PawSox Notebook: Before the All-Star Break

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. Well the MiLB is going to be going into its All-Star break for the next couple of days (July 9 –July 11), which marks the end of the ‘first half’ of the 2018 MiLB season. This long break could be what the Pawtucket Red Sox need since they only have just 3 rest days for the rest of the season as they will begin the journey to making into the postseason.

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What’s Been Going On Lately
July 1 – July 8
The PawSox began the month of July with a Sunday game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to finish up a 3-game weekend series.
 
For the first 3 innings of the game, it was a pitcher’s duel between PawSox RHP Josh A. Smith and RailRiders RHP Brody Kroener. Then in the top 4th inning, Kroener gave up a walk to 1B Mike Ohlman before facing DH Sam Travis. Travis ended up going yard against Kroener as the PawSox jumped to a 2-0 lead. The RailRiders could only manage 4 hits for the entire game as the PawSox took the 2-0 victory.
 
On Monday, just two days before the 4th of July, the PawSox head back home for a quick 2-game series against the Rochester Red Wings.
 
The first game saw Boston Red Sox southpaw Drew Pomeranz making his first start of a rehab assignment. Pomeranz went 2.2 innings but gave up 4 hits. All 4 hits were homeruns with 3 being solo home runs by the Red Wings CF Byron Buxton, RF LaMonte Wade, and LF Edgar Corcino. The PawSox could only manage just 2 runs in the bottom 1st inning thanks to a 2 RBI double by DH Mike Ohlman as they ended up losing to the Red Wings by the final score of 5-2.
 
The next home game on Tuesday, the Red Wings were not the benefactors of the long ball. They scored just one run in the first two innings thanks to RBIs by 2B Gregorio Petit and 3B Leonardo Reginatto. The PawSox were able to induce 5 walks and 3 hits by Red Wings starter Fernando Romero but could not find a way to score a run. The Red Wings led 2-0 all the way to the bottom 9th inning. There, the PawSox tried to make a late inning rally. SS Tzu-Wei Lin drove a solo home run to right field of Red Wings RHP Alan Busenitz to make it 2-1 with one out in the inning. But then Busenitz induced back-to back groundouts to end the game as the Red Wings held on 2-1.
 
The PawSox then traveled up to Rochester, New York, to play two games against the Red Wings at Frontier Field to conclude their series.
 
On the birthday of our great nation, the two teams played in front of a crowd of nearly 12,000. The Red Wings got on the scoreboard first thanks to a 2-run home run by DH Kennys Vargas off of PawSox starter LHP Jaleen Beeks to take an early 2-0 lead in the bottom 4th inning. Red Wings C Cameron Rupp then added a solo shot in the bottom 5th inning off of Beeks to extend the Red Wings lead to 3-0. The PawSox got on the scoreboard late in the top 8th inning thanks to a 2-run home run by 2B Mike Miller to make it 3-2. However the Red Wings tacked on 2 runs in the bottom frame to make it 5-2 going into the 9th inning.
 
Then in the top 9th inning, the firework show happened for the PawSox. Down to their final out, the PawSox were able to load the bases for pinch-hitter Rusney Castillo. Castillo ended up singling to right to score 2 runs to make it 5-4. Next batter later, SS Tzu-Wei Lin hit his own 2 RBI single to right to give the PawSox a 6-5 lead. PawSox RHP Ryan Brasier came in to get the final three outs of the game to complete the 6-5 comeback victory for the team.
 
The following day in the series finale, play was halted and suspended due to weather as the two teams would reassume the match on August 21 when the two teams would meet up again in Rochester.
 
After the Rochester series, the team head back home for a 3-game weekend against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders before the All-Star Break.
 
In the first match up on Friday night, the RailRiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top 1st inning thanks to a 2-run home run by 1B Billy McKinney off of PawSox starter RHP Justin Haley. An RBI single by 1B Adam Lind in the bottom frame to make it 2-1. Four innings later, the RailRiders got an RBI single by SS Abiatal Avelino to extend the lead to 3-1. The PawSox drew closer in the bottom 6th inning thanks to an RBI sac fly by 2B Mike Miller to make it 3-2 but that was as close as the PawSox could get. The RailRiders bullpen held them off the scoreboard as they took the first game of the series by a final score of 3-2.
 
On Saturday the PawSox and RailRiders squared off as taking the mound for Pawtucket was LHP Drew Pomeranz, making his second start in his rehab stint. The PawSox were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom 1st inning thanks to an error by RailRiders LF Zack Zehner that allowed CF Rusney Castillo to score from second to make it 1-0. The RailRiders were able to tie the game at 1-1 in the top 2nd inning thanks to an RBI single by CF Shane Robinson.
 
However the PawSox ended up scoring one run in each of the next three innings to pull ahead 4-1 after five innings of play. The RailRiders were able to run into the lead in the top 6th inning thanks to an RBI double by 2B L.J. Mazzilli to make it 4-2. However the PawSox bullpen held the RailRiders to just two combined hits for the remainder of the game as the PawSox won 4-2.
 
