PawSox Weekly Notebook: Closer to the End

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. Unfortunately for the PawSox, time is running out. With the end of the season a little over two weeks away, the competition is starting to pull away. Can the PawSox keep up or will they be left out for a second year in a row? 

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A Week in Review
After starting off their road trip with a 4-0 shutout against the Buffalo Bisons, the PawSox looked to continue their 4-game winning streak into Saturday’s night game against the Bisons. However the weather turned sour and the game was postponed to Sunday, thus setting up another midday doubleheader between the two teams. Unlike the last time where the two teams split the games, the Bisons ended up sweeping the doubleheader with the scores of 5-2 in G1 and 2-1 in G2.
 
Then on Monday, the team traveled to Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to take on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the current holders of the International Wildcard lead. The PawSox took the first game 5-1 on a strong outing by pitcher Henry Owens, who went 7 strong and struck out 6 while walking a season low 1 runner. However in the following game, the PawSox were able to register a whopping 10 hits throughout the entire game but failed to score as the Iron Pigs won 1-0. The Iron Pigs also took the final game of the series 9-4, thus padding their wildcard lead over the PawSox.
 
On Thursday, the team then traveled south on I-476 to PNC Field in Moosic to take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. On Thursday, the PawSox won their 4th straight over the RailRiders with a 9-3 blowout. Catcher Christian Vazquez and designated hitter Chris Marrero each went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs at the plate while left fielder Chris Dominguez slugged in two home runs and drove in 4 runs.
 
Then on Friday night, the PawSox jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the second game of the series. The RailRiders were able to close the gap as the PawSox led in the later innings 4-3. However in the bottom of the 7th inning, the PawSox committed two costly errors that led to two RailRiders runs. The PawSox ended up losing to the RailRiders on the final score of 7-4.
 
Where They Stand
As it stands right now, the PawSox are 66-60 (.524) in the International League North. This includes a record of 36-27 at home and 30-33 on the road. They are currently 12.5 games behind division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (79-48 (.622)) and the Elimination Number for the divisional title for the PawSox is 5 games.
 
Taking peek into the Wildcard race, the PawSox are currently 9.5 games behind the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (76-51 (.598)) with the Elimination Number now at 8 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. 110 at-bats)
- C Dan Butler leads the team in on-base percentage (OBP) (.390)*
- OF Ryan LaMarre leads the team in hit-by-pitches (7) and stolen bases (15)
-SS Marco Hernandez leads the team in batting average (.301)*,
- OF Chris Marrero leads the team in games played (117), at-bats (440), runs scored (60), hits (127), total bases (226), home runs (23), RBIs (64), walks drawn (39), slugging percentage (.514)* and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.859)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 60 IP)
- SP Henry Owens leads the team in games played (21), games started (21), hit batters (12), strikeouts (116), strikes per 9 innings (8.7), and opposing batting average (.219)* He is also tied with teammate SP Justin Haley for team lead in complete game shut outs (1). Both Owens and Haley are tired with teammate SP Sean O’Sullivan and SP Roenis Elias for team lead in complete games (1)
- Haley also leads the team in WHIP (1.17)*
- Elias leads the team in wins (9) and ERA (3.62)
- SP William Cuevas leads the team in innings pitched (124.0)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 12 appearances)
- RHP Roman Mendez) and teammate RHP Robby Scott are both tied for team lead in leads the team in bullpen wins (4) and holds (5)
- Scott also leads the team in innings pitched (73.2), spot starts (6), WHIP (0.91)*, and opposing batting average (.202)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the team in game appearances (32) and strike outs (72. He is also tied with teammate Noe Ramirez in team lead for games finished (19) and saves (5). They are also tied with teammate RHP Joe Kelly for team lead in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.1)*
-RHP Joe Kelly leads the team in ERA (1.80)*
 
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from August 13 to August 20
 
8/14/16
- Activated 1B/OF Allen Craig from the disabled list Boston (MLB)
- Placed SP Justin Haley on the temporary inactive list
 
8/15/16
- Received INF Jose Vinicio from Lowell (Short Season-A) via paper move
- Sent RHP Heath Hembree, INF Marco Hernadez, and SS Deven Marrero to Boston (MLB)
 
8/17/16
- Received SP Roenis Elias from Boston (MLB) retro to 8/15
- Activated SP Justin Haley from the temporary inactive list
 
8/19/16
- Sent OF Henry Ramos to Portland (AA)
 
Rehab Watch
Currently OF Chris Young is the only Boston Red Sox player on injury rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox for a hamstring injury. Since his reported to Pawtucket for his rehab assignment back on August 11, Young has played in 6 games (3 in LF & 3 as DH). He’s also hitting .211 (4-for-19) with 2 RBIs and a walk drawn, and has slashed a line of .286/.316/.602.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox continue their weekend series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with Game 3 on 8/120 at 7:05 p.m. and the series finale on 8/14 at 1:05 p.m., weather pending. After Sunday’s game, that would be the last time that the PawSox and the RailRiders face each other in the 2016 regular season.
 
Then from 8/22 to 8/25, the PawSox will have a 4-game home stand against two different opponents.
 
Up first is a quick two game series against the Syracuse Chiefs (8/22 & 8/23) followed by a quick two games series against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (8/24 & 8/25). After that series, the PawSox will travel to Syracuse, New York to take on the Syracuse Chiefs for a 4-game weekend series from 8/26 to 8/29.