PawSox Weekly Notebook: Heading Down South

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 were down south taking on a couple of International League South teams for the first time this season. How did they do during their time below the Mason-Dixon Line? Were they able to make up for their past week misfortunes in the standings? Let’s find out.

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A Week in Review
 
May 6 to May 12
The PawSox began the week with a day off on Monday. They used their day off as a means to travel down from Pawtucket to Norfolk, Virginia, for their 3-game midweek series against the Norfolk Tides.
 
The first game of the series took place on Tuesday.
 
For the first 3 innings of the game, it seemed like both pitchers (RHP Teddy Stankiewicz for the PawSox and LHP Josh Rodgers for the Tides) were able to stymie the other teams’ offense. It wasn’t until the 4th inning where the game’s first run was scored.
 
In the top 4th, after a single by 1B Sam Travis and then C Juan Centeno grounded into a double play during the next at-bat, CF Gorkys Hernandez came to the plate. On a 1-2 count, Hernandez took the next Rodgers pitch and proceeded to hit a solo home run into right field to give the PawSox the early 1-0.
 
In the following top 5th, SS Nick Lovullo led off with a double into left field. Two batters later, 3B Jantzen Witte came to the plate. Witte then lined a single into right field that allowed Lovullo to score from 2nd and push the PawSox lead to 2-0.
 
In the bottom 5th, after Tides Christopher Bostick flew out to center, the team got back-to-back singles by LF Mason Williams and SS Jack Reinheimer to put men at the corners. Two batters later during RF Anthony Santander’s at-bat, Reinheimer made a dash for 2nd. Centeno tried to throw him out but missed 2B Josh Tobias, allowing Reinheimer to advance to 3rd and Williams to score make the score 2-1.
 
In the top 7th, the PawSox were able to extend their lead thanks to a 2 RBI double by Witte with two outs in the inning to make it 4-1. Then in the top 8th, with both Travis and Hernandez on base, Tobias came to the plate looking to drive in both runners. However during his at-bat, the PawSox executed a double steal that allowed both Travis and Hernandez to advance a base. Tides C Chance Sisco tried to throw one of them out but ended up overthrowing his teammate, allowing Travis to score to push the lead to 5-1.
 
The Tides could not muster any more offense for the remainder of the game as the PawSox ended up taking the first game of the series on the final score of 5-1.
 
The next game of the series took place on the following Wednesday.
 
The game started off as a pitching duel between PawSox starter RHP Erasmo Ramirez and Tides Starter LHP Luis Ysla. But in the bottom 4th inning after getting the first 2 men of the inning out, Ramirez ended up surrendering a walk to 2B Jace Peterson and then a single to C Chance Sisco. With men at the corners, RF DJ Stewart came to the plate and proceeded to hit a 3-run home run over the right field wall to give the Tides a 3-0 lead.
 
The PawSox were able to score their first run of the game in the following top 5th thanks to an RBI by RF Rusney Castillo that scored C Oscar Hernandez from 3rd to make it 3-1. Then in the top 6th, 1B Sam Travis lead the inning off with a double followed by CF Gorkys Hernandez getting hit by a pitch to put men on 1st and 2nd. After a sacrifice bunt by 2B Josh Tobias to move both baserunners into scoring positon, LF Cole Sturgeon got an RBI groundout to score Travis from 3rd to make it 3-2. Then during O. Hernandez’s at-bat, Ysla ended up throwing a wild pitch that allowed G. Hernandez to score to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Unfortunately the tie did not last.
 
In the bottom 6th, the Tides were able to load the bases with one out in the inning as Stewart came to the plate. Stewart ended up hitting a grand slam over the right field wall for his 2nd home run of the game to give the Tides a 7-3 lead. The Tides then tacked on another home run in the bottom 7th by LF Anthony Santander off PawSox RHP Travis Lakins to push the lead to 8-3.
 
The PawSox were able to close the gap a little in the top 8th inning thanks to an RBI single by Tobias to score Travis from 3rd. But the Tides got a sac fly RBI by DH Christopher Bostick to make it 9-4. The PawSox tried to rally in the top 9th but 3B Jantzen Witte grounded into a game-ending double play as the Tides walked away with a 9-4 in the 2nd game of the series.
 
