Ryan L. Fox
Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Weekly Notebook, a weekly guide to all what’s happening with your Pawtucket Red Sox. That’s enough of the pleasantries so let’s get down to business. Before we begin, I would personally like to dedicate this week's PawSox Notebook to those who have served in the military and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. It is because of that, yours truly is allowed to safely cover and report on the PawSox. So to that, i say thank you and this one is for you.
A Week in Review
May 20 to May 27 The PawSox began the week with a day off on Monday, which was used as a travel/rest day before heading down south to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for their first seasonal series against the SWB RailRiders. In first game took place on Tuesday, May 20. The PawSox jumped out in the top 1st inning. PawSox SS Brock Holt got the game’s first run with an RBI double into right field to make it 1-0. Two batters later, RF Rusney Castillo hit a sac fly into center field that scored another run to make it 2-0. The PawSox proceeded to load the bases with the next few batters as CF Gorkys Hernandez came to the plate. Gorkys was able to reach base due to RailRiders 2B Brad Miller bobbling the ball for an error that allowed another run to score to make it 3-0. Then C Juan Centeno hit a single to right field that drove in 2 runs as a throwing error by RailRiders RF Trey Amburgey allowed another run to score to make it 6-0. The RailRiders got their first run of the game thanks to a solo home run by 1B Logan Morrison off of PawSox starter RHP Mike Shawaryn to make it 6-1. In the top 3rd, 1B Josh Ockimey knocked a solo home run off of RailRiders starter RHP Drew Hutchinson to make it 7-1. Three batters later, Centeno got his 3rd RBI of the game with a single into center field to drive in another run to make it 8-1. The RailRiders were able to answer those 2 PawSox with a 2-run home run by 3B Breyvic Valera off of Shawaryn in the following bottom 3rd to make it 8-3. Then in the bottom 4th, the RailRiders were able to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning. Then CF Mike Tauchman hit a ground-rule double into left field to drive in 2 more RailRiders to make it 8-5. The PawSox were able to pull slightly away in the top 5th thanks to a solo home run by G. Hernandez off of RailRiders LHP Danny Coulombe to make it 9-5. However the RailRiders answered that with an RBI double by LF Ryan McBroom in the following bottom 5th to make it 9-6. Another solo home run by Morrison off of PawSox LHP Josh Taylor in the bottom 7th made it 9-7 as the RailRiders were poised for a late-inning comeback. The PawSox tried to put the game away in the top 9th. PawSox DH Marco Hernandez knocked a 1-out solo home run off RailRiders RHP Cale Coshow to make it 10-7. Three batters later, 3B-SS* Mike Miller (*=Miller started the game at 3B but was moved over to SS in the 8th after SS Brock Holt was lifted for the game) hit an RBI single into left to make it 11-7. The PawSox then loaded the bases with 2 outs but LF Sam Travis was rung up to end the inning. The RailRiders tried to make a comeback in the bottom 9th. Amburgey got on with a 2-out single into center field and was driven in by a double into center field by Morrison to make it 11-8. But then McBroom ended up lining out to right field to end the game as the PawSox held on to win 11-8. The next game of the series took place on Wednesday, May 22. It was the RailRiders who got the first score of the game thanks to a sac fly RBI by CF Billy Burns in the bottom 2nd to make it 1-0. The RailRiders added another run in the bottom 3rd thanks to an RBI single by C Kyle Higashioka to make it 2-0. Higashioka broke the game open wide in the bottom 5th as he hit a 3-run home run off of PawSox starter LHP Matt Kent to make it 6-0. The PawSox were able to get their first run of the game in the top 6th thanks to an RBI double by PH Bryce Brentz in place of DH Marco Hernandez (Brentz ended up staying in for the remainder of the game as DH). In the bottom 6th, Kent was lifted and replaced by LHP Bobby Poyner with 1 out and 1 man on base in the inning. Poyner got the first RailRiders batter he faced to strikeout before walking the next batter. Then he faced off against LF Trey Amburgey. Amburgey ended up taking Poyner yard with a 3-run home run into center field to make it 