PawSox Weekly Notebook: Getting All Caught Up

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. There’s been a lot that has happened since the last PawSox notebook. So, in the words of Mike Felger, let’s just skip the pleasantries for now and get right down to business.

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A Week in Review Special Edition
 
April 15 to April 21
The PawSox were originally scheduled to play an evening match-up against the Buffalo Bisons at McCoy on Marathon Monday. But due to inclement weather, the game actually got moved to the following day to turn the following Tuesday into a double-header.
 
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bisons took the lead early in the top 3rd thanks to an RBI sac fly by 1B Cavan Biggio Gunnar Heidt to score teammate DH Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to make it 1-0. The PawSox were able to tie the game the following bottom 4th thanks an RBP hit-by-pitch on 3B Jantzen Witte to score 2B Michael Chavis and make it 1-1. But in the top 6th, LF Anthony Alford got on base via walk and proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd base. He then came around to score on a wild pitch by PawSox RHP Mike Shawaryn to make it 2-1. The PawSox had a chance to rally in the bottom 7th but LF Tzu-Wei Lin got thrown out at 3rd trying to extend a double to end the game and give the Bisons the 2-1 victory.
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, the PawSox jumped out to an early lead in the bottom 2nd. First C Jake Romanski hit a 2 RBI double into centerfield to make it 2-0. Then two batters later, SS Mike Miller hit a 2-run home run off Bisons LHP Shawn Morimando to make it 4-0. The Bisons got an RBI single by 2B Cavan Biggio in the top 6th to make it 4-1 heading into the top 7th. In that inning, the Bisons tagged PawSox RHP Jenry Mejia with 4 runs, including a 2 RBI single by DH Richard Urena for the go ahead runs to make it 5-4. The PawSox ended up going down 1-2-3 in the following bottom 7th as the Bisons took the game 5-4 and the doubleheader.
 
After the PawSox come-from-behind victory over the Bisons the following Wednesday, they took the following Thursday off before heading on the road back to Syracuse, New York, for a 3-game weekend series against the Syracuse Mets. However due to rain, the Friday night game was postponed to the following Saturday, giving the PawSox their 2nd doubleheader of the week.
 
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Mets scored the first run of the game thanks to an RBI single by SS Adeiny Hechavarria to make it 1-0. The PawSox answered back in the following top 3rd thanks to a 2 RBI single by 1B Sam Travis to give his team the early 2-1 lead. The Mets answered back in the bottom 3rd. First 3B Todd Frazier (on rehab assignment for the New York Mets) hit a RBI double into left field that scored teammate RF Gregor Blanco to tie the game 2-2. Then Frazier himself scored on an RBI single by Hechavarria to help the Mets retake the lead 3-2. The Mets added 2 more runs in the bottom 5th as they ended up beating the PawSox on the final score of 5-2.
 
Then in the second game of the doubleheader, the Mets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom 1st with CF Carlos Gomez scoring on an RBI fielder’s choice by 3B Adeiny Hechavarria. The Mets added a solo home run by DH Travis Taijeron off of PawSox RHP Ryan Webber in the bottom 4th to make it 2-0. The PawSox got on the scoreboard in the top 6th with an RBI by SS Mike Miller to make it 2-1 but the Mets tacked on another run the following bottom 6th with a solo home run by SS Danny Espinosa to make it 3-1. The PawSox tried to rally in the top 7th as 3B Jantzen Witte scored DH Rusney Castillo on an RBI single to center to make it 3-2 with 2 outs. But 2B Josh Tobias ended up striking out to end the game, giving the Mets the 3-2 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
 
On Easter Sunday, the two teams met for the series finale for that weekend.
 
The Mets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to back-to-back sac fly RBIs by DH Carlos Gomez and 1B Travis Taijeron in the bottom 1st. The Mets scored their next run in the bottom 4th on another sac fly RBI, this time by C Tomas Nido to make it 3-0. The PawSox were able to get on the board in the top 5th inning thanks to an RBI single by LF Bryce Brentz to score teammate CF Gorkys Hernandez to make it 3-1 with 2 outs in the inning. But then in the bottom 5th, an RBI single by 3B Adeiny Hechavarria made it 4-1. The Mets bullpen then stymied the PawSox for the remainder of the game as they won on the final score of 4-1.
 
April 22 to April 28
After their weekend series against the Syracuse Mets, the PawSox then travelled back to Pawtucket to play a quick midweek series against the visiting Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
 
This was the first meeting between the two teams for the 2019 season. Last year, the PawSox struggled against the IronPigs in the season series (5-12). However at McCoy, the PawSox were able to win 4 out of the 10 games played there (4-6).
 
