PawSox Notebook: Heading into the All-Star Break

Ryan L. Fox

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Weekly Notebook, a weekly guide to all what’s happening with the Columbus Avenue Crew (aka, the Pawtucket Red Sox). Well the season is halfway over as All-Star week is upon us. After playing 31 games in a row (27 scheduled and 4 make-ups), the PawSox could use the 3 days off to rest and regroup before their second half battle for a Governors’ Cup playoff spot. But as the team is getting some well-deserved R & R, let’s see how they did up to this point. 

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A Week in Review
Continuing their weekend series against the visiting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the PawSox faced off against them in an early evening showdown with fireworks to follow. However the McCoy faithful were treated to an early fireworks showing as the RailRiders launched 6 home runs in a 14-7 blowout victory. That was the second time this season that the PawSox allowed an opponent to score double-digit runs since the season home opener back on April 10 against the Syracuse Chiefs (Chiefs scored 13 runs in a 13-5 victory).
 
Then in the final game of the series, the PawSox were cruising through on a 5-1 lead heading into the top of the 9th inning. After allowing a solo home run to RailRiders LF Billy McKinney, PawSox RP Noe Ramirez got the next two batters out. But with only one out remaining, the RailRiders were able to score 4 more runs and stun the PawSox and their fans with a 6-5 comeback victory.
 
The PawSox then hit the road to upstate New York to play a 4-game midweek series against the Rochester Red Wings. During the first game of the series, Boston Red Sox SP Eduardo Rodriguez joined the team for a rehab assignment and started the game. However the Red Wings were able to prevail by the score of 5-3. Then on Wednesday, July 5, the two teams played a doubleheader against each other with the second game being a makeup for a rainout back on May 6. The doubleheader ended up being a split as the Red Wings took the first game 3-1 and the PawSox took the second game 2-0. The PawSox then took the final game of the series 1-0 before then heading on back home to face the Buffalo Bisons for the final 3 games of the first half of the season.
 
The Bisons took the first game of the series on Friday night with a score of 5-0. They not only dominated in the scoring column but out-hit the PawSox 3-to-1 (16 hits by the Bisons compared to 5 hits by the PawSox). However during the Saturday night game, the McCoy faithful saw the PawSox limit the Bisons to just 3 hits for the entire game and shut them out on the scoreboard 3-0. Then for the final game of the series, it took 3 hours and 13 minutes as the PawSox won in 11 innings on the score of 2-1, bringing their record to .500 before the All-Star Break.
 
Where They Stand
Going into the All-Star Break, the PawSox are in 4th place in the International League North with a record of 44-44 (.500). This includes a 25-20 record at home and a 19-24 record on the road. They are currently 10.5 games back behind the divisional leading the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, who are sitting at 55-34 (.618). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 10.0 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 55-35 (.611).
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are of players currently playing on the PawSox roster for the first half of the season. This excludes call-ups, sent downs, releases, and traded players.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 100 at-bats)
- LF Bryce Brentz leads the team in games played (74), at-bats (267), runs scored (44), hits (64), extra-base hits (33), home runs (18), RBIs (49), total bases (142), slugging/SLG (.532)*, and on-base plus slugging/OPS (.872)*
- CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in hits (78), stolen bases (13), and batting average (.302)
- 3B Ryan Court for team lead in walks drawn (30), on-base percentage/OBP (.375)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 50.0 IP)
- SP Marcus Walden leads all starters in games won (7). He is tied with teammate SP Edgar Olmos for leading all starters in games played in (19)
- Olmos leads all starters in opposing batting average (.194)
- SP Hector Velazquez leads all started in ERA (1.48)* and WHIP (0.91)*
- SP Shawn Haviland leads all starters in starts (14), innings pitched (85.1), hit batsmen (5), and strike outs (73). He is also tied with teammate SP Kyle Kendricks for leading all starters in complete games (2) and shutouts (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 14 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in game appearances (22), innings pitched (35.1), hit batsmen (2), holds (5)
- RHP Noe Ramirez leads the bullpen in finished (16). He is also tied with teammates RHP Jamie Callahan and RHP Austin Maddox for bullpen lead in saves (3)
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the bullpen in wins (4), ERA (1.61)*, WHIP (1.04)*, and opposing batting average (.167)*
- RHP Chandler Shepherd leads the bullpen in strikeouts (41) and hit batsmen (4)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from July 3 to July 9
 
July 3
- Placed SP Shawn Haviland on 7-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation
 
July 4
- Received SP Eduardo Rodriguez from Portland (AA) to continue 30-day MLB Injury Rehab Assignment right knee subluxation.
 
July 5
- Placed C Blake Swihart on 7-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring
- Activated CF Rusney Castillo and C Tim Roberson from the disabled list
- Transferred INF/OF Brock Holt to Portland (AA) to continue MLB Injury Rehab Assignment
- Received SP Brian Johnson from Portland (AA) to continue 30-day MLB Injury Rehab Assignment
 
July 6
- Received SP Brian Johnson from Boston (MLB) after being activated off the disabled list
 
July 7
- Placed RHP Jalen Beeks from the temporary inactive list
- Reinstated SP Kyle Kendrick from the disabled list
 
July 8
- Received INF/OF Brock Holt from Portland (AA) to continue MLB Injury Rehab Assignment
 
Red Sox Rehab Watch
The PawSox now have 3 Red Sox players currently rehabbing with them right now.
 
Joining 3B Pablo Sandoval and INF/OF Brock Holt is Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez was placed on the disabled list back on June 2 with a right knee subluxation (aka, a partial dislocated knee cap). He was then sent to Double-A Portland to begin his rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs. After two games with the Sea Dogs, Rodriquez was then transferred to Pawtucket on July 4.
 
His first start was against the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, NY, on July 4. Rodriguez when 4 innings while allowing 4 hits, 4 runs (all earned), walked 5 batters, struck out 5 more, and was tagged with the loss while the team lost 5-3. He had a better outing on July 9 at home against the Buffalo Bisons. Rodriguez went 6.1 innings, giving up 6 hits while allowing only one run (earned), and striking out 7 Bisons batters for a no-decision in a 2-1 victory. In two rehab games with the PawSox, Rodriguez is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.35, a WHIP of 1.45, has struck out 12 batters, and has allowed opponents to hit .263 against him.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be off for the next 3 days due to International League All-Star Break.
 
The team will resume action with a 4-game weekend series against the Syracuse Chiefs from July 13-16 at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York.

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