5/20 MiLB Gameday: Morning, Noon and Night

[Cuzittt]

Today's Games:

IL:Pawtucket (Anthony Ranaudo) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Shane Greene) [12:05pm]
EL: Portland (Brian Johnson) vs. Binghamton (Darin Gorski) [6:05pm]
CL:Salem (Cody Kukuk) vs. Winston-Salem (JB Wendelken) [7:05pm]
SAL: Greenville (Daniel McGrath) @ Asheville (Zach Jemiola) [11:05am]
NYPL: Lowell - Opening Day - June 13th vs. Vermont
GCL: GCL Sox - Opening Day - June 20th vs GCL Twins
DSL: DSL Sox - Opening Day - May 31st

Notes:

Mookie Betts has reached safely in 1 consecutive regular season game.

Scoreboard:

Boston Red Sox Minor League Scores

Media:

MiLB TV
MiLB Radio

Local Media:

Pawsox:

Providence Journal
Pawtucket Times

Seadogs: Portland Press Herald

Salem: Roanoke Times

Greenville: Greenville Online

Lowell: Lowell Sun

 

[Cuzittt]

Drive win 11-1.

Boxscore

Daniel McGrath went 6 innings, allowing a run on a HR and a HBP; striking out 5. Jacob Dahlstrand went 2 innings, giving up a hit and striking out one. Mike Adams went an inning, giving up a hit and striking out one.

Now, before we get to the hitting... a small note. Wendell Rijo, who started at second, left the game theoretically in the bottom of the 5th inning... after being in the field for the HR. I think that is probably wrong... I don't think he ever took the field in the bottom of the 5th... and he was injured on his ground out in the top of the 5th. That being said... Carlos Asuaje who was at SS moved to 2B and Tzu-Wei Lin who was at DH became the SS. Which means... pitchers got some at Bats.

Jimmy Rider went 3/4 with a HR and a walk. Bo Greenwell went 3/5 with a double. Zach Kapstein went 2/4 with a double and a walk. Tzu-Wei Lin went 2/5 with a double and a walk. Jake Romanski went 1/3 with a HBP, SF and SB. Jantzen Witte went 1/4 with a double, walk and SF. Carlos Asuaje went 1/4 with a walk and a HBP. Wendell Rijo went 0/3 before being replaced in the batting lineup by Daniel McGrath who went 0/1 before being replaced in the batting lineup (via double-switch) by Kendrick Perkins who went 0/1. Forrestt Allday went 0/3 with 2 walks before being ejected... he was replaced in the batting lineup by Jacob Dahlstrand who went 0/1.

 

[Cuzittt]

Pawsox forget how to score, lose 3-0.

Boxscore

Anthony Ranaudo went 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits (1 HR) and 4 walks; striking out 7. Rich Hill went 1 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Alex Wilson went 2 innings, giving up a hit and a walk; striking out one.

Brandon Snyder went 2/4 with 2 doubles. Daniel Nava and Dan Butler each went 1/3 with a walk. Alex Hassan and Mike McCoy each went 1/4. Ryan Roberts, Ryan Lavarnway and Garin Cecchini each went 0/3 with a walk. Corey Brown went 0/4.

 

[Cuzittt]

Portland wins 2-1.

Boxscore

Brian Johnson went 6 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits, a walk and a WP; striking out 6. Matty Ott went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and a walk. Noe Ramirez went an inning, striking out one.

Blake Swihart went 2/4 with a HR. Derrik Gibson went 1/2 with a HBP. Matt Spring went 1/3 with a walk. Travis Shaw and Henry Ramos each went 1/4. Heiker Meneses and Shannon Wilkerson each went 0/3. Deven Marrero went 0/3 before being replaced by Stefan Welch who went 0/1. Mookie Betts went 0/4.

Marrero left in the top of the 7th after making the final out in the top of the 6th on a pop up.

 

[Cuzittt]

Salem loses 3-1.

Boxscore

Cody Kukuk went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, a walk and a WP; striking out 5. Kyle Stroup went 2 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits and a balk; striking out 2. Kyle Kraus went an inning, giving up a hit.

Carson Blair went 2/4 with 2 doubles. Mario Martinez, Tim Roberson and Jonathan Roof each went 1/4. Matty Johnson went 0/2 with 2 HBPs. Aneury Tavarez and Reed Gragnani went 0/3 with a walk. Kevin Heller and Kevin Mager each went 0/4.

 

[chrisfont9]

Portland wins 2-1.

Boxscore

Brian Johnson went 6 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits, a walk and a WP; striking out 6. Matty Ott went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and a walk. Noe Ramirez went an inning, striking out one.

Blake Swihart went 2/4 with a HR. Derrik Gibson went 1/2 with a HBP. Matt Spring went 1/3 with a walk. Travis Shaw and Henry Ramos each went 1/4. Heiker Meneses and Shannon Wilkerson each went 0/3. Deven Marrero went 0/3 before being replaced by Stefan Welch who went 0/1. Mookie Betts went 0/4.

