PawSox Weekly Notebook: Clipped and Striped

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.
 
This past week, the PawSox came back to Pawtucket to host 2 series against 2 different teams at home. One of them, the Gwinnett Stripers, the PawSox had just finished playing against them during the previous weekend and end up getting swept by them.
 
Not to mention that joining the team were a slew of Boston Red Sox players who were on an injury rehab assignment, including one familiar face that all PawSox fans should know.
 
With that being said, let’s take a look and see what happened this past week.

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A Week in Review
 
May 13 to May 19
The PawSox began the week with a day off on Monday, which was used as a travel/rest day before welcoming in the Columbus Clippers into McCoy for a 3-game midweek series.
 
In first game took place on Tuesday, May 13.
 
After a quick top 1st, the PawSox began the bottom 1st by loading up the bases with one out in the inning. Then RF Rusney Castillo was walked, bringing in a run to make it 1-0. After Castillo’s walk, CF Gorkys Hernandez grounded out to 2nd but was able to drive in a run in the process to make it 2-0.
 
The Clippers were able to get their first run of the game thanks to a solo home run by SS Eric Stamets off PawSox starter RHP Erasmo Ramirez to make it 2-1 in the top 3rd. But the PawSox matched that in the bottom 3rd as DH Josh Ockimey hit his own solo home run off Clippers starter RHP Asher Wojciechowski to make it 3-1.
 
A solo home run in the Clippers 3B Mark Mathias made it 3-2 after 4 innings of play but the PawSox countered with another Ockimey solo home run in the bottom 6th to make it 4-2.
 
In the top 7th, the Clippers were able to load the bases with only one out in the inning. Clippers DH Brandon Barnes hit a sac fly into right field off PawSox RHP Domingo Taipa to drive in a run to make it 4-3. But that’s the only run the Clippers could manage in the inning as the next batter lined out to end the inning.
 
But in the top 8th, the first two Clippers batters were able to reach base. Then the next two Clippers batters got out as Stamets came to the plate. Stamets lined a single into center field to drive a run in to tie the game up at 4-4. The PawSox couldn’t break the tie in the bottom 8th and 9th innings so the game went into extra innings.
 
In the top 10th, the Clippers had 1B Bobby Bradley start at 2nd as the PawSox went to RHP Trevor Kelley. During Mathias at-bat, Kelley ended up throwing a wild pitch that allowed Bradley to move to 3rd. This proved costly as Mathias knocked a single into right field to score Bradley and make it 5-4.
 
The PawSox tried to answer back in the following bottom 10th but couldn’t advance the runner at 2nd or drive him in. The Clippers walked away from that game victorious on the final score of 5-4.
 
After a 7-4 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, May 14, the two teams met late Thursday morning as the PawSox were looking to prevent the series sweep.
 
For the first 4 innings of play, it was a minor pitching duel between Clippers starter RHP Cody Anderson and PawSox starter RHP Mike Shawaryn.
 
The game’s first run didn’t come until the bottom 5th.
 
PawSox LF Bryce Brentz began the inning with a leadoff single into right field. Brentz then was able to score all the way from 1st on an RBI double by 1B Josh Ockimey to make it 1-0. The PawSox were then able to load the bases with back-to-back walks and were poised to open the game up wide. But then next three batters went down 1-2-3 to end the inning and kill the momentum.
 
In the top 6th, Clippers 2B Ryan Flaherty drew a walk to lead the inning as CF Trayce Thompson came to the plate. Thompson then took a Shawaryn pitch and knocked a 2-run home run over the left field wall to give his team a 2-1 lead. Afterwards, Shawaryn was replaced by LHP Bobby Poyner, who then got the next 2 batters he faced out. However Poyner gave up 3 consecutive singles, including an RBI single by RF Mike Papi that pushed the lead to 3-1.
 
But in the bottom 8th, the PawSox were able to rally from behind.
 
PawSox DH Brock Holt led the inning with a double before then scoring on a single RBI by SS Mike Miller to make it 3-2. This was followed by a double by Brentz to put Miller in scoring position. Two batters later, RF Cole Sturgeon hit a single into center that drove in Miller to tie the game at 3-3. Another two batters later, PH Sam Travis singled into right field that drove in Brentz and Sturgeon to break the ties and give the PawSox a 5-3 lead.
 
The Clippers almost had their own rally in the top 9th. After the leadoff batter flew out to center, the Clippers were able to load up the bases with the next 3 batters with only one out in the inning. However Flaherty flew out to center and then Thompson lined out to center to end the game, giving the PawSox the 5-3 victory.
 
After the Clippers, the PawSox welcomed the Gwinnett Stripers into McCoy for a 3-game weekend series.
 