The first game of the series was originally supposed to take place on Monday but got postponed to a different date due to wet field conditions.
 
The first game of the series took place on the following Tuesday.
 
The PawSox got the first run of the game in the bottom 1st as SS Mike Miller was able to score on an RBI single by RF Rusney Castillo to make it 1-0. The PawSox had an opportunity for more runs as 1B Josh Ockimey and LF Sam Travis each drew walks to load the bases. But 3B Jantzen Witte grounded out into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
 
The IronPigs were able to tie things up 1-1 in the top 3rd thanks to an RBI single by LF Shane Robinson before taking a 2-1 lead in the top 4th thanks to a solo home run by C Deivy Grullon off of PawSox starter RHP Chandler Shepherd. Then in the top 5th, the Iron Pigs got men on base via a walk and a single as DH Dylan Cozens came to the plate with two men on and two outs in the inning. On a 1-0 count, Cozens took the next Shepherd pitch before hitting it far over the right field wall for a 3-run homerun to give his team the 5-1 lead.
 
But in the bottom 5th, the PawSox were able to answer back. After C Juan Centeno lead things off with a single, SS Mike Miller was able to get on base via single himself two batters later. Then after CF Gorkys Hernandez struck out, RF Rusney Castillo came to the plate with two outs and two men in the inning. On a 1-1 count, Castillo knocked a home run over right center field to clear the bases and make it 5-4. A double by 1B Josh Ockimey put the tying run at second but then DH Bryce Brentz grounded out to end the inning.
 
The IronPigs then began to pull away from the PawSox.
 
First a solo home run by RF Lane Adams in the top 6th off of PawSox RHP Domingo Taipa made it 6-4. Then in the top 8th, the IronPigs got a 2 RBI single by 1B Matt McBride followed up by a sac fly RBI by SS Malquin Canelo to push the lead to 9-4. The PawSox tried to rally late in the bottom 9th but with 2 men on base, Hernandez ended up grounding out for the final out of the game and give the IronPigs the 9-4 lead.
 
After the PawSox lost to the IronPigs 3-1 in a Wednesday night game, the two teams faced off for a Thursday matinee.
 
The PawSox were able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead as RF Cole Sturgeon hit a leadoff home run into right center field off of IronPigs starter RHP Tyler Viza in the bottom 1st. 1B Sam Travis hit his own solo home run off of Viza in the following bottom 2nd inning to push the PawSox lead to 2-0.
 
The IronPigs were able to cut into the lead in the top 3rd as SS Andrew Romine’s RBI sac fly made it 2-1. The in top 5th, Romine was able to drive in another run to tie the game at 2-2.
 
But in the bottom 7th, the PawSox were able to pull away. They were able to load the bases full with 2 outs in the inning as CF Rusney Castillo came to the plate. One a 1-0 count, Castillo lined a double into center field to clear the bases and give his team the 5-2 lead. The PawSox bullpen was able to hold up for the remainder of the game as RHP Jenry Mejia got the final 3 outs in the top 9th to preserve the lead, giving his team the 5-2 victory.
 
After their victory over the IronPigs, the PawSox then head back out on the road back to upstate New York. This time, the team traveled to Rochester for the first season series against the Rochester Red Wings. Last year, the Red Wings won the season series 10-6, including going 5-3 at Frontier Field.
 
On Friday night, the two teams squared off against one another.
 
The PawSox offense exploded in the top 1st inning. After SS Mike Miller popped out and a walk issued to DH Brock Holt (on injury rehab assignment for the Boston Red Sox), RF Rusney Castillo came to the plate. Castillo then hit a double into center field that scored Holt to give the PawSox the early 1-0 lead. Next batter, 1B Josh Ockimey hit his own double into left field that scored Castillo to make it 2-0. Ockimey then scored on an infield single RBI by 2B Chad De La Guerra as the lead became 3-0. Following back-to-back walks, C Juan Centeno came to the plate. During his at-bat, Red Wings starter RHP Chase De Jong threw a wild pitch that allowed De La Guerra to score from 3rd to make it 4-0.
 
Centeno then hit a single into right field that cleared the bases and made it 6-0. After 3B Jantzen Witte struck out, Miller came to bat for the second time in the inning. Miller then doubled into right field that allowed Centeno to score and push the lead to 7-0. Then Holt came up for his second at-bat in the inning before hitting a single into left field that scored Miller to make it 8-0.
 
Then in the top 2nd, the PawSox were able to match their offensive output the previous inning.
 
