PawSox Notebook: Happy Fourth of July

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). There’s no better way to celebrate the birth of our great nation than heading over to the ballpark to watch a baseball game. And with the All-Star Break looming around the corner, the PawSox are eager to finish the first half of the season on a strong note.

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A Week in Review
After a disappointing week where the team where the team ended up losing 8 of their last 9 games, the PawSox hit the road for a quick 3-game series down in Allentown, Pennsylvania, against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. After getting shut out at home the week before against the Iron Pigs, the PawSox took the first game of the series 5-4.
 
They then followed it up with an impressive 14-5 dominating victory over the best team in the International League record wise. It was the second time this season that the PawSox scored 14 runs against the Iron Pigs. The first was back on April 7 when the PawSox won 14-7 at Coca-Cola Park. Ironically enough, PawSox Haviland was pitching in both those games and picked up the victory.
 
However the Iron Pigs took the third game of the series by the score of 10-2. Making his PawSox debut during the game was former St. Louis Cardinals 3B Jhonny Peralta. After being released by the Cardinals back on June 9th, Peralta was signed back on June 23 by the Red Sox and placed in Pawtucket. He ended up going 0-for-4 while hitting second in the lineup at DH for the game.
 
The PawSox then took the final game of the series by the score of 8-4, improving their season series against the Iron Pigs to 6-8, including going 5-3 at Coca-Cola Park.
 
However before the first pitch of that game was thrown, it was announced that that PawSox OF Rusney Castillo and LHP Edgar Olmos would be representing the team on the International League All-Star Team for the Triple-A All-Star Game next week. Castillo is currently hitting .311 (ranked 3rd overall in the International League) with 9 HRs, 28 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. Castillo also had a 16-game hitting streak from June 4-19 and is currently on a 23-game on-base streak. Olmos leads the team in the bullpen in wins (5), spot starts (3), strikeouts (42), innings pitched (42.1), and hit batsmen (4). For the season, he’s gone 5-2 with an ERA of 1.93 and has held opposing batters to a .198 batting average.
 
After finishing up against the Iron Pigs, the PawSox then head on home for another weekend series matchup against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The first game of the series took place on June 30 where the PawSox went up 2-0 in the early goings thanks to a two-run home run by RF Bryce Brentz, his 18th of the season. However the game was stopped during the 4th inning due to rain. After close to an hour, it was called off and rescheduled for continuation the next day on Saturday at 4:35 p.m., turning that day into a  double header.
 
On Saturday, play resumed. The RailRiders were able to tie the game 2-2 in the 5th inning but then in the bottom of the 7th inning LF Ryan Court gave the PawSox a 4-2 with a two run home run to right field. A home run in the bottom of the 8th by 3B Jhonny Peralta sealed the deal as the PawSox won 5-2. After a small break, the two teams took the field for the second game of the doubleheader. The PawSox pulled ahead in 5-0 from home runs by 3B Pablo Sandoval & 1B Matt Dominguez. The RailRiders were able to cut into the lead 5-2 top of the 7th thanks to a 2-run home run by LF Devyn Bolasky. But then PawSox RHP Brandon Workman came on and got 3 of the next 4 RailRiders batters out for his second save of the year..
 
Where They Stand
After this week, the PawSox still remain to in 4th place in the International League North with a record of 40-39 (.479). They are now are 9.5 games back behind the divisional leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 51-31 (.622). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are now 8.0 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, who are sitting at 49-32 (.605)
 
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. 100 at-bats)
- LF Bryce Brentz leads the team in games played (66), at-bats (236), runs scored (41), hits (64), extra-base hits (29), home runs (18), RBIs (46), total bases (129), slugging/SLG (.547)*, and on-base plus slugging/OPS (.894)*
- 3B Jantzen Witte is tied with teammate 3B Ryan Court for team lead in walks drawn (29)
-Court also leads the team in on-base percentage/OBP (.363)*
- 3B Heiker Meneses leads the team in stolen bases (6) and in batting average (.311)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 30.0 IP)
- SP Marcus Walden leads all starters in games won (6)
- SP Hector Velazquez leads all started in ERA (1.65)*, WHIP (0.93)*, and opposing batting average (.204)*
- SP Shawn Haviland leads all starters in starts (13), innings pitched (81.2), hit batsmen (5), strike outs (72), complete games (2) and shutouts (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 10 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in game appearances (21) and holds (5)
- RHP Noe Ramirez leads the bullpen in saves (3) and games finished (16)
- RHP Brandon Workman leads the bullpen in ERA (1.78)*, WHIP (0.99)*, and opposing batting average (.170)*
- LHP Edgar Olmos leads the bullpen in wins (5), spot starts (3), strikeouts (42), innings pitched (42.1), and hit batsmen (4)
 
Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from June 26 to July 2
 
June 26
- Sent SP Henry Owens to Portland (AA)
- Received SP Hector Velazquez from Boston (MLB)
 
June 27
- Received 3B Pablo Sandoval from Boston (MLB) to begin MLB Injury Rehab Assignment for a left inner ear infection
 
June 28
- Added 3B Jhonny Peralta to the active roster after he was signed by Boston (MLB) back on June 23
- Placed C Tim Roberson on 7-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring
 
June 29
- Reinstated LHP Edgar Olmos from the temporary inactive list
- Placed SP Kyle Kendrick on 7-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation
 
June 30
- Reinstated OF Aneury Tavarez to roster after completion of rehab assignment in Lowell (Short Season-A)
-Released OF/1B Allen Craig
 
July 1
- Received OF/INF Brock Holt from Boston (MLB) to begin 20-Day MLB Injury Rehab Assignment for vertigo after being on disabled list since April 21
 
Red Sox Rehab Watch
The PawSox have two Red Sox players currently rehabbing with them right now.
 
INF/OF Brock Holt rejoined the team back on July 1 to begin another rehab assignment for vertigo. Holt has been battling vertigo this entire season, landing on the disabled list back on April 21 and has been moved up and down between Triple-A and MLB as well as playing one game in Double-A Portland. Holt was recently transferred from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list back on June 24 and was then placed on another rehab assignment in Pawtucket back on July 1.
 
In the second game of a doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, Holt batted first in the lineup at DH and went 1-for-3 for the game. In 14 rehab games with the PawSox, Holt as hit .217 (10-for-46) with 2 home runs, 4 RBIs, 5 walks drawn, and 11 strikeouts and has had an OBP/SLG/OPS line of .294/.370/.664.
 
Also rejoining the team for his second rehab stint is 3B Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval’s first stint with the PawSox was back on May 19 when he was on an injury rehab assignment for a sprained right knee. He was then recalled to the major league level on May 30 before then getting placed on the disabled list yet again with a left inner ear infection on June 20. He reported to Pawtucket back on June 27 and has been playing with them ever since, playing 4 games at third base and 1 at DH. In 12 rehab games with the PawSox, Sandoval has hit .222 (10-for-45) with 1 home run, 4 RBIs, 3 walks drawn, and 9 strikeouts and has had an OBP/SLG/OPS line of .271/.356/.626.
 
Upcoming Games
The PawSox will continue their weekend series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at McCoy with a 6:05 p.m. game and then finish up the series on July 3. Afterwards, the team will hit the road from July 4 to July 6 to play the Rochester Red Wings for a 4-game midweek series, including a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 6, to make up for a rainout back on May 5.
 
Then the team will come back home to McCoy for 3-game series against the Buffalo Bisons from July 7 to July 9 to conclude the first half of the season before All-Star Week.

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