The Stripers ended up taking the series opener on Friday, May 17, on the final score of 7-5.
 
The two teams met again on a beautiful Saturday evening, May 18.
 
The Stripers opened the game with a strong top 1st inning. After the Stripers got men on 1st and 2nd with no outs, the next two batters popped and flew out respectively. Then RF Travis Demeritte came to the plate. Demeritte then blasted a 3-run home run off of PawSox starter RHP Teddy Stankiewicz into right center field to give his team the early 3-0 lead. A sac fly RBI by LF Adam Duvall in the top 2nd pushed the Stripers lead to 4-0.
 
The PawSox rallied in the bottom 5th to cut into the Stripers’ lead. PawSox 1B Josh Ockimey blasted a 2-run home run off of Stripers RHP Huascar Ynoa to make it 4-2. It was the 11th home run by Ockimey in the 2019 season.
 
But in the top 9th, Stripers LF Adam Duvall hit a solo home run off of PawSox RHP Jenrry Mejia to make it 5-2. The PawSox tried to rally once more as they were able to get men on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the inning. Unfortunately Ockimey ended up striking out to end the game and give the Stripers a 5-2 victory.
 
The two teams then met again on May 19, for a Sunday matinee. It was not only the series finale but the season series finale between both teams.
 
The Stripers got the first run of the game in the top 3rd.
 
After SS Luis Marte grounded out to 3rd, RF Rafael Ortega and Andres Blanco each reached base. After a passed ball during teammate LF Adam Duvall’s at-bat, both were able to move up into scoring position. Duvall then grounded into a fielder’s choice, getting out at 1st. However Ortega was able to score, giving the Stripers the early 1-0 lead. They then were able to push the lead to 2-0 in the top 4th thanks to a solo home run by DH Travis Demeritte off of PawSox starter RHP Erasmo Ramirez.
 
But in the bottom 4th, the PawSox were able to rally back from their deficit.
 
PawSox 2B Brock Holt lead the inning off with a solo home run off of Stripers starter RHP Kyle Wright to make it 2-1. The PawSox then proceeded to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning as C Juan Centeno came to the plate. Centeno singled into center field, driving in 2 runs as the PawSox jump to a 3-2 lead. After Centeno, RF Cole Sturgeon came to the plate as he singled to 2nd, driving in another PawSox to make it 4-2.
 
But in the top 5th, Stripers RF Rafael Ortega got on base with a one-out double into left field. Then 2B Andres Blanco hit a 2-run home run off of Ramirez into right field to tie the game up at 4-4.
 
But in the bottom 6th, PawSox CF Rusney Castillo doubled to start the inning. A single by LF Bryce Brentz put runners at the corner with no outs in the inning. PawSox 3B Mike Miller then hit a sac fly out into center field that allowed Castillo to score to allow the PawSox to regain the lead, 5-4. After that, the PawSox bullpen stymied the Stripers for the remainder of the game. The Stripers ended up falling to the PawSox on the final score of 5-4, preventing both the series and season series sweep.
                                                       
Where They Stand
As of right now, the PawSox have played in 40 games complete in the 2019 IL season.

They are currently sitting in 4th place in the International League North with a record of 15-25 (.375). They are 8.0 games back behind the divisional leading Syracuse Mets, who are sitting on top of the division at 24-18 (.571).
 
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 (42).
- CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in at-bats (133). He is also tied with teammate 1B Josh Ockimey for team lead in RBIs (24) and hit-by-pitch (2). Castillo is also tied with teammate INF Mike Miller in team lead in runs scored (22)
- Ockimey leads the team in home runs (11), extra base hits (19), total bases (67), walks drawn (30), OBP (.393)*, SLG (.598)*, and OPS (.991)*
- Miller leads the team in hit (38)
- 1B/OF Sam Travis leads the team in games played (38)
- 1B/3B Jantzen Witte leads the team in batting average (.318)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 20.0 IP)
- SP Mike Shawaryn leads all starters in ERA (2.87)*, games played (8), games started (8), innings pitched (47.0), hit batsmen (4), walks allowed (18), strikeouts (36), WHIP (1.13)*, opposing batting average (.216)*, batters faced (189), no-decisions (5), and K/9 (6.9)*.
- RHP Teddy Stankiewicz leads all starters in losses (3)
- There is a 3-way tie between Shawaryn, Stankiewicz, and RHP Erasmo Ramirez in leading all starters in wins (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 7 appearances)
- RHP Trevor Kelley leads the bullpen in bullpen wins (3), ERA (1.40)*, and holds (4)
- LHP Bobby Poyner leads the bullpen in K/9 (13.5)*
- LHP Josh Taylor leads the bullpen in strikeouts (24). Poyner is also tied with teammate RHP Matthew Gorst in leading the bullpen in walks allowed (11)
- RHP Matthew Gorst leads the bullpen in walks allowed (13) and opposing batting average (.222)*.
- RHP Domingo Tapia leads the bullpen in innings pitched (20.2), hit batsmen (3) and total batters faced (97)
- RHP Jenrry Mejia leads the bullpen in bullpen losses (3), game appearances (18), saves (6), games finished (15), and WHIP (1.21)*
There is a 3-way tie between Gorst, Tapia, and LHP Jeremy Bleich in leading the bullpen in bullpen starts (1)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from May 13 to May 19
 
