PawSox Notebook: Meeting for the Last Time at Home

Ryan L. Fox

This edition of the PawSox Notebook is dedicated to the recently departed Wild Side David Clyde.

Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. This past week, the Pawtucket Red Sox enjoyed a 6-game home stand as they welcomed in 2 teams for the final match up of the 2018 IL Season. Who were those two teams and how did the PawSox do in each of those series? Click below to find out.

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What’s Been Going On Lately
July 23 – July 29
The PawSox began the week with a day off on Monday. The following Tuesday, they welcomed in the Columbus Clippers for a 3-game midweek series.
 
The first game on Tuesday saw the PawSox jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom 1st inning thanks to an RBI double by CF Rusney Castillo and then an RBI single by 1B Sam Travis. Two innings later, the PawSox got on the scoreboard again thanks to a sac fly RBI by LF Kyle Wren and then an RBI single by SS Mike Miller one batter later to push the lead to 4-0 after 3 innings. A solo home run by C Dan Butler in the bottom 4th inning gave the PawSox a 5-0 lead after 4 innings of play.
 
The Clippers were able to get on the scoreboard in the top 5th inning thanks to a solo home run by RF Connor Marabell of PawSox starter RHP William Cuevas to make it 5-1. They added another run in the top 7th inning thanks to another solo home run by SS Yu Chang off PawSox RHP Robby Scott to make it 5-2. An RBI single by DH Adam Lind in the bottom 7th inning pushed the Red Sox lead up to 6-2. The Clippers could only manage one more run (a sac fly RBI by LF Brandon Barnes) over the course of the next two innings as the PawSox won the series opener 6-3.
 
On Wednesday night, the two teams met up for the second game of the series. For the first 7 innings of the game, both teams could only manage just 1 run each. The Clippers’ run came in the top 4th inning thanks to an RBI single by 2B Yu Chang while the PawSox’s run came in the following bottom 4th inning thanks to an RBI single by 1B Sam Travis. It was in the top 8th inning where the Clippers broke the tie. An RBI double by 3B Yandy Diaz made it 2-1 and then a costly error by 3B Ivan De Jesus Jr. allowed Diaz to score to give the Clippers a 3-1 lead. The PawSox tried to rally in the bottom 9th inning as they got men on 1st and 2nd with two outs. However C Dan Butler ended up striking out for the final out, giving the Clippers the 3-1 victory.
 
The two teams met late Thursday morning for an 11:05 a.m. start in the series finale.
 
The PawSox got on the scoreboard first thanks to an RBI single by DH Sam Travis in the bottom 3rd inning for the early 1-0. The Clippers tied the game up 1-1 in the following inning with an RBI single by backup C Eric Hasse. The Clippers then exploded in the top 6th inning for 3 runs, including 2 of those coming off an RBI single by SS Eric Stamets, for the 4-1 lead. The PawSox shortened the gap the following bottom frame thanks to an RBI double by LF Kyle Wren to make it 4-2. A sac fly RBI by Travis in the bottom 8th inning then made the score 4-3 heading into the 9th inning.
 
There, in the bottom of the 9th inning, RF Aneury Tavarez faced off against former PawSox and now current Knights RHP Ben Taylor. Tavarez knocked a solo home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4, sending it into extra innings. However in the top 10th inning, the Clippers scored 2 runs thanks to an RBI sac bunt by 2B Drew Maggi and an RBI sac fly by Hasse. The PawSox could not answer back as they ended losing 6-4.
 
On Friday, the team welcomed in the Charlotte Knights to McCoy. The two teams met last week over in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Knights ended up sweeping the PawSox in 4 games.

The Knights struck first in the top 1st inning as LF Eloy Jimenez hit an RBI double to make it 1-0. However the lead did not last that long. In the bottom 3rd inning, the PawSox offense exploded. With the bases loaded, PawSox 3B Tony Renda tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI walk that scored 2B Mike Miller. Then CF Rusney Castillo knocked a bases-clearing double to give the PawSox the 4-1 lead. After DH Brandon Phillips was walked, 1B Adam Lind came to bat as he hit an RBI double to left to score Castillo and Phillips to give the PawSox the 6-1 commanding lead. After giving up 2 hits in the 1st inning, PawSox starter RHP Chandler Shepherd and then the bullpen limited the Knights for 3 hits for the remainder of the game as the team cruised to a 6-1 victory.
 
The two teams met again for a Saturday night matchup while the Joanne Sullivan Memorial Fundraiser was simultaneously being held at McCoy as well. Both PawSox fans and fundraiser participants were treated for a show.
 
The PawSox exploded in the bottom of the 1st inning as the bases got loaded up with no outs. Then 1B Adam Lind cleared them all with a grand slam to give the PawSox a 4-0 lead. The following top 2nd inning, the Knights answered back with their own 4-run inning with an RBI double by CF Trayce Thompson and then a 3-run home run by 3B Patrick Leonard. Then in the bottom 4th inning, the tie was broke thanks to an RBI sac fly by PawSox 2B Tony Renda to give his team a 5-4 lead.
 
