PawSox Notebook: Back on the Winning Track

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. After struggling during their home stand last week (losing 5 of their 9 games play at McCoy) the PawSox finish up their last two home games before heading out on the road down south to Norfolk, Virginia and Durham, North Carolina. But whereas last week the where team found themselves on the losing end in a majority of those games, this time around it was the PawSox who came out on top.

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What’s Been Going On Lately

May 27 – June 2
The PawSox continued their Memorial weekend series against the IL North division-leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
 
After getting swept on the doubleheader on Saturday, the PawSox took to the field for a Sunday matinee game in hopes of getting their first win of the series.
 
The PawSox got the first run of the game thanks in part to an RBI sac fly by 1B Sam Travis to score SS Tzu-Wei Lin in the bottom of the 1st inning to make it 1-0. However that was the only score made by both teams’ offenses. PawSox SP William Cuevas held the Iron Pigs to just 2 hits over 7 innings pitched in his best outing of the season. RHP Brandon Workman finished up the rest of the way for a 2 inning save as the PawSox came out on top 1-0.
 
Then during the series finale on Memorial Day, the PawSox bats finally woke up. They jumped out to an early 3-0 thanks in part to RF Cole Sturgeon scoring on an error in the bottom of the 1st inning and a 2 RBI double by CF Rusney Castillo in the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Iron Pigs were able to score a run in the top of the 4th inning to close the scoring gap, 3-1, but in the bottom of the 5th inning, 1B Sam Travis hit a solo home run to left to push the PawSox lead up to 4-1. The PawSox added two more runs in the bottom of the 7th inning thanks to RBIs by 3B Mike Olt and C Mike Ohlman to make it 6-1 while the PawSox bullpen kept the IronPigs off the board for the final score of 6-1.
 
The PawSox then head out on the road afterwards down to Norfolk, Virginia, to start a 3-game midweek series against the Norfolk Tides for the first meeting of the series between the two teams.
 
In the first game on May 29, the PawSox jumped out to an early lead in the game. They scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning thanks in part to home runs by 2B Tzu-Wei Lin and CF Rusney Castillo. The team were able to tack on 2 more runs the following inning thanks largely in part to RF Cole Sturgeon. He had an RBI double in that inning and then, 3 batters later, stole home on a double steal (LF Aneury Tavarez stole second base on that same play). The Tides got an RBI by CF Mike Yastrzemski but PawSox SP Justin Haley kept them off the board afterwards. RHP Kyle Martin came in the 8th inning to pitch the rest of the way as the PawSox took the first game on the score of 5-1.
 
In the second game of the series, the Tides were able to get on the board first with an RBI single by 1B Ruben Tejada to make it 1-0 after 2 innings. However PawSox SP Marcus Walden ended up leaving the game due to injury as PawSox skipper Kevin Boles had to go to his bullpen early. But for the next 7 innings, the PawSox bullpen only allowed just one more Tides run to score. On the offensive side, the PawSox scored 3 runs over the course of the top of the 4th and 5th innings before adding on an insurance run in the top of the 9th inning as the team came out on top 4-2.
 
The in the series finale on the final day in May, the PawSox looked for the series sweep against the Tides. They ended up getting the early lead in the top of the 3rd inning thanks to a solo home run by Tzu-Wei Lin. 1B Mike Olt tacked on a solo home run in the top of the 5th inning to make it 2-0 and then both Lin and CF Rusney Castillo each contributed RBIs in the top of the 7th inning to make it 4-0. However the Tides got a run in the bottom of the 8th inning to make it 4-1 going into the 9th inning. There, C Austin Wynns hit a 2-run home run off of PawSox LHP William Jerez to left to make it 4-3 with 2 outs remaining. However Jerez got the last batter he faced to fly out to center as the PawSox escaped with the 4-3 victory.
 
Then on the first day of June, the PawSox travelled southwest to Durham, North Carolina, to face the Durham Bulls for a 3-game weekend series.
 