5/15/19
- Received LHP Brian Johnson and 2B/Util. Brock Holt from Boston (MLB) to begin MLB injury rehab assignment
 
5/17/19
- Received C Jake Romanski from Portland (AA)
- Activated LHP Dan Runzler from the disabled list
- Sent C Oscar Hernandez to Boston (MLB)
- Received 2B Dustin Pedroia from Boston (MLB) to begin MLB injury rehab assignment
- RHP Chandler Shepherd designated for assignment by Boston (MLB)
 
5/18/19
- Received 3B/Util. Marco Hernandez from Salem (Advanced A)
- Sent 2B/3B Josh Tobias to Portland (AA)
- RHP Chandler Shepherd claimed off waivers by Chicago Cubs (MLB)
 
Rehab Watch
As of right now, there are currently 3 Boston Red Sox on an injury rehab assignment with the PawSox.
 
We’ll start off with the big fish of the group, 2B Dustin Pedroia.
 
Pedroia has been on the disabled list since April 19 (retroactive to April 18) with ‘left knee discomfort’. This is the same knee Pedroia was rehabbing earlier this year as well as in 2018. It wasn’t until May 2 when Pedroia was sent on an injury rehab assignment as he started off in Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs. After appearing in 5 games with the Sea Dogs, Pedroia was transferred to Triple-A Pawtucket on May 17 as the team was set to take on the Gwinnett Stripers in a 3-game weekend series. Pedroia played his first game at 2B while playing DH in two more games. Overall, Pedroia has appeared in 3 games while hitting .182 (2-for-11), with just 1 run scored, and 2 strikeouts while having an OBP/SLG/OPS like on .182/.182/.364.
 
Next we have LHP Brian Johnson. Johnson was placed on the disabled list back on April 6 with left elbow inflammation. He didn’t have any prior real-game experience until May 15 when he was transferred to Triple-A Pawtucket for an injury rehab assignment. He appeared in a game against the Columbus Clippers, pitching in 1.2 innings while allowing 3 hits, 2 runs (both earned), walking one batter, and striking out 1 more in a 7-4 loss to the Clippers. Since then, Johnson has yet to appear in any other games with the PawSox.
 
The last rehabbing Red Sox player is 2B/Util. Brock Holt. Still recovering from a scratched right cornea, Holt has had multiple rehab assignments this year with the PawSox before getting recalled back into Boston. Most recently, he was assigned to the PawSox to continue his rehab assignment on May 15. He has appeared in in 4 more games since then, splitting time between 2B, 3B, and DH. Overall, Holt has appeared in 7 rehab games with the PawSox, going .250 (5-for-20), with 6 runs scored, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 7 walks drawn, 10 strikeouts, and having an OBP/SLG/OPS like on .464/.450/.914.
 
Previously Rehab Stints with Pawtucket
- 2B/Util. Brock Holt (April 16 – April 20, April 26 - April 29)
- 2B/3B Eduardo Nunez (April 29 – May 4)
 
Injury Report
Currently there are 6 PawSox players that are on the disabled list. LHP Dan Runzler was activated off the disabled list on May 17, prior to the team’s match up against the Gwinnett Stripers.
 
Current PawSox 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)
2B/SS Chad De La Guerra (May 3 to present day with right wrist sprain)
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will take May 20 off as a rest/travel day as the team will be traveling on the road.
 
From May 21 to May 23, the PawSox travel to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for their first season series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. In 2018, the PawSox went 8-10 against the RailRiders in their season series, including going 3-4 over at PNC Field.
 
After their midweek series against the RailRiders the PawSox travel north to Rochester, New York, for a Memorial Day weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings from May to May 27. Instead of the normal 4-game weekend series, the two teams will play a 5-game weekend series with Friday being a doubleheader to make up a postponed game back on April 27.
 
Special Promotions
There are no special promotions going on for the PawSox in the upcoming week as they are on the road.

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