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July 05. 2012 11:19PM

Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, left, talks with Fisher Cat manager, and former Major Leaguer, Sal Fasano during batting practice prior to Thursday night's game between the Portland Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. (JOSH GIBNEY/UNION LEADER)
Linked articles:
Kevin Gray's On Baseball: Making names for themselves
Crawford triples, but Fishers win game

Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, left, talks with Fisher Cat manager, and former Major Leaguer, Sal Fasano during batting practice prior to Thursday night's game between the Portland Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. (JOSH GIBNEY/UNION LEADER)
Kevin Gray's On Baseball: Making names for themselves
Most New Hampshire Union Leader photographs are available for purchase, as are full page reproductions of the newspaper.
MANCHESTER — Carl Crawford ripped a gap-triple and Ryan Sweeney singled for the Sea Dogs, but the Fisher Cats put on the best show in a 11-3 win before 7,081 fans at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Thursday night.
Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury are expected to play in tonight's series finale, though the Red Sox have not finalized a Friday plan for their All-Star outfielders. Both Crawford and Ryan Sweeney, also making a rehab stint for Double-A Portland, went 1-for-4 against Fisher Cats pitchers.
Blue Jays prospect Jake Marisnick (2-for-5) made his Eastern League debut, while Brad Glenn, John Tolisano and Jack Murphy all homered for the Fisher Cats, who their season-high fifth consecutive game.
Sea Dogs starter Chris Hernandez (4-7) took the loss despite working into the fifth without allowing a hit, Glenn's 13th homer of the season. New Hampshire starter Fernando Hernandez (2-6) pitched six innings, yielding two runs on seven hits, to earn the win.
In the fifth, Crawford tripled off Hernandez, burning around the bases and sliding comfortably into third. Boston's $142 million man is nearing the end of his rehab stint (wrist, elbow) in the minors but probably won't return to the majors until after the All-Star break.
“Of course I'd like to be up in the big leagues playing right now, but I don't know if that's possible,” Crawford said. “Definitely, in the back of my mind, I wish I was up there playing.”
With Crawford batting in the fifth, one fan behind yelled “Overpaid” and “Overrated.” Crawford later said he had a problem with that particular fan before the game while signing autographs.
“(The fan) actually called me a racial slur to begin the game. He was the only one I had a problem with. People in Boston don't even do that. I don't know what that was about,” said Crawford, adding the fans otherwise have been terrific in the Eastern League.
Coming off a disappointing 2011 season, Crawford said he can understand why some people are upset at his lack of production. The former Rays All-Star batted .255 and often played poorly in the outfield. The '11 season ended with Crawford misplaying a base hit to left field against the Orioles.
“I can understand why people can be upset about me signing a contract and me having the kind of year I had. I understand. They love their team. They want you to produce when you sign a contract like that. I can't be mad at them. All I can do is get ready to play this year and try to produce,” he said.
Last-place Portland dipped to 34-52 after suffering its fifth straight loss. New Hampshire (35-49) had six extra-base hits, including eighth-inning blasts by Tolisano and Murphy off Portland's Charle Rosario.
Sweeney, on the mend from a toe injury, said he felt fine after the game. The three-game series wraps up Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Video: Fan yells "Overrated!" before Crawford triples:
Video: Crawford says fan called him a racial slur
Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury are expected to play in tonight's series finale, though the Red Sox have not finalized a Friday plan for their All-Star outfielders. Both Crawford and Ryan Sweeney, also making a rehab stint for Double-A Portland, went 1-for-4 against Fisher Cats pitchers.
Blue Jays prospect Jake Marisnick (2-for-5) made his Eastern League debut, while Brad Glenn, John Tolisano and Jack Murphy all homered for the Fisher Cats, who their season-high fifth consecutive game.
Sea Dogs starter Chris Hernandez (4-7) took the loss despite working into the fifth without allowing a hit, Glenn's 13th homer of the season. New Hampshire starter Fernando Hernandez (2-6) pitched six innings, yielding two runs on seven hits, to earn the win.
In the fifth, Crawford tripled off Hernandez, burning around the bases and sliding comfortably into third. Boston's $142 million man is nearing the end of his rehab stint (wrist, elbow) in the minors but probably won't return to the majors until after the All-Star break.
“Of course I'd like to be up in the big leagues playing right now, but I don't know if that's possible,” Crawford said. “Definitely, in the back of my mind, I wish I was up there playing.”
With Crawford batting in the fifth, one fan behind yelled “Overpaid” and “Overrated.” Crawford later said he had a problem with that particular fan before the game while signing autographs.
“(The fan) actually called me a racial slur to begin the game. He was the only one I had a problem with. People in Boston don't even do that. I don't know what that was about,” said Crawford, adding the fans otherwise have been terrific in the Eastern League.
Coming off a disappointing 2011 season, Crawford said he can understand why some people are upset at his lack of production. The former Rays All-Star batted .255 and often played poorly in the outfield. The '11 season ended with Crawford misplaying a base hit to left field against the Orioles.
“I can understand why people can be upset about me signing a contract and me having the kind of year I had. I understand. They love their team. They want you to produce when you sign a contract like that. I can't be mad at them. All I can do is get ready to play this year and try to produce,” he said.
Last-place Portland dipped to 34-52 after suffering its fifth straight loss. New Hampshire (35-49) had six extra-base hits, including eighth-inning blasts by Tolisano and Murphy off Portland's Charle Rosario.
Sweeney, on the mend from a toe injury, said he felt fine after the game. The three-game series wraps up Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Video: Fan yells "Overrated!" before Crawford triples:
Video: Crawford says fan called him a racial slur
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