In the series finale on Thursday, the PawSox jumped out to an early 1-0 after 1 inning of play thanks to a solo home run by DH Sam Travis off Tides RHP Tyler Herb. In the following top 2nd, the PawSox were able to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning as SS Mike Miller came to the plate. Miller was able to knock a single into right field that ended up scoring 2 runs and extend the PawSox lead to 3-0. The PawSox got another 2 runs in the following top 3rd inning thanks to a 2 RBI single by RF Cole Sturgeon to help extend his team’s lead to 5-0.
 
The Tides answered back with a solo home run by LF Mason Williams off PawSox starter RHP Mike Shawaryn in the bottom 3rd to make it 5-1 after 3 innings of play. A solo home run by DH Anthony Santander off Shawaryn in the bottom 6th and an RBI single by Williams off PawSox LHP Jeremy Bleich made it 5-3 after 7 innings of play.
 
Then in the bottom 8th inning, the Tides were able to load the bases on 3 consecutive singles. A sac fly RBI by RF DJ Stewart scored Santander from 3rd to make it 5-4. Then during the next at-bat, 2B Christopher Bostick singled into left field. Tides 1B Ryan Mountcastle tried to score from 2nd but was thrown out at the plate by PawSox LF Bryce Brentz with 2 outs in the inning. But back-to-back RBI singles by Williams and teammate C Jesus Sucre gave the Tides a 6-5 lead heading into the 9th inning.
 
But in the top 9th, RF Cole Sturgeon lead the inning off with a double off Tides RHP Jimmy Yacabonis before moving to 3rd on a sac bunt by 2B Nick Lovullo. A sac fly RBI by SS Mike Miller allowed Sturgeon to score as the PawSox tied the game up 6-6. The Tides tried to break the tie as the first 2 batters got on base via walk. But Mountcastle hit into a double-play and 3B Jace Peterson grounded out to 1st for the final out of the inning to send the game into extra innings.
 
In the top 10th, DH Sam Travis started at 2nd as Brentz came to the plate against Tides LHP Tanner Scott. Brentz ended up hitting a 2-run home run over the center field wall to give the PawSox an 8-6 lead. After back-to-back walks, C Juan Centeno came to the plate. Centeno knocked a single into left field that scored a run to extend the PawSox lead to 9-6. The Tides tried to answer back in the bottom 10th but PawSox RHP Jenrry Mejia got them to go down 1-2-3 to end the game and give the PawSox the 9-6 victory and the series victory.
 
After their series with the Tides, the PawSox ended up traveling further south to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to begin a 3-game weekend series against the Gwinnett Stripers.
 
On Friday, the two teams met for the first game of the series.
 
Each team scored a run in the 1st inning of the game. For the PawSox, it was an RBI single by LF Sam Travis off Stripers starter RHP Bryse Wilson. For the Stripers, it was a solo home run by LF Austin Riley off PawSox starter RHP Chandler Shepherd.
 
The Stripers were able to break the tie in the bottom 2nd thanks to a solo home run by former PawSox* now Stripers CF Ryan LaMarre off of Shepherd to make it 2-1 in favor of the home team (* = LaMarre played with the PawSox back in 2016).
 
The PawSox were able to tie the game at 2-2 in the top 3rd thanks to an RBI triple by Travis. But that tie got broken in the following bottom 3rd thanks to a 3-run home run by DH Travis Demeritte off of Shepherd to give the Stripers a 5-2 lead.
 
In the top 6th, the PawSox lead the inning off with a leadoff solo home run by DH Bryce Brentz off of Wilson to make it 5-3. Then following Brentz, 1B Josh Ockimey hit his own solo home run off of Wilson to make it 5-4.
 
In the bottom 6th, RHP Domingo Tapia came in to pitch in relief for the PawSox and got the first batter he faced in the inning to ground out. But then Tapia ended up surrendering a solo home run to 2B Andres Blanco as the Stripers lead extended to 6-4. After a Riley single, Tapia faced against Stripers RF Adam Duvall. Duvall ended up hitting a 2-run home run against Tapia as the Stripers lead ballooned to 8-4.
 
