PawSox Notebook: A Week to Forget

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans to another edition of  WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. After a week where the the Pawtucket Red Sox split between home and away games in a matter of a couple of days, the Pawtucket Red Sox got on the road for a long 7-game road trip in the Mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania and New York for the week. However the team would hit a big snide along the way, turning this week into a week that they would like to forget.

---

---

What’s Been Going On Lately
The PawSox began their week with a 2-game home series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to kickoff the team’s promotional ‘Evil Empire Weekend.’ Coming off a dramatic 5-4 victory on May 4 to conclude 2-game series against the RailRiders down in Moosic, Pennsylvania, the PawSox welcomed their opponent for a quick 2-game home stand.
 
The first game (on May 5) saw the RailRiders get shut down by PawSox starter Chandler Shepherd for what was his best start of the 2018 campaign. After a shaky 1st inning, Shepherd settled in and for the rest of the outing, he did not allow a RailRiders batter to advance farther than first base during his outing (Shepherd ended up pitching 7 innings in total). The PawSox tacked on 2 runs, including a solo home run by 1B Mike Olt in the bottom of the 4th inning, to beat the RailRiders 2-0.
 
The following Sunday game (May 6), the two teams squared off yet again for a midday matinee. The PawSox jumped out to a 2-0 early lead in the bottom of the 1st thanks to RBIs by C Dan Butler and 3B Jordan Betts. PawSox starter Justin Haley then shutout the RailRiders for 5 innings and the bullpen kept them scoreless as the team won by the same score of 2-0.
 
The team then traveled down to Allentown, Pennsylvania for a 3-game series against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
 
The PawSox took to the field on Coca-Cola Park for the first game of the series on May 8, looking to extend their modest winning streak to 3 games. However they ended up getting stymied by the Iron Pigs instead. The PawSox batters could only manage just 1 run (a solo home run by 1B Jordan Betts in the top of the 7th) while starter Josh Smith was hammered for 3 runs on 8 hits in 4 innings of work as the team lost 4-1.
 
The following night, it was the same thing yet again. This time, the Iron Pigs got to PawSox starter Marcus Walden, hammering him for 3 runs on 2 hits in 1.2 innings of work. Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright, making his second rehab assignment appearance with the team, came in later on to pitch the rest of the game. However the PawSox offense went cold again, managing just 1 run in the top of the 9th (a sac fly by C Dan Butler) as they lost by the same identical score of 4-1.
 
The PawSox fared even worse in the finale game of the series on Wednesday. Against Iron Pigs starter Enyel De Los Santos, the PawSox could only muster two hits for the entire game as they ended up getting shut out 3-0.
 
After the Lehigh Valley series, the team then traveled up north to Syracuse, New York, to face against the Syracuse Chiefs for the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Last season, the PawSox won the season series against the Chiefs 15-5, including going 9-1 at NBT Bank Stadium.
 
In the first game of the series, the PawSox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning thanks to a triple by 3B Jantzen Witte that drove in both RF Aneury Tavarez and LF Jeremy Barfield. However the Chiefs scored 5 runs in the next 3 innings to go up 5-2. Each team then scored a run during 8th inning as the Chiefs were holding onto a 6-3 lead going into the top of the 9th. The PawSox were able to score a run thanks to an error by Chiefs 3B Adrian Sanchez to make it 6-4 with two men on base with two outs. However DH Mike Olt ended up striking out looking as the Chiefs held on to win 6-4.
 
Then on Friday night, after pretty much of a week of being dormant, the PawSox offense exploded. In the first inning, the PawSox hammered Chiefs starter Austin Voth for 8 runs in 0.1 innings pitched. The entire lineup ended up batting around before CF Rusney Castillo grounded out to RHP Chris Smith, who had come in for relief for Voth, to end the inning. The PawSox then peppered 4 more runs over the course of the game as starter Chandler Sheppherd and the bullpen held the Chiefs to 2 runs, giving the team a big 12-2 victory.
 
The 12-run outburst by the PawSox was the most this season as the entire team collected a season-high 15 hits with each batter getting one hit during the game.


​Where They Stand
As of right now, the PawSox are tied with the Syracuse Chiefs for 2nd place in the International League North with each team having a record of 16-16 (.500). They are both 2.5 games back behind the divisional leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 19-14 (.576).
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are tied with the Chiefs, the Indianapolis Indians with all three teams sporting a 16-16 (.500) record. They are also tied with the Rochester Red Wings in win percentage (.500) as the Red Wings currently have a 15-15 record. All 4 teams are 2.0 games behind the Norfolk Tides, who currently have a record of 18-14 (.563).
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 5/12. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 45 at-bats)
- 1B/3B Mike Olt leads the team in extra base hits (XBH) (11), runs scored (16), home runs (4), walks drawn (22), and on-base percentage (OBP) (.390)
- 1B/3B Jordan Betts leads the team in slugging percentage (SLG) (.567) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.925)
- OF Rusney Castillo leads the team in games played (31), at-bats (134), hits (41), RBIs (16), batting average (.333), total bases (50), stole bases (4), and batting average (.306)*. He is also tied with OF Aneury Tavarez for team lead in stolen bases (4)
- OF/DH Jeremy Barfield leads the team in strikeouts (33)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 15.0 IP)
- SP Justin Haley leads all starters in losses (4) and walks allowed (12). He is tied with teammates SP William Cuevas, SP Jalen Beeks, and SP Chandler Shepherd for team lead in games started (6)
- Shepherd, Cuevas, and Beeks are all tied for team lead in hit batsmen (2) while Shepherd and Beeks are tied for team lead in wins (2)
- Beeks leads all starters in strikeouts (52), strikeouts per 9 innings (15.0)*, opposing batting average (.191)*, and WHIP (0.96)*.
- Cuevas leads all starters in innings pitched (31.2)
 - SP Josh Smith leads all starters in game appearances (7) and ERA (1.68)*
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 6 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in wins (3) and walks allowed (11)
- RHP Ryan Brasier  leads the bullpen in losses (2) and games finished (10)
- LHP Bobby Poyner leads the bullpen in ERA (1.42)* and WHIP (0.47)*
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the bullpen in innings pitched (19.1) and holds (4)
- RHP Ty Buttrey leads the bullpen in hit batsmen (2), strikeouts (27), and strikeouts per 9 innings
- LHP Robby Scott leads the bullpen in game appearances (13)
- LHP William Jerez leads the team in bullpen saves (3)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from April 28 to May 12
 