On Sunday, the two teams met for the final time before the All-Star break. The RailRiders jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top 2nd inning thanks to a solo homerun by 3B Bruce Caldwell. The RailRiders tacked on 2 more runs in the top 5th inning thanks to a 2-run home run by 1B Tyler Austin as they lead 3-0 after 5 innings. A RBI single by LF Aneury Tavarez in the bottom 6th inning and SS Mike Miller scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom 7th inning helped the PawSox draw close 3-2. But that’s as close as they got as the RailRiders ended up winning the game on the final score of 3-2.
 
Where They Stand
Heading into the All-Star Break, the PawSox are currently in 5th place in the International League North with a record of 41-46 (.471). They are currently 10.5 games back the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who are sitting at 52-36 (.591). The PawSox are sporting a 22-22 record at home while 19-24 on the road and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 7.0 games behind the Indianapolis Indians, who have a 48-39 (.552) record.
 
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. 145 at-bats)
- 1B/3B Mike Olt leads the team in walks drawn (43), strikeouts (78), on-base percentage (OBP) (.362)*, slugging (SLG) (.436)*, and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.798)*. He is tied with teammate C/1B Mike Ohlman for team lead in home runs (10).
- Castillo leads the team in games played (74), at-bats (327), runs scored (40), hits (102), extra base hits (25), RBIs (39), total bases (135), stolen bases (8), and batting average (.307)*.
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 55.0 IP)
- SP Jalen Beeks leads all starters in innings pitched (82.1), strikeouts (110), WHIP (1.08)*, strikeouts per 9 innings (12.0)*, and opposing batting average (.214)*. He is currently tied with teammate SP Josh D. Smith in leading all starters in wins (5). Both Beeks and Smith are tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in no decisions (5)
- Smith leads all starters in ERA (2.76)* and hit batsmen (7)
- Shepherd leads all starters in game appearances (16) and games started (16). He is tied with teammate Justin Haley in leading all starters in losses (7)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- LHP Ty Buttrey leads the bullpen in hit batsmen (3), strikeouts (61) and strikeouts per 9 innings (14.0)*. He is tied with teammate LHP Bobby Poyner in leading the bullpen in holds (5) and is tied with teammate LHP Williams Jerez in leading the bullpen in games finished (10)
- Jerez leads the bullpen in saves (4)
- LHP Robby Scott leads the bullpen in ERA (1.15)*, game appearances (30), WHIP (0.99)*, and opposing batting average (.183)*.
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in innings pitched (47.1). He is tied with teammate Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in leading the bullpen in relief wins (3) and relief losses (3)
 
Player Movement
The following team transactions took place from July 1 to July 8, 2018
 
July 1, 2018
- Transferred LHP Josh D. Smith to Portland (AA)
- Received RHP Trevor Kelley from Portland (AA)
 
July 2, 2018
- Transferred INF/OF Deiner Lopez to Salem (Advanced-A)
- Received SS/Util. Tzu-Wei Lin from Boston
- Received SP Drew Pomeranz from Boston (MLB) to begin 30-day injury rehab assignment
- Sent SP William Cuevas to Boston
 
July 4, 2018
- Sent RHP Tyler Thornburg to Boston (MLB) for injury rehab recall
- Released OF Ramon Flores
- Signed free agent OF Kyle Wren after his released from Colorado Springs (PCL) of the Milwaukee Brewers farm system
 
July 5, 2018
- Sent RHP Trevor Kelley to Portland (AA)
- Received SP Justin Haley from Boston (MLB) after being optioned back on July 2
- Received SP Josh D. Smith transferred from Portland.
 
July 7, 2018
- Sent RHP Josh A. Smith to Lowell (Short Season-A) via paper move
- Received SP William Cuevas from Boston (MLB) after being optioned back on July 4
 
July 8, 2018
- Sent SP William Cuevas & RHP Ryan Brasier to Boston (MLB)
 
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
As of right now, there is only Boston Red Sox players rehabbing down in Pawtucket at this moment.
 
Boston Red Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz rejoined the team on June 30 for his second rehab stint with the team.
 
After his first stint on the disabled list back on March 26, Pomeranz landed back on it on June 5 with left biceps tendinitis. Pomeranz reassumed baseball activities towards the end of June before being transferring to Pawtucket for an injury rehab assignment.
 
His first game was back on July 2 at home against the Rochester Red Wings. On a 60-65 pitch limit, Pomeranz threw 56 pitches (34 for strikes) in 2.2 innings of work. However he gave up 4 hits with all 4 hits being home runs, 5 runs (all earned), walked 2 batters, and stuck out 2 more.
 
His second rehab start was on July 7 at home against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Though Pomeranz gave up more hits this time around (5), he gave up less runs (1) through 3.0 innings while walking 2 batters and striking out 1 on 60 pitches (37 for strikes).
 
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) (June 30 - July 7)
- 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
For the next few days, the PawSox will be off due to the MiLB All-Star Break.
 
They will resume baseball activities back on July 12 when they will host a 4-game home series against the Syracuse Chiefs from July 12 to July 15. Currently the PawSox lead the season series against the Chiefs 6-4, including a 2-1 record at McCoy.