PawSox Notebook: Back in Action

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. All-Star Week has come and passed. Now after their their 3-day break, the Pawtucket Red Sox were back out on the field ready to begin the 'second half' of the 2018 IL Season. Did they start things off on the right foot or did they trip over their own feet? If you want to know what happened, all you gotta do is continue reading below.

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What’s Been Going On Lately
July 9 – July 15
The PawSox began the week with a 3-day break from July 9 to July 12 due to the MiLB All-Star Break. They then resumed baseball activities on July 13 as they began a 4-game weekend series against the Syracuse Chiefs at home.
 
The first game was on Thursday as both teams squared off in McCoy.
 
The PawSox were able to get onto the scoreboard in the bottom 2nd inning thanks in part to LF Sam Travis scoring from third to give his team the early 1-0. A sac fly by Chiefs C Tuffy Gosewich in the top 3rd inning tied it at 1-1 but then the PawSox scored two runs in the bottom frame of the inning to make it 3-1. A solo home run by Chiefs 1B Jose Marmolejos made it at 3-2 in the top 4th inning but that’s as close as the Chiefs got for the remainder of the game.
 
The PawSox then proceeded to score a run in both the bottom 6th and 7th innings before following up with a 2-run home run by LF Aneury Tavarez in the bottom 8th inning to make it 7-3 as that was the final score of the game. PawSox RHP Justin Haley picked up the win, going 5.2 innings pitched while recording a season high 9 strikeouts over the course of the game.
 
Then on Friday night, the two teams met again as LHP Drew Pomeranz took to the mound for his 3rd start in his current rehab stint with the team. All though he lasted 3.2 innings, Pomeranz was pounded for 3 runs during his appearance, including giving up his 5th home run in 3 rehab games. The PawSox were able to jump out to a 3-1 after 3 innings, the Chiefs scored 2 runs in both the top 4th and 6th innings to make it 5-3. They added one more insurance run in the top 9th inning to take the game with the final score of 6-3.
 
On Saturday night, it was RHP William Cuevas who took the mound for the home team. Like in the previous two games, the PawSox scored first in the game. Only this time, they pounded Chiefs starter RHP Jefry Rodriguez with 4 runs in the inning, including a 3-RBI single by C Oscar Hernandez. After which, both teams’ pitching staff gave up a combined 5 hits for the remainder of the games.
 
Cuevas turned out one of his best pitching performances this season for the PawSox, going 7 strong innings while giving up just 2 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 6 Chiefs batters. He also recorded his team-high 6th victory of the season as the PawSox won on the final score of 4-0.
 
The two teams then met on Sunday for the series finale. The Chiefs scored first in the game thanks to an RBI double by 3B Adrian Sanchez off PawSox starter RHP Josh A. Smith in the top 3rd inning. LF Yadiel Hernandez added a solo home run in the top 6th inning to make it 2-0. However the PawSox clawed their way back into the game thanks to RBI singles in the bottom 6th inning by 2B Tony Renda and the bottom 7th inning by RF Cole Sturgeon to tie it up 2-2.
 
The game ended up going into extra innings as the Chiefs scored first thanks to an RBI sac fly by RF Matt Reynolds to give his team the 3-2 lead. However in the PawSox were able to tie the game at 3-3 thanks to another RBI by Renda before 1B Adam Lind won the game with a 2-run shot to right to give his team the 5-3 victory in extra innings.
 
Where They Stand
After taking 3 out of 4 game against the Syracuse Chiefs, the PawSox shot up the standings into 3rd place in the International League North with a record of 44-47 (.484). They are 25-23 at home while going 19-24 on the road and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games. The PawSox still 10.5 games behind the division leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 55-37 (.598).
 