8-1. The PawSox then went on a late inning rally in the top 8th. They were able to load up the bases against RailRiders LHP Rex Brothers with 1 out in the inning as Brentz came to the plate. Brentz ended up hitting a grand slam over the right center field wall as the PawSox pulled closer 8-5. Then in the top 9th against RailRiders RHP Joe Harvey, the PawSox were able to plate in a run on an RBI force out by LF Sam Travis to make it 8-6 with two outs in the inning. But then Harvey was able to get RF Rusney Castillo to ground in a force out at second base, getting Travis out to end the game and give the RailRiders the 8-6 victory. The two teams then met again on Thursday, May 23, for the series finale. The PawSox scored the game’s first run thanks to an RBI single by SS Chad De La Guerra to score DH Mike Miller from 3rd to make it 1-0. But in the bottom 1st, RF Trey Amburgey led the inning with a leadoff home run off of PawSox starter RHP Josh A. Smith to tie it 1-1. Three batters later, CF Mike Tauchman grounded out to shortstop but was able to drive in a run to give his team the early 2-1 lead. The RailRiders were able to push the lead to 4-1 in the bottom 2nd thanks to a 2-run home run by DH Ryan McBroom off of Smith. The PawSox were able to draw a little closer in the top 3rd thanks to an RBI ground out by 3B Jantzen Witte to make it 4-2. However the RailRiders countered with a big 3-run home run in the bottom 3rd by former PawSox C Ryan Lavarnway to make it 7-2. An RBI single in the top 4th by PawSox CF Gorkys Hernandez was countered with a solo home run by SS Breyvic Valera off of PawSox RHP Domingo Tapia in the bottom 5th made the score 8-3 after 5 innings of play. The PawSox were able to score in the top 6th inning as LF Bryce Brentz scored from 3rd on a passed ball by Lavarnway to make it 8-4. But the RailRiders against pulled away in the following bottom inning as Valera torched Tapia again, this time with a 2-run single to expand the RailRiders lead to 10-4. The PawSox then mounted a comeback attempt in the late innings. G. Hernandez hit a sac fly RBI off of RailRiders RHP Davis Sosebee in the top 8th to make it 10-5. Then in the top 9th, Witte hit a 2-run home run off of Sosebee to make it 10-7. The PawSox were then able to load up the bases as 2B Marco Hernandez hit a sac fly into center off RailRiders RHP J.P. Feyereisen to make it 10-8. But with runners at the corners and 2 outs in the inning, Feyereisen was able to get G. Hernandez to strike out swinging to squash the PawSox comeback and give the RailRiders the 10-8 victory in the series finale. After their series with the RailRiders, the PawSox traveled up north to Rochester, New York, for a 4-game Memorial Day weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings. On Friday, May 24, the two teams played a doubleheader against each other. Game 1 was going to be the regular match-up while Game 2 was a make-up of a game postponement back on April 27th. In Game 1 of the doubleheader, the PawSox scored the game’s first run in the top 3rd on an RBI single by RF Rusney Castillo to make it 1-0. Then in the top 5th, 3B Jantzen Witte hit a 1-out double into right field to drive in a run to make it 2-0. Two batters later, 1B Sam Travis hit a single into left field to drive in another run to make it 3-0. Then in the top 6th, 2B Marco Hernandez lead the inning off with a leadoff double as he was able to advance to 3rd on a wild pitch during LF Bryce Brentz’ at-bat, who ended up drawing a walk. With runners at the corners and no outs, CF Gorkys Hernandez singled into left field to drive in both PawSox runners to make it 5-0. G. Hernandez was able to score himself two batters later on a single by SS Mike Miller. The PawSox then proceeded to load the bases up with just 1 out in the inning but the next two batters struck out to end the threat. The Red Wings were able to get their first run of the game in the bottom 6th as RF John Andreoli was able to hit a leadoff solo home run off of PawSox starter RHP Teddy Stankiewicz. However that was the only run allowed by Stankiewicz during his start (6.0 IP, 3 hit allowed, 1 run (1 earned) 2 BB, 4 Ks) as LHP Josh Taylor came in the bottom 7th to seal the deal and give the PawSox the 6-1 victory in Game 1. In Game 2 of the doubleheader, the PawSox were the first ones to score again. In the top 2nd, 1B Josh Ockimey and DH Marco Hernandez were able to get on base (walk