Game 99- Mud Hens vs. PawSox, July 17, 2008

It should be quite a weekend of baseball as the PawSox return to McCoy tonight (7:05 pm) to open up a four game series with the Toledo Mud Hens to begin the unofficial second half of the season.

The big news, of course, is the appearance of David Ortiz in the PawSox line-up, the start of a rehab assignment that will take him through the series with Toledo and a stint with with Portland beginning on Monday.

I will be at the stadium and will have all the Ortiz pre-game news as soon as I can post it.

For now, here is a look at a few other brief notes...

Toledo Mud Hens (55-43)

The Mud Hens finished the first half of the season one game behind the Louisville Bats in second place in the IL West Division.

RHP Virgil Vasquez (6-8, 4.32 ERA) will make his 18th start for the Mud Hens tonight. He is 0-1 over his last two starts but has pitched well, giving up two runs in 14 1/3 innings.

Pawtucket Red Sox (61-37)

The PawSox begin the post All-Star Break with a four game lead over Scranton/Wilkes Barre in the IL North Division. They have the best record in the league and all of Triple-A Baseball.

RHP Edgar Martinez (3-1, 3.93 ERA) makes his eighth start of the season. He pitched well his last start, though he did not earn a decision against the Norfolk Tides. He threw five scoreless innings, giving up only two hits.

In off-the-field news, PawSox pitcher Kyle Snyder will make a rehab start tonight for the Lowell Spinners. He has been on the DL since June 3rd with a strained right groin.

More on the sights and sounds of tonight's game when I get to the stadium.