Projo Sox Blog

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Michael Bowden Era begins tonight.

The highly touted right-hander, the Red Sox' fifth pick (47th overall) in the 2005 draft, is making his first big-league start against the White Sox after stops in Double A Portland and Triple A Pawtucket this season.

Bowden, who will turn 22 on Sept. 9, walked into the Boston clubhouse for the first time as a major leaguer at 3:39 this afternoon, carrying his bag and trying to keep the small smile on his face from growing to a larger "oh-my-gosh-I'm-in-the-bigs" smile.

Bowden was greeted by manager Terry Francona.

"His personality and character are off the charts," said Francona of Bowden, who was 0-3 with a 3.38 earned-run average in seven games, six starts for the PawSox after going 9-4 with a 2.33 E.r.A. for Portland.

"I talked to him very briefly. The one thing not to forget is that this is his day. (Starting pitchers) are on such a routine, you don't want to break it. His heart's racing, but I wanted him to take it all in as the funnest day of his life. I told him to go compete and I'll see him in the eighth," said Francona.

Francona, though, did have some advice for the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder, in effect telling him to put the game in the hands of veteran catcher Jason Varitek.

"He's like a security blanket," said Francona of Varitek. "I told him to just follow Tek. He'll get you through what you need to get through. Whether you're 28 or 38, having Tek back there is a blessing."

 Tags  jason varitek michael bowden terry francona

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