 7 in 6 IP. Sunday vs Charleston, game data not available.

Baseball phrase of the day: pace n. The rate of speed at which at pitcher works.

Beer count: Friday -2 beers. Saturday - 2 beers. Sunday - 1 red wine, 1 beer.

I started in on Walden this week. We'll see how long that lasts....