Variety spices his repertoire

Adjustments are key for Bowden

PORTLAND, Maine - Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein sat in the fifth row behind home plate, facing Michael Bowden, as the pitcher got set to face the New Britain Rock Cats last night. Epstein is keeping a close eye on Bowden, who has done just about everything he can in Double A over a scintillating last 10 starts.

Going 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA will do that for a pitcher.

"Just basing it off his last 10 outings, the tests that have been presented to him, he's passed with flying colors," Portland pitching coach Mike Cather said before last night's 10-4 win over the Rock Cats. "He's attacked teams with his fastball, and when they've adjusted to his fastball, he's shown the ability to go to his secondary pitches and offset his fastball and then come back to his fastball.

"He's shown the ability to be dynamic on the mound and make adjustments between innings. I feel like the next test for him is going to be at another level, I truly do."

Bowden has certainly pitched well enough to warrant a trip to Triple A Pawtucket in the near future. He allowed his first home run in 60 1/3 innings in the second inning last night, Erik Lis belting a fastball that cleared the wall in right field. But it was a blip in a season that hasn't had many of them for Bowden. Four starts into the season, he was 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA. He started his run April 26, and he hasn't let up since.

Even in a messy game with four errors by the Sea Dogs, Bowden (6-3) lowered his ERA to 2.20, allowing one earned run and five hits and striking out five. All with the specter of the GM in his sight lines.

"There's a camera in center field," Bowden said. "He sees us every game, so it's no different."

As for his development, Bowden, 21, has concentrated on his secondary pitches. When he was in spring training with the Red Sox as a nonroster invitee, he spent time with pitching coach John Farrell, working on body position and repeating his delivery, especially on his curveball.

"He put a lot of pressure on himself," Cather said of Bowden's slow start with Portland. "He had a lot of pent-up aggression that wasn't focused, it was just kind of explosive. I think over the last eight or 10 starts, he's really had a good focus on what he's trying to accomplish out there. He's made adjustments, he's shown the ability to repeat his pitches, and [he's] throwing all his pitches for strikes. That's the name of the game. He's always had very good fastball command, but I think he's truly got a better feel for how to sequence his pitches and use his changeup and read swings better."

Bowden said experience has mattered as much as putting together his mechanics.

"I feel just very comfortable every five days going out there, just the preparation, and just everything from my mental approach out there to my physical approach," he said. "Everything's just going together right now. How can't you be [anxious about the future]? Everyone is. That's what it is in this profession. I can only wait my turn."

It doesn't hurt that his close friend, Justin Masterson, has made it to Boston this season.

"Just watching him pitch up there on TV before I stretch is kind of a little bit of added motivation," Bowden said. "He was here the day before that and his locker was right next to mine. It's close. Just waiting."

Daeges ailing

Portland outfielder Zach Daeges returned Wednesday night after a week out because of a back injury. After going 0 for 6, Daeges got last night off. It was Daeges's third injury this season. He was hampered by a hamstring injury in spring training and a wrist injury in April. "I feel like I can't ever get into a rhythm," said Daeges, who is batting .311 with 1 homer and 18 RBIs in limited duty (44 games) this season. "I feel like I really haven't clicked at the plate like I'm capable of doing. I don't feel like I'm having a bad year, but compared to what I did last year, I feel like I haven't quite gotten there yet." The 24-year-old hit .330 with 21 homers and 113 RBIs in the offensive haven of Single A Lancaster (California League) in 2007 . . . Reliever TJ Large joined the Sea Dogs last night from Lancaster after pitcher Miguel Asencio was promoted to Pawtucket . . . It's not just the Red Sox who win at home. The PawSox have the best home winning percentage (.649) in the International League . . . PawSox outfielder Jonathan Van Every, who was called up by the Red Sox this season, has six home runs in his last 12 games . . . Knuckleballer Charlie Zink is 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA over his last eight starts . . . Short-season Single A Lowell began its season Tuesday.