PawSox Notebook: Trouble Down South

Ryan L. Fox

​Welcome PawSox fans of all ages to WBOB’s PawSox Notebook. The Pawtucket Red Sox came out of the All-Star Break, taking 3 out of 4 games against the Syracuse Chiefs before heading down south past the Mason-Dixon Line for a 7-game road trip. A big win on Monday gave the PawSox their 4th victory in 5 games and things were looking up. However that was the only victory they got as they ended running into some big time troubles down south.

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What’s Been Going On Lately
July 16 – July 22
The PawSox began the week opening up a 4-game midweek series against the Charlotte Knights at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
The first game on Monday saw some offensive fireworks by both teams. In the top 1st inning, the PawSox scored 4 runs in the inning thanks to RBIs by 2B Brandon Phillips, his first in a PawSox uniform, and DH Mike Ohlman while 3B Mike Olt belted a two-run home run for his team leading 11th of the season. The Knights were able to answer back with a 3-run bottom 1st inning thanks to RBIs by 1B Nicky Delmonico, DH Matt Skole and RF Trayce Thompson doubles to make it 4-3.
 
A solo home run by C Dan Butler gave the PawSox a 5-3 lead after two innings. However the Knights got RBIs by Delmonico, LF Eloy Jimenez, and SS Jose Rondon in the bottom 4th inning to take a 6-5 lead. But in the top 9th inning and two outs, RF Aneury Tavarez hit a 2 RBI single to give the PawSox a late 7-6 lead. Then LF Tony Renda knocked in another run as it pushed the lead to 8-6, where it remained as the final score of the game.
 
In Tuesday’s night game, the PawSox jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the 1st inning thanks to RBIs by 2B Brandon Phillips and LF Sam Travis. An RBI single by 1B Mike Ohlman in the top 3rd inning extended the lead to 3-0. However the Knights ended up tying the score 3-3 in the bottom 3rd inning thanks to an RBI double by CF Jacob May and then a 2 RBI double by 3B Matt Skole. The Knights took the lead in the bottom 4th inning thanks to an RBI double by 1B Casey Gillaspie and then added another run in the bottom 5th inning thanks to a solo home run by LF Eloy Jimenez to take a 5-3.
 
The PawSox were able to tie the game late in the 8th inning thanks to a 2 RBI single by C Oscar Hernandez as the game ended up going into extra innings. In the bottom 11th inning, facing two outs and a man on third, May blopped a single into center field that allowed the game winning run to score from third to give the Knights a 6-5 victory in extra innings.
 
The Wednesday game took a different turn from the offensive outputs. For the first 5 innings of the game, it was pitching duel between PawSox starter LHP Drew Pomeranz and Knights RHP Spencer Adams. Pomeranz actually carried a no-hitter into the bottom 6th inning. However with two outs in the inning, Pomeranz surrendered a solo home run to Knights SS Jose Rondon to break up the no-hitter. After the 6th inning, the Knights scored a run in both the 7th and 8th innings while the PawSox offense could only manage 2 more hits for the remainder of the game. The Knights ended up taking the game by the final score of 3-0.
 
In the series finale on Thursday, the PawSox were looking to salvage a series tie. It wasn’t until the 5th inning when the game’s first runs were scored where Knights 3B Patrick Leonard knocked a two-run home run off of PawSox starter RHP William Cuevas to give his team the early 2-0 lead. The PawSox were able to tie things up 2-2 in the following top 6th inning thanks to an RBI by 1B Sam Travis and an error by Knights RF Trayce Thompson. After an 8th inning that saw each team score one run, it was tied 3-3 heading into the bottom 9th inning. There, the Knights won on a walk-off walk by SS Jake Elmore that allowed the winning run in from third to give the Knights the 4-3 victory.
 
After their series in Charlotte, the PawSox traveled further south to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to take on the Gwinnett Stripers for the final series of the season between the two teams.
 
On Friday night, the two teams played the first game of their 3-game weekend series. The PawSox jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top 2nd inning thanks to a 2-RBI double by 2B Tony Renda. CF Rusney Castillo added his own RBI double in the top 3rd inning to push the PawSox lead to 3-0. A PawSox fielding error in the bottom 6th allowed the Stripers to get there first run of the game to make it 3-1. Another RBI double by Renda in the top 8th inning pushed the PawSox lead to 4-1 and what would be an easy victory.
 
But then in the bottom 8th inning, the PawSox bullpen had a monumental meltdown. After allowing 2 walks, 2 doubles, and 2 runs to score, and the bases loaded, LHP Robby Scott was replaced by RHP Trevor Kelly. After getting the first out of the inning, Kelly faced against Stripers C Alex Jackson. Jackson then cleared the bases with a triple to give the Stripers their first lead of the game, 6-4. An RBI single by 3B Austin Riley pushed the Stripers lead to 7-4 as that’s what ended up being the final score of the game.
 
On Saturday night, the two teams met for the second game of the weekend series. The PawSox scored first in the top 3rd inning with C Oscar Hernandez scoring from third on a wild pitch. CF Rusney Castillo drove in another run to push the lead to 2-0. SS Mike Miller added his own RBI single in the top 4th inning to extend the PawSox lead to 3-0 after four. But in the bottom 5th inning, the Stripers struck back with 4 runs, 2 of which came off a home run by RF Rio Ruiz, to take the lead at 4-3.
 
The PawSox were able to tie things at 4-4 thanks to a sac fly RBI by LF Kyle Wren to score teammate 1B Sam Travis from third. The score remained tied all the way to the bottom of the 9th inning. There, DH Jonathan Morales knocked in the game winning RBI single to give his team the 5-4 victory.
 
