PawSox Notebook: Ups and Downs

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). This past week was a mixed back to say the least. It started off on the right foot but then the good times came to a crashing halt during a weekend that featured two double-header games. What happened? Let's find out.

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A Week in Review
After a day off on June 12, the PawSox hit the road to upstate New York for a showdown with the Syracuse Chiefs. The two teams ended up playing a doubleheader with Game 2 being a make-up game for a rainout that happened back on May 4 when the two teams faced off in Syracuse. The PawSox ended up sweeping the doubleheader, taking the Game 1 by a score of 7-1 and Game 2 by a score of 6-3.
 
Then during the third game of the series, the PawSox sprinted out to a 5-1 lead by the 5th inning. The Chiefs tacked on 3 runs in the bottom of 6th inning to draw close, 5-4, but then the PawSox tacked on another run in the 8th to make it 6-4. It seemed that the PawSox were going to win their 11th straight over the Chiefs. But then everything unraveled for the PawSox bullpen as they gave up 3 runs to the Chiefs and ended up losing 7-6.
 
The PawSox ended up winning the series finale by the score of 6-2, pushing their season record to 11-2. The loss on Wednesday was the first road loss of the season of the season the PawSox suffered against the Chiefs and the second loss of the season (PawSox lost to the Chiefs 13-5 back on April 10 during their season home opener).
 
After the 4-game series against the Chiefs, the PawSox traveled back home for a 4-game weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings, including a double-header on June 17 to make up for a rain out game back on May 14. Ironically enough, the Friday game of the series was rained out and postponed to Sunday, June 18, transforming that day’s regular game schedule into a doubleheader.
 
The two teams then took the field on Saturday to begin the doubleheader that day. Game 1 saw itself go into extra innings as both teams were tied after 7. However the tie didn’t last for long as PawSox 1B Jantzen Witte launched a solo homerun (his second of the season) to left centerfield to give his team a 2-1 win. But whereas offense was at a premium in Game 1, in Game 2, there was plenty of it. There 4 home runs hit (2 by each team) while the two teams combined for 11 runs in the first 2 innings (Red Wings with 7 and PawSox with 4). The Red Wings ended up taking the game by the finale score of 7-5, thus splitting the Saturday doubleheader.
 
Then on Sunday, June 18, the McCoy faithful were treated to a Father’s Day delight. In Game 1, the Red Wings took an early 2-0 lead off of PawSox starter Henry Owens. However the PawSox were able to tie things up in the bottom of the 4th with a two-run shot by C Blake Swihart. The score remained that way until Owens was replaced by RHP Kyle Martin. On his second pitch, he gave up a solo home run to Red Wings DH Matt Hague to make it 3-2. The PawSox got runners on the corners in the bottom of the 8th but ended up stranding them as Red Wings RHP Michael Tonkin got the next 3 PawSox batters to go down via strikeouts.
 
In Game 2, the PawSox were able to get out on front first with an RBI single by DH Rusney Castillo for an early 1-0 lead. However a bunch of costly errors committed by the PawSox allowed two runs to score for the visiting Red Wings to give them a 2-1 lead as well as the victory.
 
Where They Stand
Currently the PawSox are in 3rd place in the International League North with a record of 34-32 (.515). The PawSox are 9.5 games back behind the divisional leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 45-24 (.652). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 6.5 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, who are sitting at 41-26 (.612).
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are of players currently playing on the PawSox. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 85 at-bats)
- OF Rusney Castillo leads the team in games played (57), at-bats (229), runs scored (37), hits (70), total bases (114), stolen bases (11), batting average (.306)*, slugging/SLG (.498)*, and on-base plus slugging/OPS (.839)*
- OF Bryce Brentz leads the team in home runs (13) and RBIs (36)
-OF/1B Allen Craig is tied with 2B/SS Mike Miller for team lead in on-base percentage/OBP (.364)*
- 1B/3B Jantzen Witte for team lead in walks drawn (26)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 45.0 IP)
- SP Henry Owens leads all starters in games started (13), hit batsmen (6), strikeouts (69), and opposing batting average (.225)*
- SP Marcus Walden leads all starters in games won (6) and ERA (3.10)*
- SP Shawn Haviland leads all starters in innings pitched (69.2) and WHIP (1.15)*. He is also tied with teammate SP Kyle Kendricks for lead among starters in games completed (2) and shutouts (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 8 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in game appearances (18), and holds (5)
- RHP Noe Ramirez leads the bullpen in ERA (1.99)*, saves (3), WHIP (0.93), and games finished (14). He is also tied with teammates RHP Brandon Workman and LHP Edgar Olmos for bullpen lead in wins (3)
- Workman leads the bullpen in and opposing batting average (.157)*
- Olmos leads the bullpen in innings pitched (38.2), spot starts (2), strikeouts (28), and hit batsmen (3)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from June 12 to June 18
 
6/13/16
- Placed INF Heiker Meneses on 7-day disabled list (left foot contusion) retro to 6/12
- Received RHP Brandon Workman from Boston (MLB)
 
6/14/16
- Sent SP Hector Velazquez to Boston (MLB)
- Received 1B Sam Travis from Boston (MLB)
- Reinstated RHP Shawn Haviland from disabled list
 
6/15/16
- Sent RHP Austin Maddox to Boston (MLB)
- Received  INF Deven Marrero from Boston (MLB)
- Received RHP Josh Smith from Portland (AA)
 
Red Sox Rehab Watch
Currently there are no Boston Red Sox players on major league rehab assignment in Pawtucket right now.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will continue their home stand with a 3-game series against the International North Divisional leaders, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs from June 19 to June 21. Then the team will hit the road to Moosic, Pennsylvania, for a 4-game weekend series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders from June 22 to June 25.

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