Ockimey lead the inning off with a solo home run off of Red Wings RHP Ryan Eades to make it 9-0. After Ockimey’s home run, De La and Centeno each struck out while Travis and CF Gorkys Hernandez each drew walks. After that, Witte his a double into center field that scored Travis and Hernandez to make it 11-0. Eades then walked both Miller and Holt before getting lifted for RHP D.J. Baxendale. Castillo was the first batter he faced as he ripped a single into left field that scored Miller and Holt to make it 13-0.
Then Ockimey came to bat for the second time that inning. Like during his first at-bat, Ockimey knocked another home run this time into right center field that cleared the bases and made it 16-0. De La Guerra and Travis each reached base to put two men on for Hernandez. Unfortunately Hernandez flew out to center to end the inning.
 
The Red Wings were able to score their own runs in the bottom 2nd inning. 1B Zander Wiel got on board with a 2-out triple and then scored on a passed ball by Centeno during teammate C Tomas Telis’ at-bat to make it 16-1. After that, Telis hit a solo home run off PawSox starter RHP Ryan Weber to make it 16-2.
 
The PawSox got another run in the top 3rd thanks to an RBI single by Miller to push their lead to 17-2 and ended up being the only other time the PawSox scored in the game.
 
The Red Wings got 2 runs in the bottom 7th thanks to a 2-run home run by Wiel off PawSox LHP Jeremy Bleich. Then they followed that up with an RBI single by SS Ronald Torreyes in the bottom 9th off of PawSox RHP Domingo Taipa but those were the only runs they could score as the PawSox ended up winning via the final score of 17-5.
 
The PawSox ended up scoring a total of 17 runs and 16 hits for the game, already season highs for 2019. This was the first time since August 11, 2014, where the PawSox had both 15+ runs and 15+ hits in a road game (they won 15-9 that day against the Gwinnett Stripers, then Gwinnett Braves, at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia).
 
Saturday’s game between the two teams ended up being postponed due to inclement weather (the game got snowed out) so the two teams had to wait until the series finale on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. to play again.
 
In the series finale, the PawSox once again jumped out to an early lead in the top of the 1st. However it wasn’t the 8-run outburst that happened on Friday that saw the entire PawSox batting lineup come to bat in the inning. Rather, the PawSox were able to load the bases via walk as DH Sam Travis came to bat with 2 outs in the inning. Travis ended up singling into right field that scored 2 runs to give his team the early 2-0 lead. However Travis was picked off at 1st to end the inning.
 
The Red Wings were able tie things up in the bottom 6th inning. First LF Luke Raley hit a solo home run off of PawSox starter RHP Mike Shawaryn to make it 2-1. Then 3 batters later, 3B Adam Rosales hit a sac fly into left field that scored teammate 1B Zander Wiel from 3rd to make it 2-2.
 
But in the top 8th, the PawSox were able to break the tie.
 
After both 1B Josh Ockimey and 2B Chad De La Guerra reached base, the next 2 PawSox batters ended up getting out (Travis strikeout on a foul tip and LF Cole Sturgeon popping out to second). Then C Juan Centeno came to the plate. Centeno ended up knocking the ball out of the park for a 3-run home run to give his team the late 5-2 lead.
 
The Red Wings could not muster any more offense for the remainder of the game as the PawSox ended up winning via the final score of 5-2.
 
Where They Stand
We are now over 20 games into the 2019 IL Season.

As of right now, the PawSox are currently sitting in 4th place in the International League North with a record of 10-11 (.476). They are 5.0 games back behind the divisional leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who are sitting on top of the division at 15-6 (.714).
 
Just the Stats Jack
The following statistics are from players currently playing on the PawSox Triple-A squad as of 4/28. This excludes players who were called up, traded, currently on the disabled list, or currently on the temporary inactive list.
 