The PawSox tried to muster a rally in the later innings.
 
In the top 9th, after SS Mike Miller flew out to center, 3B Jantzen Witte and CF Rusney Castillo each got on base with back-to-back singles against Stripers LHP Grant Dayton. But Travis ended up grounding into a double play to end the game and give the Stripers an 8-4 victory in the series opener.
 
In the next game of the series on Saturday, the PawSox jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top 1st thanks to an RBI single by DH Sam Travis off Stripers starter LHP Kolby Allard. Then in the top 2nd, 1B Josh Ockimey knocked a leadoff solo home run off of Allard to extend the PawSox lead to 2-0.
 
In his PawSox debut, LHP Matt Kent held the Stripers scoreless after 5 innings of play. But in the bottom 6th, Kent ended up surrendering a walk to SS Andres Blanco and then a 2-run home run to LF Austin Riley as the Stripers tied the game at 2-2. RHP Trevor Kelley came on for relief as he got the first batter he faced to fly out into left field before the game went into a minor delay to due rain.
When play resumed, C Alex Jackson came to the plate to face Kelley as he knocked a 2-run home run into center left field to give the Stripers a 3-2 lead.
 
The PawSox were able to tie the game up at 3-3 in the top 7th inning thanks to an RBI single by SS Mike Miller off Stripers LHP Jesse Biddle. Then in the top 8th, Ockimey hit a solo home run off Biddle into left center field to give the PawSox a 4-3 lead. The PawSox had an opportunity for more runs in the inning as they had runners at the corners during SS Mike Miller’s at-bat. However Miller ended up grounding out to second base to end the inning and the scoring threat.
 
But in the bottom 8th, the game was delayed yet again due to rain as they had to wait until the weather cleared up. Play then resumed as the Stripers ended up going down 1-2-3 in that inning.
 
The PawSox had a chance to extend their lead in the top 9th inning as they were able to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning. Unfortunately, CF Gorkys Hernandez ended up striking out to end the threat as that missed scoring opportunity proved to be costly.
 
In the bottom 9th, Stripers 3B Jack Lopez led the inning off with a leadoff single off PawSox RHP Jenrry Mejia. Lopez was able to advance all the way to 3rd thanks to a fielding error by RF Rusney Castillo, giving the Stripers a man in scoring position with no outs in the inning. In the next at-bat, 2B Luis Marte was pinch-hit for by OF Ryan LaMarre, who got on base with an infield single to 3rd. With runners at the corner, SS Andres Blanco singled into right field that scored Lopez and allowed LaMarre to advance to 3rd. With the score all tied up at 4-4, Riley then came to the plate. Riley ended up popping out to first base as Ockimey snagged the pop out in foul territory. However that proved to be costly as LaMarre ended up scoring from 3rd for the game winning run as the Stripers won on the final score of 5-4.
 
The two teams then met on Sunday for the series finale on Mother’s Day. However the game was delayed 10 minutes from the usual 1:05 p.m. start due to rain. When the delay was over, both teams took to the field.
 
The Stripers were able to go up 2-0 early thanks to a 2-run home run by DH Adam Duvall off of PawSox starter RHP Teddy Stankiewicz. Then in the bottom 3rd, SS Andres Blanco hit a 2-out double into left field. Then during teammate LF Austin Riley’s at-bat, Blanco took a sizeable lead off 2nd. Stankiewicz tried to pick him off for the final out of the inning but ended up throwing the ball into center field. Blanco was able to score on the error to give the Stripers a 3-0 lead. A solo home run by C Alex Jackson off of PawSox LHP Jeremy Bleich in the bottom 6th extended the Stripers lead to 4-0.
 
The PawSox were able to score their first run of the game thanks to an RBI double by PawSox 3B Jantzen Witte in the top 7th off of Stripers RHP Ben Rowen to make it 4-1. But Witte’s double ended up being the only offense for the team for the remainder of the game. The Stripers bullpen stymied the PawSox as they won on the final score of 4-1, giving them the series sweep.
                                                       
Where They Stand
We are now close to 35 games complete in the 2019 IL season.

