PawSox Weekly Notebook: Things are Heating Up

Ryan L. Fox

Hello to all PawSox fans. Welcome to another edition of the PawSox Weekly Notebook, the guide for all those who want to know what’s going on with their favorite local baseball team. Things are getting tighter for the PawSox as the 2016 Triple-A season is a little over a month from ending. Not to mention that next week is the MLB Non-Waiver Trade Deadline and Boston Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has been wheeling and dealing these past couple of weeks. But that is the nature of the beast in Triple-A baseball.

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A Week in Review
The PawSox continued their weekend series with the Charlotte Knights at home as the two teams played each other on Saturday night. During that game, the McCoy faithful saw PawSox SP Henry Owens almost go the distance for a no-hitter (it was broken up in the top of the 8th with a 2-out single by Knights SS Jake Peters). Nevertheless, Owens 7.2 IP was the longest outing of the season as the team ended up winning 6-4. The PawSox followed up Saturday night’s victory with a Sunday midday 3-0 shutout of the Knights on the arm of SP Roenis Elias (6.2 IP with 2 hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts) to take the weekend series.
 
After their victory, the PawSox then headed out to the great state of Ohio to take on their next two opponents. First they made their way to Toledo to take on the Mud Hens for a midweek series. The two teams split the first two games with each other (Mud Hens took the first game 7-2 while the PawSox took the next game 4-2) as Wednesday was set up as the series decider game. After being down 3-0 the entire game, the PawSox scored two runs in the top of the 9th to make it 3-2. However the comeback fell short as Mud Hens closer Bobby Parnell got PawSox 3B Jantzen Witte to ground out to the shortstop.
 
Then this past Thursday, the PawSox travelled to the city of Columbus to take on the Clippers for an extended weekend series. Game 1 started off as a back and forth game until the PawSox tied things up in the top of the 7th with an RBI single by OF Henry Ramos to make it 4-4. Then the game became a marathon as both teams were stuck in a scoreless rut for 6+ innings. But the in the bottom of the 14th inning, the Clippers were able to score the winning run on a walk-off walk by 1B Jesus Aguilar that scored CF Ronny Rodriguez to give the home team a 5-4 victory.
 
Interestingly enough, this was the third 14th inning long game of the season for the PawSox. The last two games were on May 17 (home) & June 2 (away), both against the Norfolk Tides and both were victories for the PawSox (5-4, 3-1 respectively). Also during the game, 8 out of the 9 PawSox batters had 5 or more plate appearance with the Marrero cousins (Devin & Chris) each having 7 plate appearances
 
Looking to avenge the Thursday night marathon loss, the PawSox had reliever Robby Scott take the mound for a spot start while the Clippers countered with RHP Nick Pasquale. While the PawSox pitching showed up (Scott, along with teammates RHPs Roman Mendez & Joe Kelly, allowed just 2 runs and striking out 8), the PawSox offense was stifled (3 hits and 0 runs) as they fell to the Clippers 2-0.
 
Where They Stand
As it stands right now, the PawSox are 51-49 (.510) in the International League North. This includes a record of 25-25 at home and 26-22 on the road. They are currently 10.5 games behind division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (61-38 (.616)) with the Elimination Number at 34 games.
 
Taking peek into the Wildcard race, the PawSox are currently 8.0 games behind the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (59-41 (.590)) with the Elimination Number being at 36 games.
 
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 6/24. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 95 at-bats)
- C Dan Butler leads the team in on-base percentage (OBP) (.400)*
- OF Ryan LaMarre leads the team in hit-by-pitches (6), stolen bases (12), batting average (.320)*, and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.865)
- OF Chris Marrero leads the team in games played (92), at-bats (348), runs scored (49), hits (100), total bases (176), home runs (18), RBIs (46), walks drawn (30), and slugging percentage (.506)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 20 IP)
- SP Roenis Elias leads the team in wins (7). He also is tied with teammate SP Henry Owens for most complete games (1).
- Owens leads the team in games played (17), games started (17), complete game shut outs (1), hit batters (10), strikeouts (87), strikes per 9 innings (8.1), and opposing batting average (.220)*
- SP Justin Haley leads the team in WHIP (1.19)*
- SP William Cuevas leads the team in ERA (3.63)* and innings pitched (96.2)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- RHP Roman Mendez leads the team in bullpen wins (4). He is also tied with teammate RHP Robby Scott for team lead in hit batsmen (3)
- Scott leads the team in innings pitched (60.2), spot starts (4), WHIP (0.96)*, and holds (4)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the team in game appearances (27), strike outs (61), strikeouts per 9 innings (11.6), and games finished (17)
- RHP Pat Light leads the team in ERA (2.22)*, saves (6), and opposing batting average (.168)*
 
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from July 16 all the way to July 23
 
7/18/16
- Received SP William Cuevas from Boston (MLB) retro to 7/17 option
- Placed INF Jose Vinicio on disabled list with right foot contusion
 
7/20/16
- Sent RHP Noe Ramirez to Boston (MLB)

7/22/16
- Received RHP Noe Ramirez from Boston (MLB)
 
Rehab Watch
Currently there are no Boston Red Sox players on injury rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will finish up their Ohio road trip with two more games against the Columbus Clippers with Game 3 on 7/23 at 7:15 p.m. and the series finale on 7/24 at 4:05 p.m., weather pending. If either of those games get cancelled due to weather, that will be it for the rest of the season. No make-ups.
 
After that, the PawSox come back home in a 7-game stretch, including a 4-game series that could have great impact on their postseason chances as a wildcard team.
 
Up first are the Rochester Red Wings, who are ahead of the PawSox in the wildcard standings by 7.5 games at 59-42 and are also just 0.5 games behind the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. That series will start from 7/25 and go all the way to 7/28). Then after the Red Wings, the PawSox will host a weekend series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to close out the month of July (7/29-7/31).
 

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