On Sunday, the two teams met for an afternoon game. Looking to avoid the series sweep, the PawSox scored first in the top 4th inning thanks to an RBI sac fly by SS Mike Miller for the early 1-0 lead. The Strippers came back in the bottom 5th inning with an RBI double by DH Alex Jackson and an RBI single by SS Luis Marte to take a 2-1 lead. Another Mike Miller RBI in the top 6th inning tied the game 2-2 heading into the bottom frame of the inning. There, Stripers LF Dustin Peterson knocked in a run to give his team a 3-2 lead. Two innings later, PawSox LF Kyle Wren hit his first PawSox home run off of Stripers RHP Miguel Socolovich to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The game itself ended up going into extra innings as the PawSox had runners at the corner in the top 10th inning with only one out. However 1B Mike Ohlman grounded into an inning-ending double play, which gave the Stripers their turn to win the game the next inning. After getting the first batter out, PawSox reliever LHP Josh D. Smith faced against RF Rio Ruiz. On a 1-0 count, Ruiz singled into center field that allowed teammate C Chris Stewart to score from second to give his team the 4-3 victory as well as the series sweep against the PawSox.
 
Where They Stand
After there tumble below the Mason-Dixon Line, the PawSox are sitting at 4th place in the International League North with a record of 45-53 (.484). They are 25-23 at home while going 20-30 on the road and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.

The PawSox are 14.0 games behind the division leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who are sitting at 59-39 (.602), as the PawSox's elimination number for contention as IL North Divisional champs is now at 28 games.
 
 In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 7.5 games behind the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, who have a 52-45 (.536) record. The elimination number for the PawSox from the wildcard spot is now at 34 games.
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 7/15. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 160 at-bats)
- CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in games played (85), at-bats (345), runs scored (44), hits (109), extra base hits (27), RBIs (41), total based (144), stolen bases (10), batting average (.316)*, on-base percentage (OBP) (.353)*, slugging percentage (.417), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.770)*
C/1B Mike Ohlman for team lead in home runs (10). He is tied with teammate OF Aneury Tavarez in team lead in strikeouts (80)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 60.0 IP)
- SP William Cuevas leads all starters in wins (6), innings pitched (100.1) and walks allowed (26). He is tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in no decisions (6)
- Shepherd leads all starters in game appearances (18) and game starts (18). He also tied with teammate SP Justin Haley in leading all starters in losses (7)
- SP Jalen Beeks leads all starters in ERA (2.89)*, strikeouts (117), WHIP (1.09)*, strikeouts per 9 innings (12.1)*, and opposing batting average (.215)*
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 15 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin is tied with teammate RHP Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in leading the bullpen in relief wins (3)
- LHP Josh D. Smith leads the bullpen in losses (5), innings pitched (65.0), strikeouts (65), hit batsmen (7), bullpen starts (8), and walks allowed (29)
-LHP Robby Scott leads the bullpen in ERA (2.14)*, WHIP (1.07)*, and opposing batting average (.194)*. He is tied with teammate RHP Ty Buttrey for bullpen lead in game appearances (32)
- Buttrey leads the bullpen in strikeouts per 9 innings (13.1)*. He is tied with teammate LHP Williams Jerez for bullpen lead in games finished (11)
- Jerez leads the bullpen in saves (4)
 
Player Movement
The following PawSox player transactions took place from July 16 to July 22
 
July 16, 2018
- Sent 3B/Util. Jantzen Witte to Portland (AA)
- Sent INF Jonathan Ortega to Lowell (Short Season A)
- Received LHP Robby Scott and 1B/OF Sam Travis from Boston (MLB)
 
July 17, 2018
- Sent SP Marcus Walden to Lowell (Short Season A) to begin injury rehab assignment
 
July 19, 2018
- Sent LHP Josh D. Smith to Lowell (Short Season A) via paper move
- Activated CF Rusney Castillo reinstated from the disabled list
 
July 22, 2018
- Placed 1B/3B Mike Olt on the 7-day disabled list with abdominal inflammation retro to July 21
- Sent RHP Trevor Kelly to Portland (AA)
- Received LHP Bobby Poyner from Boston (MLB) after he was optioned back on July 21
- Received LHP Josh D. Smith from Lowell (Short Season A) via paper move
                                                                                          
Rehab Watch
Currently With Pawtucket
As of right now, there is only Boston Red Sox players rehabbing down in Pawtucket at this moment.
 
Red Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz continues his rehab stint with the PawSox while recovering from left bicep tendinitis.
 
His most recent action was back on July 18 against the Charlotte Knights at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was his best outing in both of his rehab stints with the PawSox as Pomeranz went hitless in 5.2 innings pitched. However he ended up surrendering a home run to Knights SS José Rondón, which gave the Knights a 1-0 lead in the bottom 6th inning. Pomeranz finished the game, going 6.0 innings of work while giving up 1 hit, 1 run (1 earned), walked 2 batters, and struck out 5 more on 69 pitches (45 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)
- 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 enjoy a day off on Monday before as they head back home from their long road trip down south.
 
Then from July 24 to July 26, the PawSox will host a 3-game series against the Columbus Clippers for the last meeting of the season between the two teams. They met earlier in the year in April at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, where the PawSox won 2 out of 3 games. Last year, the PawSox went 2-2 against the Clippers at McCoy.
 
 
After their series against Clippers, the PawSox will host a 3-game weekend series from July 27 to July 29 against the Charlotte Knights after facing them last week. Last year, the PawSox swept the series at McCoy, going a perfect 3-0 against the Knights.

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