At the Plate
(*=min. 35 at-bats)
- CF Gorkys Hernandez leads the team in stolen bases (3) and strikeouts (26). He is also tied with teammate INF Mike Miller for team lead in runs scored (13)
- Miller leads the team in OBP (.438)*
- CF Rusney Castillo leads the team in at-bats (69), hits (20), and RBIs (18). He is also tied with teammate 1B Josh Ockimey for team lead in hit-by-pitch (2)
- Ockimey leads the team in games played (20), home runs (5), total bases (38), extra base hits (11), walks drawn (16), SLG (.603)*, and OPS (1.023)*
- C Juan Centeno leads the team in batting average (.341)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 10.0 IP)
- SP Mike Shawaryn leads all starters in innings pitched (28.1), game appearances (5), games started (5), strikeouts (24), walks allowed (11), and batters faced (92). He is tied with teammate SP Ryan Weber in leading all starters in no-decisions (2)
- Weber leads all starters in complete games (1) and is tied with teammate SP chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in hit batsmen (2)
- Shepherd leads all starters in losses (3), hit batsmen (2), and strikeouts over 9 innings (K/9) (9.6)*
- SP Erasmo Ramirez leads all starters in ERA (2.13)*, WHIP (1.03)*, and opposing batting average (.222)*
- There is a 3-way tie between Shawaryn, Ramirez, and Weber in leading all starters in wins (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 5 appearances)
- RHP Jenrry Mejia leads the bullpen in saves (5), games finished (8), and WHIP (1.14)*
- RHP Trevor Kelley leads the bullpen in bullpen wins (2), ERA (0.93)*, and opposing batting average (.216)*
- LHP Josh Taylor leads the bullpen in strikeouts (15), walks allowed (6), holds (2), and strikeouts over 9 innings (K/9) (14.0)*
RHP Domingo Tapia leads the bullpen in innings pitched (11.0) and total batters faced (47)
- There is a 3-way tie between Taylor, Mejia, and Kelley in leading the bullpen in bullpen losses (1)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from April 15 to April 28
 
4/16/19
- Activated C Jake Romanksi from the disabled list.
- Received RHP Matthew Gorst from Portland (AA)
- Sent C Sandy Leon and SP Erasmo Ramirez to Boston (MLB)
- Received 2B/Util. Brock Holt from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day injury rehab assignment (scratched cornea in right eye)
 
4/18/19
- Sent RHP Matthew Gorst to Portland (AA)
- Received RHP Marcus Walden from Boston (MLB) after being optioned back on 4/15
 
4/19/19
- Sent RHP Marcus Walden, 3B Michael Chavis, and SS/Util. Tzu Wei-Lin to Boston (MLB)
 
4/20/19
- 2B/Util. Brock Holt recalled from his injury rehab back into Boston (MLB) but will remain on the disabled list
- Received 2B/3B Josh Tobias from Portland (AA)
- Sent LHP Bobby Poyner to Boston (MLB)
 
4/22/19
- Received SP Erasmo Ramirez from Boston (MLB) after being designated for assignment back on 4/19
- Received LHP Jeremy Bleich from Boston (MLB) after he was signed back on 4/18
 
4/23/19
- Sent RHP Travis Lakins to Boston (MLB)
 
4/24/19
- Sent C Jake Romanski & 2B/SS Nick Lovullo to Portland (AA)
- Received RHP Matthew Gorst & C Oscar Hernandez from Portland (AA)
- Placed LHP Dan Runzler on the 7-day disabled list with a left leg/groin injury
- Reinstated SP Teddy Stankiewicz & 2B/3B Chad De La Guerra from the disabled list
 
4/25/19
- Received LHP Bobby Poyner from Boston (MLB) after being optioned on 4/23
 
4/26/19
- Received 2B/Util. Brock Holt from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-day injury rehab assignment (scratched cornea in right eye)
- Sent SP Josh A. Smith to Boston (MLB)
 
Rehab Watch
As of right now, there is only one Boston Red Sox currently on an injury rehab assignment with the PawSox and that is Red Sox 2B/Util. Brock Holt.
 
Holt was originally placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a scratched cornea on his right eye back on April 16. He only had one game appearance against the Buffalo Bisons (0-for-2, 1 BB, 2 K, while playing SS) before getting recalled back to Boston. However he was not activated from the disabled list during his time in Boston and was sent back down to Pawtucket for another rehab assignment. His last game appearance was in a 17-5 victory over the Rochester Red Wings on Friday, April 26 (1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K while playing DH).
 
Overall, Holt has appeared in 2 rehab games with the PawSox. He’s hitting .200 (1-for-5) with 1 RBI, 4 walks drawn, 4 strikeouts, and an OBP/SLG.OPS line of .556/.200/.756.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will be on the road for the rest of April and into the beginning of May.
 
They will travel back to Buffalo, New York for a 4-game midweek series against the Buffalo Bisons from April 29 to May 2. The Last time the two teams faced off against one another at Sahlen Field was back on April 8-10. The PawSox won the first two games of the series with the series finale being postponed due to weather (too cold to play).
 
After the Buffalo series, the PawSox will head back home for a 3-game weekend series against the Rochester Red Wings from May 3 to May 5. Last year, the PawSox went 3-5 against the Red Wings at McCoy.
 
Special promotions for that weekend series will include Armed Forces Night on May 3 where all 4 Boston Red Sox Trophies in the past 15 years will be present for the McCoy faithful to look at. Then on May 4, there will be a Harry Potter-themed Post-Game Fireworks for all you fans that love wizardry and explosions.

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