and single respectively) to lead off the inning. Two batters later, C Juan Centeno singled into center field to score Ockimey to give the PawSox the early 1-0 lead. A single by RF Cole Sturgeon loaded the bases as SS Mike Miller came to the plate. Miller then singled into left field to drive in a run to make it 2-0. Next batter later, 3B Jantzen Witte hit a sac fly into right field to score another run to make it 3-0. Then in the top 3rd, PawSox were able to load up the bases for the second time in the game. With only one out in the inning, Centeno came to the plate again. He then doubled into center field to clear the bases as the PawSox lead jumped out to 6-0. The Red Wings were able to score their first run in the bottom 4th. After loaded the bases against PawSox RHP Adam Lau, Red Wings DH Jack Cave ended up hitting into a double play. However he was able to drive in a run to make the score 6-1. After that, the Red Wings were stymied by Lau and then later on RHP Trevor Kelly as the PawSox took Game 2 on the final score of 6-1, sweeping the doubleheader. On Saturday, May 25, things went a little different. In the bottom 1st, Red Wings SS Nick Gordon lead things off with a double off of PawSox starter RHP Erasmo Ramirez. Then LF LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a triple to drive in Gordon to make it 1-0. Wade Jr. himself scored during the next at-bat on CF Jake Cave’s groundout to first to make it 2-0. The next 2 Red Wings batters were able to reach base safely as C Tomas Telis came to the plate. Tomas ended up doubling into left field to drive in a run to make it 3-0. After him, 2B Valdespin hit a single into left field to drive in 2 more Red Wings batters to make it 5-0. Finally, 3B Drew Maggi doubled into left to score another Red Wings run to push the lead to a whooping 6-0. However after the 1st inning of play, the game was halted due to a rain delay. After some time of waiting, game officials decided to postpone the game to the following Sunday, turning that day into a doubleheader. The first pitch of the makeup was to take place at 5:05 p.m. while the regular scheduled game for that day was to be played afterwards. So on Sunday, May 27, the two teams resumed finishing up Saturday’s game. In the top 2nd, the PawSox were able to get their first run of the game as 1B Sam Travis scored on a RBI groundout by 2B Marco Hernandez to make it 6-1. PawSox RHP Domingo Tapia came in to pitch for Ramirez and ended up going 4 strong innings, and stymied the Red Wings batters. In the top 7th, the PawSox got a solo home run by M. Hernandez off of Red Wings RHP Sean Poppen to make it 6-2. But in the bottom 7th, the Red Wings were able to pull away thanks to a 2 RBI single by Telis and then an RBI single by Valdespin to make it 9-2. The PawSox could not muster any more offense for the remainder of the game as the dropped the first game of the makeshift doubleheader on the final score of 9-2. In Game 2 of the makeshift doubleheader, both teams remained scoreless until the 3rd inning. It was the Red Wings who scored the game’s first run in the bottom 3rd thanks to a 2 RBI double by 1B Zander Wiel to make it 2-0. But in the top 4th, the PawSox struck back hard. They were able to get their first run of the game thanks to a 2-out RBI single by DH Sam Travis to make it 2-1. The PawSox then proceeded to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning. CF Gorkys Hernandez was then hit by pitch from Red Wings RHP Fernando Romero to drive in a run to tie the game at 2-2. After Hernandez, LF Cole Sturgeon hit a single into right field to drive in 2 more runs to make it 4-2. The Red Wings got another RBI double by Wiel in the bottom 5th but the PawSox were able to counter with another RBI by Sturgeon the top 6th to make the score 5-3 after 6 innings of play. But in the bottom 7th and 2 outs in the inning, Red Wings SS Drew Maggi singled off of PawSox RHP Jenrry Mejia as that allowed DH LaMonte Wade Jr. to come to the plate. Wade Jr. then hit a 2-run home run into right field to tie the game at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings. In the top 8th, RF Rusney Castillo started off on 2nd for the PawSox as he moved up to 3rd on a groundout play by DH Sam Travis. Then 1B Josh Ockimey came to the plate. Ockimey hit a triple into left field that drove in Castillo and give the PawSox a 6-5 lead. Two batters later, CF Gorkys Hernandez hit an