As we enter the second half, now it’s time to keep track on how many games are left before the PawSox are eliminated from contention as IL North Divisional champs. Currently the elimination number is 39 games.
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 6.0 games behind the Indianapolis Indians, who have a 50-41 (.549) record. The elimination number for the PawSox from the wildcard spot is 44 games.
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 7/15. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 145 at-bats)
- 1B/3B Mike Olt leads the team in runs scored (36), extra-base hits (24), walks drawn (44), strikeouts (80), on-base percentage (OBP) (.362)*, slugging percentage (SLG) (.429)*, and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.791)*. He is tied with teammate C/1B Mike Ohlman for team lead in home runs (10).
- OF Aneury Tavarez leads the team in games played (75), at-bats (280), hits (68), total bases (105), and stolen bases (8)
- 1B Adam Lind leads the team in RBIs (50)
- INF Ivan De Jesus Jr. leads the team in batting average (.252)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 60.0 IP)
- SP William Cuevas leads all starters in wins (6), innings pitched (93.1) and walks allowed (26). He is tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in game starts (16). Both Cuevas and Shepherd are tied with teammate SP Josh D. Smith in leading all starters in no decisions (5). Cuevas is also tied with teammate SP Jaleen Beeks in leading all starters in wins (5)
- Smith leads all starters in game appearances (18), ERA (2.87)*, and hit batsmen (7).
- Beeks leads all starters in strikeouts (110), WHIP (1.08)*, strikeouts per 9 innings (12.0)*, and opposing batting average (.214)*
- Shepherd is tied with teammate SP Justin Hailey in leading all starters in losses (7)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in innings pitched (43.2) and walks allowed (24). He is tied with teammate RHP Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in leading the bullpen in relief wins (3) and relief losses (2)
- RHP Ty Buttrey leads the bullpen in ERA (1.93)*, game appearances (30), hit batsmen (3), strikeouts (62), WHIP (1.12)*, holds (5), batting average (.214)*, and strikeouts per 9 innings (13.3)*
- LHP Williams Jerez leads the bullpen in saves (4) and games finished (11)
 
Player Movement
The following PawSox player transactions took place from July 9 to July 15
 
July 10, 2018
- Sent SP Jaleen Beeks to Boston (MLB)
 
July 11, 2018
- Sent LHP Robby Scott to Boston (MLB)
 
July 12, 2018
- Sent SS/Util. Tzu-Wei Lin to Boston (MLB)
- Placed INF Ivan De Jesus Jr. on the temporary inactive list retro to July 11
- Received SP Jaleen Beeks and SP William Cuevas from Boston (MLB) after they were optioned (Beeks on July 11 and Cuevas on July 10)
- Received RHP Josh A. Smith from Lowell (Short Season A) via paper move
- Received INF Tony Renda from Portland (AA)
 
June 13, 2018
- Placed CF Rusney Castillo on the 7-day disabled list with groin strain retro to July 12
- Sent 1B/OF Sam Travis to Boston (MLB)
- Received INF Jantzen Witte from Portland (AA)
- Received INF Jonathan Ortega from Lowell (Short Season A)
 
July 14, 2018
- Sent LHP Bobby Poyner to Boston (MLB)
- Received 2B Brandon Phillips from Lowell (Short Season A)
- Received RHP Trevor Kelley from Portland (AA)
- Reinstated INF Ivan De Jesus Jr. from the temporary inactive list
                                                                                          
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
As of right now, there is only Boston Red Sox players rehabbing down in Pawtucket at this moment.
 
Red Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz continues his rehab stint with the PawSox while recovering from left bicep tendinitis.
 
His most recent action was back on July 13 against the Syracuse Chiefs. Pomeranz pitched in 3.2 innings of work while giving up 3 runs (all were earned), walked 1 batter, and struck out 3 more on 78 pitches (46 for strikes). However he gave up another home run over the course of the game, bringing his total to 5 home runs in 3 rehab games in his current rehab stint.
 
Previously Rehab Stints with Pawtucket
- SP Drew Pomeranz (April 8 - April 10)
- SS Xander Bogaerts (April 24 - April 27)
- RHP Tyler Thornburg (April 30 - May 7) (May 16 – May 24) (June 5 – June 27)
- INF/OF Brock Holt (May 7 - May 8)
- 2B Dustin Pedroia (May 14 – May 25)
- RHP Hector Velazquez (May 21 – May 24)
- RHP Austin Maddox (May 18 – May 30) (June 2 – June 5)
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be on the road for the next seven days.
 
From July 16 to July 19, the PawSox will travel down to BB&T Ballpark down in Charlotte, North Carolina to face the Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) for the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Last year the PawSox went 4-3 against the Knights, including going 1-3 at BB&T Ballpark.
 
 
After their series against Knights, the PawSox will travel down to Lawrenceville, Georgia to play the Gwinnett Strippers at Coolray Field from July 20 to July 22. The PawSox currently leads the season series 3-0. Last year, the PawSox went 0-3 at Coolray Field.

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