After the explosion of offense in the first two innings, both pitching staffs kept the opposition off the scoreboard. It wasn’t until the bottom 8th inning where the next run was scored as PawSox RF Cole Sturgeon hit an RBI single into center field to give his team a 6-4 lead. The Knights were able to draw closer as Elmore hit an RBI single up the middle off of PawSox LHP Williams Jerez to make it a 6-5 game with only one out in the inning. However Jerez got the next two batters to fly out to end the game, preserving the 6-5 victory for Pawtucket.
 
On Sunday, the two teams met up for the season finale. The PawSox were looking for their 4th season sweep of the 2018 campaign but unfortunately had to look somewhere else. The Knights pounded PawSox starter RHP William Cuevas to the tune of 7 runs (only 5 earned) off 7 hits, with 2 of those hits being home runs. The PawSox batters peppered Knights starter RHP Jordan Guerrero and the Knights bullpen for 7 hits for the game but could not find a way to bring in a run as the Knights left McCoy with the 8-0 victory.

Where They Stand
The PawSox are currently in 3rd place in the International League North with a record of 48-56 (.462). They are 28-26 at home while going 20-30 on the road and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.
 
The PawSox are now 15.5 games behind the division leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 64-41 (.598) as the elimination number for contention for the IL North Divisional crown is down to 20 games.
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 8.5 games behind the Norfolk Tides, who have a 57-48 (.543) as the elimination number for the PawSox from the wildcard spot is 27 games.
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 7/29. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 175 at-bats)
- CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in games played (91), at-bats (364), runs scored (49), hits (117), extra base hits (30), RBIs (45), total based (155), stolen bases (11), batting average (.321)*, on-base percentage (OBP) (.366)*, slugging percentage (.426)*, and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.792)*
- C/1B Mike Ohlman leads the team in home runs (11) and walks drawn (31). He is tied with teammate OF Aneury Tavarez in team lead in strikeouts (83)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 70.0 IP)
- SP William Cuevas leads all starters in wins (7), innings pitched (111.0), strikeouts (95), WHIP (1.13)*, and opposing batting average (.231)*. He is also tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in game appearances (19) and game starts (19)
-  Shepherd leads all starters in no decisions (7). He also tied with teammate SP Justin Haley in leading all starters in losses (7)
- SP Josh D. Smith leads all starters in ERA (3.34)*
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- RHP Fernando Rodriguez Jr. leads the bullpen in relief wins (3), relief losses (3), and bullpen starts (4)
-LHP Robby Scott leads the bullpen in ERA (2.13)*, game appearances (35), hit batsmen (2), opposing batting average (.197)*, and strikeouts per 9 innings (12.6)*. He is also tied with teammate RHP Bobby Poyner in leading the bullpen in holds (6)
- LHP Williams Jerez leads the bullpen in innings pitched (51.1), walks (24), strikeouts (67), saves (5), and games finished (13)
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the bullpen in WHIP (0.90)*
 
Player Movement
The following PawSox player transactions took place from July 23 to July 29
 
July 23, 2018
- Placed RHP Kyle Martin on the temporary inactive list
 
July 24, 2018
- Sent LHP Drew Pomeranz back to Boston (MLB) after completion of injury rehab assignment
 
July 25, 2018
- SP Jaleen Beeks traded to Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) in exchange for RHP Nathan Eovaldi
- Activated RHP Marcus Walden from the disabled list
- Received SS/Util. Tzu-Wei Lin from Boston (MLB)
- Placed RHP Ty Buttrey on the 7-day disabled list with right knee inflammation retro to July 23
- Reinstated RHP Kyle Martin from the temporary inactive list before then granting his release from the team
 
July 26, 2018
- Placed RHP Josh A. Smith on the temporary inactive list
- Received RHP Trevor Kelly & LHP Matt Kent from Portland (AA)
 
July 27, 2018
- Sent LHP Matt Kent to Portland (AA)
- Received RHP Brandon Workman from Boston (MLB)
 
July 29, 2018
- Sent SS/Util. Tzu-Wei Lin to Boston (MLB)
- Received RHP Jordan Weems from Portland (AA)
                                                                                          
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
 
As of right now, there are no Boston Red Sox players rehabbing down in Pawtucket at this moment.
 
Previously Rehab Stints with Pawtucket
- SP Drew Pomeranz (April 8 - April 10) (July 2 – July 24)
- 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 split the next week between being on the road and at home.
 
From July 29 to August 2, the PawSox will travel up to Syracuse, New York, for a 4-game midweek series against the Syracuse Chiefs. This will be the final meeting of the season between the two teams. Currently, the PawSox lead the overall season series 9-5, including going 4-3 at NBT Bank Stadium.
 
After their series with the Chiefs, the PawSox will travel back home to McCoy for a 3-game weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings. This will be the final series between the two teams at McCoy for the 2018 IL season. Currently, the Rochester Red Wings lead the overall season series 7-2, including going 4-1 against the PawSox at McCoy.

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