infield single to 3rd that drove in Ockimey and push the PawSox lead to 7-5. The Red Wings tried to rally in the bottom 8th as they had 1B Zander Wiel start off at 2nd to begin the inning. Wiel was able to advance to 3rd on a groundout by teammate 3B Randy Cesar before scoring on a sac fly by C Willin Rosario to make it 7-6. The Red Wings were able to get men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the inning but PawSox LHP Josh Taylor got CF Tanner English to strike out to end the game and give the PawSox the 7-6 victory. Then on Memorial Day, May 27, the two teams met for the series finale. After both teams were held off the scoreboard for the first 3 innings of the game, they each were able to score a run in the 4th inning. For the PawSox, it was a solo home run by 1B Sam Travis off Red Wings starter RHP Kohl Stewart in the top 4th. For the Red Wings, it was a RBI groundout by 3B Randy Cesar off PawSox LHP Matthew Kent in the bottom 4th. The PawSox were able to break the 1-1 tie in the top 5th thanks to an RBI single by RF Cole Sturgeon into right field for the 2-1 lead. But that was the only lead the PawSox would have for the remainder of the game. In the bottom 5th, 1B Willin Rosario led the inning off with a double into left. Then a single by SS Drew Maggi put runners at the corners with no outs. A sac fly into left field by RF John Andreoli allowed a run to score to tie the game at 2-2. After Andreoli’s sac fly, 2B Nick Gordon hit a triple into right that drove in another Red Wings run to make it 3-2. Two batters later, DH Zander Wiel singled into center field to drive in a run to make it 4-2. After that, CF Jake Cave doubled into center field to drive in another run to make it 5-2. Finally Cesar added a single into left that drove in 2 runs to push the lead to 7-2. Kent was then lifted for RHP Erasmo Ramirez, who allowed only 1 batter he faced to get on base while getting the other 2 out. The PawSox could only muster another run in the top 6th thanks to a sac fly RBI by DH Josh Ockimey to make it 7-3. After that, they could only manage 1 single over the next 3 innings as they fell to the Red Wings on the final score of 7-3. Where They Stand We are now slowly creeping closer and closer to the summer season in 2019. For the PawSox, they are currently sitting in 5th place in the International League North with a record of 19-29 (.396). They are 8.0 games back behind the divisional leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, who are sitting on top of the division at 26-20 (.565). Just the Stats Jack The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 5/5. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list. At the Plate (*=min. 60 at-bats) - CF Gorkys Hernandez leads the team in stolen bases (7) and strikeouts (51). - CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in at-bats (157) - 1B Josh Ockimey leads the team in runs scored (30), home runs (12), extra base hits (21), RBIs (27), total bases (79), walks drawn (38), OBP (.402)*, SLG (.577)*, and OPS (.979)* - INF Mike Miller leads the team in hit (46) - 1B/OF Sam Travis leads the team in games played (45) - 1B/3B Jantzen Witte leads the team in batting average (.301)* There is a 3-way tie between Castillo, Ockimey, and G. Hernandez in leading all batters in being hit-by-pitch (2) Start You Pitchers (*= min. 20.0 IP) - SP Mike Shawaryn leads all starters in games played (10), games started (10), innings pitched (55.2), hit batsmen (4), walks allowed (28), strikeouts (46), WHIP (1.31)*, opposing batting average (.230)*, batters faced (233), and no-decisions (7) - RHP Josh A. Smith leads all starters in complete games (1) and K/9 (11.8)*. - RHP Teddy Stankiewicz leads all starters in wins (2) and ERA (3.38)* - There is a 3-way tie between Stankiewicz, LHP Matthew Kent, and RHP Erasmo Ramirez in leading all starters in losses (3) Outta Da Pen (*= min. 7 appearances) - RHP Trevor Kelley leads the bullpen in bullpen wins (4), ERA (1.21)*, and WHIP (1.21)*. He is also tied with teammate LHP Josh Taylor in leading the bullpen in holds (4) - Taylor leads the bullpen in strikeouts (29). - LHP Bobby Poyner leads the bullpen in walks allowed (13) and K/9 (12.3)* - LHP Dan Runzler leads the bullpen in walks allowed (13) and opposing batting average (.217)*. - RHP Domingo Tapia leads the bullpen in innings pitched (26.1), hit batsmen (3) and total batters faced (120) - RHP Jenrry