PawSox Notebook: Travelin' 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 the Columbus Avenue Crew (aka, the Pawtucket Red Sox). Since the last PawSox notebook, the team has been down south playing baseball. What was the team up to during their time down below the Mason-Dixon Line? Let’s find out.

A Week in Review
The PawSox continued their hot winning streak over the Memorial Day weekend in a Memorial Day matinee with the Durham Bulls. The PawSox ended up taking the game 3-1 to complete the sweep of the Bulls, their first home sweep of the season.

​The last 3+ game home series where the PawSox swept an opponent was back in August 9-11 of last season, where they swept the Durham Bulls then as well.

After the series finale, the PawSox then head on out down to the South for a 6-game road trip. Up first was a 3-game pitstop over at Norfolk, Virgina, to take on the Norfolk Tides. The PawSox took the series opener by the score of 3-1, extending their winning streak to a season high 6 games. This was the longest winning streak for the PawSox since last year when they won 7 games from April 14 to April 20. However the team couldn’t match that as they lost to the Tides in 11 innings, 9-7.
 
Following the loss, the PawSox got back into the winning column with a 6-1 victory over the Tides. During that game, the PawSox got all 6 runs in the 5th inning, including a 3-run shot by Byrce Brentz for his 8th home run of the season.
 
After finishing up against the Tides, the PawSox traveled further south to Durham, North Carolina, for a weekend rematch against the Durham Bulls. In the first game of the series, the Bulls scored their first victory as they got 6 runs in the first inning and chased PawSox starter Henry Owens in a 6-4 W.
 
In Saturday’s matchup, PawSox starter Brian Johnson had to leave the game due to injury in the second inning, which forced PawSox manager Kevin Boles to go to the pen earlier for the second game in a row. This also included using INF Mike Miller as an emergency pitcher in the bottom of the 9th. However the PawSox were able to win the game 6-4, including staving off a bottom 9th inning rally by the Bulls.
 
Where They Stand
Currently the PawSox are currently in 5th place in the International League North with a record of 24-26 (.480). The PawSox are 10.5 games back behind the divisional leading Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are sitting at 37-18 (.673). In the Wild Card Standings, the PawSox are 5.5 games behind the current Wild Card leader, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (31-22, .585).

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. 75 at-bats)
- 1B/3B Matt Dominguez leads the team in games played (44) and RBIs (24)
- OF Rusney Castillo leads the team in at-bats (169), runs scored (30), hits (45), total bases (78), stolen bases (7), and batting average (.286)*.
- OF Bryce Brentz leads the team in home runs (8)
- OF Steve Selsky leads the team in slugging percentage (.496)
-INF Ryan Court leads the team in batting average (.294)*, on-base percentage (OBP) (.374)* and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.830)*
- 1B/3B Jantzen Witte for team lead in walks drawn (20)
 
Start You Pitchers
(*= min. 40.0 IP)
- SP Henry Owens leads all starters in games started (10), innings pitched (49.0), and strikeouts (59)He is tied with teammate SP Marcus Walden and SP Hector Velazquez for team lead in games won (4)
- Velazquez leads all starters in ERA (1.50)*, WHIP (0.81)*, opposing batting average (.186)*
- SP Kyle Kendricks leads all starters in games completed (1)
 
Outta Da Pen
(*= min. 7 appearances)
- RHP Kyle Martin leads the bullpen in game appearances (14) and holds (4)
- RHP Noe Ramirez leads the bullpen in ERA (2.76)*, saves (3), WHIP (1.04)*, games finished (11) opposing batting average (.193)*
- RHP Chandler Shepherd leads the bullpen in innings pitched (24.1) and strikeouts (29)
- LHP Edgar Olmos leads the bullpen in wins (2)

Player Movement
The following team transaction took place from May 28 to June 4
 
5/28/16
- Sent RHP Blaine Boyer to Boston (MLB)
- Placed LHP Robbie Ross Jr. placed on 7-day disabled list with (retro to 5/25) with left elbow inflammation.
 
5/29/16
- Sent SP David Price back to Boston (MLB) upon his completion of injury rehab assignment
- Received RHP Brandon Workman & RHP Ben Taylor from Boston (MLB)
 
5/30/16
- Sent 3B Pablo Sandoval back to Boston (MLB) upon his completion of injury rehab assignment
- Placed RHP Ben Taylor placed on 7-day disabled list (retro to 5/28) with right elbow inflammation.
 
5/31/16
- Received SP Brian Johnson from Boston (MLB)
 
6/1/16
- Sent LHP Robbie Ross Jr. back to Boston but will remain on Red Sox disabled list.
 
6/2/16
- Sent RHP Brandon Workman to Boston
- Placed SP Shawn Haviland on 7-day disabled list (retro to 5/31) with pneumonia.
 
6/3/16
- Received LHP Jalen Beeks from Portland (AA)
 
6/4/16
- Received SP Ty Buttery 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 finish up their weekend series against the Durham Bulls with the series finale at 5:05 p.m. on 6/4. (pending weather).
 
After the completion of the game, the PawSox will be heading back home for a 7-game home stand against two International League North divisional rivals. First up are the Syracuse Chiefs (6/5-6/7). Currently the PawSox are sporting a 5-1 record against the Syracuse Chiefs, which includes a 3-1record at McCoy.
 
Then after the Chiefs, the PawSox will welcome in the Buffalo Bison for a 4-game weekend series (6/8-6/11). This will be the first home series for the season for the PawSox against the Bison. The PawSox are currently 1-2 against the Bison this season.

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