As of right now, the PawSox are currently in last place in the International League North with a record of 13-21 (.382). They are 7.0 games back behind the divisional leading Syracuse Mets, who are sitting on top of the division at 21-15 (.583).
 
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 (6). He is tied with teammate CF Rusney Castillo in leading the team in runs scored (19)
- Castillo leads the team in at-bats (115), hits (runs scored (33), and RBIs (23). He is also tied with teammate 1B Josh Ockimey for team lead in hit-by-pitch (2)
- Ockimey leads the team in home runs (8), extra base hits (15), total bases (53), walks drawn (25), OBP (.384)*, SLG (.541)*, and OPS (.925)*
- 1B/OF Sam Travis leads the team in games played (32)
- LF Bryce Brentz leads the team in strikeouts (37)
- 1B/3B Jantzen Witte leads the team in batting average (.329)*
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 20.0 IP)
- SP Mike Shawaryn leads all starters in ERA (2.79)*, innings pitched (42.0), strikeouts (31), WHIP (1.07)*, opposing batting average (.224)*, batters faced (16), and no-decisions (4). He is tied with teammate SP Chandler Shepherd in leading all starters in games played (7) and games started (7)
- Shepherd leads all starters in losses (5), hit batsmen (5), walks allowed (15), and K/9 (9.2)*
- There is a 3-way tie between Shawaryn, RHP Erasmo Ramirez, and RHP Teddy Stankiewicz in leading all starters in wins (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 7 appearances)
- RHP Trevor Kelley leads the bullpen in bullpen wins (2) and ERA (1.76)*. He is tied with teammate LHP Bobby Poyner in leading the bullpen in holds (2)
-Poyner leads the bullpen in K/9 (13.8)*. He is tied with teammate LHP Josh Taylor in leading the bullpen in strikeouts (20). Poyner is also tied with teammate RHP Matthew Gorst in leading the bullpen in walks allowed (11)
- Gorst leads the bullpen in opposing batting average (.250)*. He is tied with teammate RHP Domingo Tapia in leading the bullpen in bullpen starts (1)
- Tapia leads the bullpen in innings pitched (16.1), hit batsmen (3) and total batters faced (79)
- RHP Jenrry Mejia leads the bullpen in bullpen losses (3), game appearances (15), saves (6), games finished (12), and WHIP (1.25)*
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from May 6 to May 12
 
5/6/19
- Sent SP Ryan Weber to Boston (MLB)
 
5/7/19
- Received LHP Matt Kent from Portland (AA)
 
Rehab Watch
As of right now, there are currently no Boston Red Sox on an injury rehab assignment with the PawSox.
 
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 7 PawSox players that are on the disabled list. The most recent PawSox player to be placed on the disabled list was 2B/SS Chad De La Guerra back on May 3 with a right wrist sprain.
 
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)
LHP Dan Runzler (April 24 to present day with left groin injury)
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 13 off as a rest/travel day as the team will come back home to McCoy for 6 games.
 
From May 14 to May 16, the PawSox will host the Columbus Clippers for their first meeting against the Clippers this season. Last year, the two teams split the series 3-3 with the Clippers going 2-1 at McCoy.
 
After their midweek series against the Clippers, the PawSox will host the Gwinnett Stripers for a weekend series from May 17 to May 19. Last year, the PawSox ended up sweeping their 3-game series against Stripers at McCoy.
 
Special Home Game Promotions
Special promotions for next week will include the Osos Polares de Pawtucket on May 14, the 3rd of the 2019 season. After that, on May 16 will be Silver Seniors Day Bingo that will include a pre-game bingo match from 9:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
 
On May 17, the PawSox will have Dunkin’ Mug Giveaway where the first 3,000 fans will receive a PawSox Ceramic Mug prior to the team’s evening match-up against the Gwinnett Stripers.
 
On May 18, there will be post-game fireworks after the team’s game against the Stripers.
 
Then finally on May 19, after the matinee match-up between the PawSox and Stripers, the PawSox will have their postgame Run the Bases for the fans.

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