Mejia leads the bullpen in bullpen losses (3), game appearances (21), saves (6), and games finished (17) - LHP Jeremy Bleich leads the bullpen in bullpen starts (2) Player Movement The following team transaction took place from May 20 to May 27 5/20/19 - Activated 2B/3B Chad De La Guerra from the disabled list - Sent RHP Matthew Gorst and C Jake Romanski to Portland (AA) - Sent 2B/SS Nick Lovullo to Salem (Advanced A) 5/21/19 - Received C Oscar Hernandez and SP Josh A. Smith from Boston (MLB) after both were optioned on 5/20 - Sent LHP Brian Johnson to Portland (AA) to continue MLB injury rehab assignment 5/23/19 - Sent RHP Travis Lakins to Boston (MLB) 5/24/19 - Sent 2B Dustin Pedroia and 2B/Util. Brock Holt to Portland (AA) to continue their MLB injury rehab assignment - Received RHP Adam Lau from Portland (AA) Rehab Watch As of right now, there are currently no Boston Red Sox on an injury rehab assignment with the PawSox. Most recently, 2B Dustin Pedroia, 2B/Util. Brock Holt, and LHP Brian Johnson were each with the team rehabbing for different injuries. However all 3 players was transferred to Portland (AA) to continue their rehab assignment (Johnson on 5/21 and Holt & Pedroia on 5/24). Previously Rehab Stints with Pawtucket - 2B/Util. Brock Holt (April 16 – April 20, April 26 - April 29, May 15 – May 24) - 2B/3B Eduardo Nunez (April 29 – May 4) - LHP Brian Johnson (May 15 – May 21) - 2B Dustin Pedroia (May 17 – May 24) Injury Report Currently there are 5 PawSox players that are on the disabled list. In most recent activity, 2B/3B Chad De La Guerra was activated off the disabled list on May 20, prior to the team’s road trip to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Current Players on Disabled List RHP Austin Maddox (April 4 to present day) RHP Mark Montgomery (April 4 to present day) RHP Zack Putnam (April 4 to present day) RHP Carson Smith (April 4 to present day) INF/OF Tony Renda (April 14 to present day with right shoulder strain) Upcoming Games After facing the Red Wings on Memorial Day, the PawSox will travel back home to finish out the month of May and begin the month of June. From May 28 to May 30, the PawSox will host the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Currently the IronPigs lead the season series 2-1, stemming back from a midweek series back on April 22-25, where the IronPigs took 2 out of 3 games played that week. After their midweek series against the IronPigs, the PawSox will host the Syracuse Mets for a 3-game weekend series from May 31 to June 2. Currently the Mets lead the season series 7-4. However the last time these two teams played each other at McCoy back on April 11-14, the PawSox took 3 out of 4 games in that series. Special Promotions There following PawSox season promotions will be taking place during the upcoming week. On Tuesday, May 28, will be Osos Polares de Pawtucket night, the 4th of the 2019 season, to celebrate the team’s surrounding Hispanic community in the city of Pawtucket. On Thursday, May 30, the PawSox will have STEM Student Day for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM. Each student who will attend the game (11:05 a.m. against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs) will receive a Baseball Math and Science workbook and will be treated with between innings performances by Atomic Allen from Mad Science. On Friday, May 31, the PawSox will have a World Series Card Set Giveaway prior to the first pitch of the team’s matchup against the Syracuse Mets. The 5,000 fans will receive a collector’s edition PawSox Baseball Card Set to honor the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox. On Saturday, June 1, the PawSox will have their annual Free Youth Clinic from 2:00 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. prior to their match up against the Mets at 6:15 p.m. PawSox manager Billy McMillon, coaches, and several PawSox players will be on hand to give participating kids instructions and tips about the game of baseball. Then after their game against the Mets, the PawSox will be having their seasonal Post-Game Fireworks. This edition will be Hits of the 2000s where hit songs from the 2000s will be played during the fireworks show. The on Sunday, June 2, the team will have their seasonal Post Game Run the Bases after the completion of their match up against the Mets. Read More 990WBOB |
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