In the first game of the series on a muggy Friday night, the score remained 0-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd inning. During the bottom of the 3rd, the Durham Bulls were able to score 3 runs during the entirety of the inning thanks in part to RBIs by 1B Michael Russell, 2B Kaen Wong, and SS Willy Adames. However they got some assistance during the inning as the PawSox committed two errors that led to those Bulls scores. The PawSox themselves couldn’t muster any runs at that point as Bulls RHPs Adam Kolarek and Ryan Weber pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball.
 
In the top of the 9th inning, the PawSox lead things off with a solo home run by DH Mike Ohlman off of Bulls RHP Diego Castillo to make it 3-1. Three batters later, C Dan Butler was able to draw a 2-out walk and then moved into scoring position at second base on a defensive indifference as 2B Mike Miller came to bat, representing the tying run. Unfortunately Miller ended up getting called out on strikes to end the PawSox rally to give the Bulls the 3-1 victory.
 
Where They Stand
As of right now, the PawSox are still in last place the International League North with a record of 24-27 (.462). They are 4.5 games back of both the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who are sitting at 28-19 (.596), and the Rochester Red Wings, who are sitting at 28-23 (.549). They are sporting a 13-13 record at home while 11-15 on the road and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games.
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are tied with the both the Columbus Clippers and Gwinnett Strippers, who currently have a record of 24-28 (.462) each, at being 4.5 games behind both the IronPigs and Red Wings.
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 4/21. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 75 at-bats)
- 1B/3B Mike Olt leads the team in extra base hits (XBH) (18), runs scored (25), home runs (7), walks drawn (31), on-base percentage (OBP) (.386)*, slugging (SLG) (.478), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.863)*
- OF Rusney Castillo leads the team in games played (48), at-bats (201), hits (58), batting average (.289), total bases (75), and RBIs (24).
- OF Aneury Tavarez leads the team in stolen bases (6) and in strikeouts (46)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 45.0 IP)
- SP Justin Haley leads all starters in losses (6). He is tied with teammate SP William Cuevas in leading all starters in hit batsmen (3) and walks (16). Haley and Cuevas are also tied with teammate SP Jalen Beeks in leading all starters in game appearances (10) and games started (10)
- Beeks leads all starters in ERA (2.56)*, innings pitched (56.1), strikeouts (80), strikeouts per 9 innings (12.8)*, opposing batting average (.197)*, and WHIP (0.98)*. He is tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in wins (3)
- Cuevas leads all starters in no-decisions (5)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 10 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in wins (3) and walks allowed (14)
- RHP Ryan Brasier leads the bullpen in losses (4), game appearances (19), games finished (17), and saves (5)
- LHP Robby Scott leads the bullpen in in ERA (1.53)*, WHIP (0.91)*, and opposing batting average (.172)
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the bullpen in innings pitched (27.0) and holds (4)
- RHP Ty Buttrey leads the bullpen in hit batsmen (2), strikeouts (35), and strikeouts per 9 innings (14.3)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from May 27 to June 2
 
May 30, 2018
- Transfered RHP Austin Maddox to Portland (AA) to continue his injury rehab assignment
 
May 31, 2018
- Activated C Oscar Hernandez from the restricted/suspended list
- Placed RHP/SP Marcus Walden on the 7-day disabled list with a right flexor strain
 
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
As of right now, there is are no Boston Red Sox players rehabbing down in Pawtucket at this moment.
 
The last Red Sox that was rehabbing with the PawSox was RHP Austin Maddox. But as of May 30, he was transferred to Double-A Portland to continue his rehab assignment.
 
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)
- 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)
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be continuing their weekend series against Durham Bulls down at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. First the two teams will play a Saturday evening game at 6:35 p.m. EST on June 2 followed by an early evening game on Sunday, June 3, at 5:05 p.m. EST.
 
The PawSox will get the following Monday off as they travel back to McCoy to for a 6-game home stand.
 
From June 5 to June 7, the team will welcome in the Louisville Bats (the Triple-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds). Last year, the PawSox went 2-4 against the Bats in the season series, including splitting even at McCoy at 1-1.
 
Then after the Bats, the PawSox will welcome into McCoy the Indianapolis Indians for the first meeting of the season in a weekend series from June 8 to June 10. Last year, the PawSox ended up going 3-3 against the Indians for the season series, including going 1-2 at McCoy.

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