April 28, 2018
- Sent RHP Steven Wright to Boston (MLB) upon completion of MLB injury rehab assignment (Wright placed on restricted list for 15-game suspension for violating MLB Domestic Abuse Policy)
 
April 30, 2018
- Received RHP Tyler Thornburg from Boston (MLB) to begin 30-day MLB injury rehab assignment
 
May 1, 2018
- Placed 1B Sam Travis placed on 7-day disabled list (retro to April 30) with left intercostal strain
- Removed INF Jantzen Witte the 7-day disabled list.

May 2, 2018
- Sent RHP Marcus Walden to Boston (MLB)
 
May 4, 2018
- Sent LHP Bobby Poyner to Boston (MLB)
 
May 6, 2018
- Received RHP Marcus Walden & LHP Bobby Poyner from Boston (MLB) after Walden was optioned on May 4 & Poyner was optioned on May 5
 
May 7, 2018
- Transferred RHP Tyler Thornburg to Portland (AA) to continue his MLB injury rehab assignment
- Received INF/OF Brock Holt from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day MLB injury rehab assignment
 
May 8, 2018
- Received RHP Steven Wright from Boston (MLB) to begin rehab assignment (was on Boston’s restricted list since April 28)
- Sent INF/OF Brock Holt to Boston (MLB) upon completion of MLB injury rehab assignment
 
May 9, 2018
- Sent INF Chad De La Guerra to Portland (AA)
- Received SS/Util. Tzu-Wei Lin from Boston (MLB) after Lin was optioned on May 8
 
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
As of right now, there is only Boston Red Sox player on the current PawSox roster for a rehab assignment.
 
Red Sox RHP Steven Wright has rejoined the PawSox back on May 8 to begin his second rehab assignment with the team since being removed from the Boston Red Sox restricted list that same day.
 
Wright made one start this week in a 4-1 loss against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs down at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on May 8. He ended up pitching 6 innings out of the bullpen, allowing 8 hits, 1 run (it was earned), while striking out one batter on 88 pitches (56 for strikes).
 
He then made another bullpen appearance in a 12-2 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on May 11 in Syracuse, New York. Wright just pitched in one inning, giving up only one hit while inducing 3 groundouts on 14 pitches (9 for strikes)
 
Previously, Wright made two rehab starts with the first one back on April 20 against the Gwinnett Stripers at home and then a road game against the Buffalo Bisons in Buffalo New York, on April 27. Overall, Wright has appeared in 4 rehab games with the PawSox, including 2 starts. He has pitched a total of 14.2 innings, gave up 9 runs (7 earned), walking 3 batters, struck out 8 others, hit 2 batters, have a WHIP of 1.57, an opposing batting average of .323, an ERA of 4.30, and a K/9 of 5.1.
 
Previously with Pawtucket
- SP Drew Pomeranz (April 8 - April 10)
- SS Xander Bogaerts (April 24 - April 27)
- RHP Tyler Thornburg (April 30 - May 7)
- INF/OF Brock Holt (May 7 - May 8)

Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be continuing their weekend series against the Syracuse Chiefs with a Saturday evening game on May 12 at 6:35 p.m. EST and then a Mothers Day matinee the following Sunday on May 13 at 1:05 p.m. EST. After Sunday, the team will then back to McCoy for a quick 3-game home stand against the Buffalo Bisons (their second meeting of the season at McCoy) from May 14 to May 16.
 
Following a schedule day off on May 17, the team will then travel to Rochester, New York, for a 3-game weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings from May 18 to May 19.
 
*PawSox Fans Take Notice*
According to the PawSox Official Twitter account, Boston Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia will be making a rehab start with the team very soon. This will be his first live baseball game action this year after undergoing off season cartilage restoration surgery in his left knee. According to multiple sources, it will either be Monday night or Tuesday night against the Buffalo Bisons that the Laser Show will be in uniform.

---

Read More 990WBOB

• More than 25% of Providence Millennials Still Living with Mom, Study Says
  
• REPORT: Positive Employment Drug Tests Hit 10 Year High
  
• WILD SIDE: Iran So Far Away​
  
• ​Shock Treatment: What's Horror Without Makeup?