Ryan Lavarnway traces success back to one conversation

In a sense, it was the verbal equivalent of a high-and-tight fastball — a pitch that sends a batter sprawling…

Ryan Kalish injured in Pawtucket

photo © 2009 Eric Kilby | more info (via: Wylio)The Pawtucket Red Sox – and, by extension, Boston – will…

Stephen Fife’s Story

Two totally unrelated and unexpected developments had a profound effect on the career of Stephen Fife, a 24-year-old right-hander who…

Jason Rice arrives at Triple-A with 500 strikeouts

Managers and batters talk about hanging a crooked number on the board when their team is hitting. But as far…

After Aceves scratched, Atchinson makes spot start

The Pawtucket Red Sox’ season opener Thursday night was notable not only for who played but also for who did…

Pawtucket Red Sox preview 2011

One thing Arnie Beyeler won’t have to do in his first season as the Pawtucket Red Sox’ manager is purchase…

Ellsbury goes 3-for-5 as DH in third rehab start

Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury took great pains Tuesday to explain how he feels about playing through pain.

“I’m willing to play through pain,” Ellsbury said after his latest rehab game (of a 20-day assignment) with the Pawtucket Red Sox who beat Durham, 5-4. “That’s never been an issue. That’s never been a problem for me. It’s just knowing that when I do play through it, it’s not going to make my situation worse.

“That’s the biggest thing - not making my situation worse. I’ll play through any kind of pain, just as long as it doesn’t jeopardize my career and make the situation worse where I’m not helping the team.”

Ellsbury nearly steals homer in second rehab start

If there was a defining moment during the second game of Jacoby Ellsbury’s rehab assignment with Pawtucket, it occurred during the fourth inning yesterday against the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium.

Durham’s Chris Richard crushed a Ramon Ramirez pitch over the fence in right-center for a solo home run.

Ellsbury, who again batted leadoff and played center field, scaled the fence and came within inches of making a spectacular catch.

Jacoby Ellsbury goes 2-for-4 on bobblehead night

In the nine years Pawtucket has held a Bobblehead Doll Night promotion, never before had a former PawSox who’s been with Boston played in a rehab game the night his Bobblehead was being given to fans who entered McCoy Stadium.

Jacoby Ellsbury put his name in Pawtucket’s “record book” last night when he played six innings in the first of two games against the Durham Bulls and went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Ellsbury, who batted leadoff and played center field, lined an off-field single to left -- on a 3-2 count in the first inning -- off right-hander Virgil Vasquez, who pitched last season for the Pirates.

Ryan Dent must work on hitting to crack bigs

At the risk of using a bad pun, the Boston Red Sox hope Ryan Dent will make a major “dent” in their defense and base running in the not-too-distant future.

As a means of explanation …

A sandwich pick in the 2007 draft, Dent last season was named Boston’s Minor League Defensive Player of the Year after splitting time between Greenville and Salem. And, in June, he was named the organization’s Minor League Base Runner of the Month.