PawSox Notebook: Out of the Race for the North

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 if you were hoping for some playoff games at McCoy, the window is closing on them. This past week, the PawSox were eliminated from the divisional lead race in the IL North. However they still hold a mathematical chance of making the wild card, giving the McCoy faithful hope that they could still see their team in action come mid-September.

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A Week in Review
 The PawSox began the week with a day off on Monday, August 14. Then on the following day, the team headed southwest to Louisville, Kentucky for a midweek series against the Louisville Bats. The two teams already played against one another back in late May (May 25-27), which included a rehab start by Boston Red Sox SP David Price. However the two teams ended up going 1-1 for the series at McCoy due to the final game of the series getting postponed to when the two teams played each other next.
 
The two teams began the series on August 15 with a doubleheader game, the 11th of the season for the PawSox. Game 1 was the normally scheduled game while Game 2 was the May 25 makeup game. However the Bats were able to sweep the doubleheader, taking Game 1 by the score of 3-1 and then Game 2 by the score of 5-1.
 
The PawSox were able to win the next game outright by the score of 11-5. During that game, the entire PawSox lineup collect a total of 17 hits (5 players were able to get multiple hits), including 3 home runs. There was a scary moment during the game as SP Brian Johnson, who took a line drive off his left leg in the first inning. He finished the inning and was pulled from the rest of the game with LHP Edgar Olmos filling in the rest of the way.
 
On Thursday, the two teams met for the series finale. Both teams got into an early 4-4 tie after the fourth inning and for 8 innings straight, neither team would score a run. The PawSox were able to score in the top of the 13th inning thanks to a sac fly RBI by SS Deven Marrero that scored LF/RF Brian Bogusevic to take a 5-4 lead. However the Bats tied it up in the bottom of the 13th with a solo home run by 1B Sebastian Elizalde and then won it on an RBI single by 3B Hernan Iribbarren for a 6-5 victory. The loss brought the season series finale to a close as the PawSox ended up going 2-4 against their IL West opponents in 2017.
 
The team then traveled north to Columbus, Ohio to face against the Columbus Clippers for their season series finale. Already the Clippers and PawSox squared off against each other last weekend at McCoy with both teams winning 2 games apiece.
 
During the first game of the series, the PawSox were clinging on a 4-3 lead heading into the 8th inning. However the bullpen went through a meltdown as the team surrendered 8 runs that inning, giving the Clippers an 11-4 lead and ultimately the game. Because of the that loss to the Clippers, it officially eliminated the PawSox from the IL North Divisional race.
 
The PawSox were able to rebound the following Saturday with a 4-2 victory thanks in part to CF Tzu-Wei Lin and LF Ryan Court each driving in 2 runs a piece.
 
Then on Sunday, the Clippers were able to take the series finale on the score of 6-1. The PawSox got on the scoreboard first thanks to a solo home run by LF Brian Bogusevic in the top of the 4th inning. However the Clippers score a run in both the 5th and 6th innings before platting 4 runs in the 7th inning to put the game out of reach. With that loss, the PawSox ended up finishing going 3-4 against the Clippers for the 2017 season.
 
Where They Stand
As of August 17, the PawSox have been eliminated from the divisional leader race in the IL North Division. They’re currently 4th place with a record of 61-66 (.480). They are currently 18.5 games back behind the divisional leading the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, who are sitting at 79-47 (.629).
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are still mathematically in the race for the wildcard spot. They are 12.0 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Rochester Red Wings, who is sitting at 73-54 (.575). However, they elimination number is now down to 4 games.
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are of players currently playing on the PawSox roster. This excludes those on the disabled list, call-ups, sent downs, releases, and traded players.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 150 at-bats)
- LF Bryce Brentz leads the team in games played (108), at-bats (401), runs scored (69), hits (110), extra-base hits (47), home runs (28), RBIs (78), total bases (214), slugging/SLG (.534)*, and on-base plus slugging/OPS (.875)*
- 2B Heiker Meneses leads the team in stolen bases (8) and batting average (.299)
- 3B Ryan Court for team lead in walks drawn (43) and on-base percentage/OBP (.361)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 25.0 IP)
- SP Hector Velazquez leads all starters in wins (7), ERA (2.39)*, games played (17), games started (17), and innings pitched (94.0)
- SP Roenis Elias leads all starters in hit batsmen (4)
- SP Jaleen Beeks leads all starters in strikeouts (81) and opposing batting average (.221)*
- SP Justin Haley leads all starters in complete games (1) and WHIP (0.98)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 20 appearances)
- LHP Marcus Walden leads the bullpen in wins (10)
- LHP Edgar Olmos leads the bullpen in ERA (2.86)* and WHIP (1.12). He is also tied with RHP Shawn Haviland for bullpen lead in hit batsmen (5)
- Haviland leads the bullpen in bullpen starts (17), innings pitched (116.1), and strikeouts (96)
- LHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in holds (5). He is also tied with RHP Austin Maddox for bullpen lead in games finished (11)
- Maddox leads the bullpen in saves (4) and opposing batting average (.178)*
- RHP Chandler Shepherd leads the bullpen in games played (30)
 
Player Movement
The following team transactions took place from August 14 to August 20

August 16
- Placed OF/3B Steve Selsky on 7-day disabled list with a concussion
- Received SP Shawn Haviland from Lowell (Short Season-A) via paper move
- Received RHP Ben Taylor from Boston (MLB) to begin MLB 30-day Injury Rehab Assignment
 
August 17
- RHP Noe Ramirez designated for assignment by Boston Red Sox (MLB)
- SP Roenis Elias completed his MLB injury rehab assignment and was optioned from Boston (MLB) to Pawtucket upon his completion
 
August 18
- RHP Noe Ramirez was claimed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB) after being designated for assignment on August 17
- Placed CF Rusney Castillo on 7-day disabled list with left knee inflammation
- Reinstated 3B Jantzen Witte from the disabled list
 
Red Sox Rehab Watch
Currently the only Red Sox player rehabbing with the PawSox is RHP Carson Smith. Smith has been continuing his injury rehab assignment since being transferred to Pawtucket back on August 8 for Tommy John surgery recovery.
 
In 4 games with the PawSox, Smith has pitched a combined 3.1 innings, giving up 3 hits, 2 runs (both earned), walking 2 batters while striking out 3. He’s also accumulated an ERA of 5.40, a WHIP of 1.80, 1 HLD, and opposing batters are hitting .333 against him while throwing a total of 53 pitches (34 for strikes).
 
Upcoming Games
The upcoming week will be the last home series of the season for the Pawtucket Red Sox. They open up their season home finale with a four game set on August 21-24 against the Buffalo Bisons.
 
Then on August 25-27, the PawSox will take on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for a three game weekend set. This will be the last meeting of the 2017 between the two teams as the Iron Pigs lead the season series 8-6, including going 5-1 at McCoy.

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