Marrero left in the top of the 7th after making the final out in the top of the 6th on a pop up.

Is Ramirez being groomed as a closer? I feel like I'm seeing this stat line repeatedly.

 

[mabrowndog]

Mookie Betts went 0/4.

 
Since he maxed out "the streak" he's gone without a hit or walk in 3 of his last 5 games.

 

[Cuzittt]

STORIES

PAWSOX

Game Story

The Pawtucket Red Sox are getting tired of it, not unlike their big bothers up in Boston.

The PawSox are getting sick of their pop-gun offense, a unit that was shut out for the fifth time this season, 3-0, to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday afternoon at McCoy Stadium. The PawSox have now lost a season-high three straight games and six of eight overall heading into a series in Syracuse that starts Thursday night.

The PawSox have managed two or fewer runs in four of those six losses. The team has the second-lowest batting average (.236) in the International League and it’s clear that after 47 games everyone is getting a bit weary of a sluggish offense that doesn’t reflect the career production of several players on the roster.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” said outfielder Corey Brown, a career .267 hitter who is off to a .193 start. “You look at the group of guys we have and a lot of us have a history of putting up good offensive seasons. Unfortunately it’s been a rough first month and a half for us, obviously.”

Blame it on the cold, raw weather but right now it is time for a slew of Pawtucket hitters to find their groove. In the latest loss, the Sox managed only six hits — four singles and two Brandon Snyder doubles.

Scranton starter Shane Greene (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, scattering four hits over six innings. Relievers Jose Ramirez and Robert Coello combined to string up zeroes in the last three innings.

The PawSox were able to push a base runner to third only once. That came in the eighth inning but Coello came on with runners on second and third and struck out Ryan Lavarnway and Snyder to end the threat.

SEADOGS

Game Story

Brian Johnson held the Binghamton Mets to four hits and one run over six innings as the Portland Sea Dogs enjoyed a 2-1 win over the Mets Tuesday night at Hadlock Field.

Catcher Blake Swihart homered and Portland scored the winning run courtesy of Binghamton errors.

Johnson (3-0) lowered his ERA to 2.01. He struck out six and did not allow a hit in the final three innings.

“Got on the same page with Swihart early,” Johnson said “Establishing the fastball and working in and out, throwing strikes.”

Swihart tied the game with his fourth home run in the fourth inning. Henry Ramos followed with a single. Heiker Meneses reached on an infield error, and Ramos made it to third base.

Mets starter Dan Gorski (3-2) tried to pick off Meneses. Ramos broke for home. First baseman Matt Clark’s throw home was wild and Ramos scored.

Matty Ott pitched two innings of scoreless relief and Noe Ramirez picked up his fourth save with a hitless ninth.

Deven Marrero

Deven Marrero sat with a couple of teammates Tuesday afternoon, eating his pregame meal on a couch in the Portland Sea Dogs clubhouse. On the TV, baseball commentators discussed Boston’s signing of shortstop Stephen Drew and what that means for Xander Bogaerts.

Reporter Ken Rosenthal chimed in that “if Marrero is what (the Red Sox) think at shortstop, then Bogaerts stays at third base.”

Marrero lifted his head at the sound of his name, then went back to his plate.

“I really don’t pay attention to that stuff anyways,” Marrero said.

Well, the majority of baseball fans in New England do pay attention to all that Red Sox stuff and, as often happens, news in Boston has meaning in Portland.

Not only is there a chance that Drew joins the Sea Dogs – as early as Wednesday – to get ready for his re-entry to the majors, but Marrero’s future may be coming into focus … as a starting shortstop in Fenway Park.

Pencil him in for 2015.

Yes, Boston Manager John Farrell said Tuesday that the Red Sox still consider Bogaerts a shortstop in the future, but Farrell also knows all about Marrero.

“Deven Marrero has looked spectacular at shortstop if you ask me,” Farrell said this past spring training.

And so we did question Farrell, asking him to compare Marrero with Jose Iglesias, the benchmark of young defensive shortstops.

“I think they’re very comparable,” Farrell said. “Iggy had a little bit more flair. … They go about it a little bit differently, but no less effective on Deven’s part.”

Marrero’s ability at shortstop has been trumpeted since he was drafted in the first round in the 2012 draft. He reached Portland at the end of last year and joined the major leaguers in spring training three months ago.

“Being around those guys, and knowing I have a chance to be there is pretty cool, pretty special,” Marrero said. “You just see your future right in front of you, your dream right in front of you.”

SALEM

Game Story

J.B. Wendelken (4-4) improved his record against Salem to 4-0 with 7 superb innings as the Dash took game one of the four game set 3-0. Wendelken surrendered just 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4 Red Sox. The righty is now 4-0 in 4 starts against Salem, and 0-4 in 5 starts against the rest of the Carolina League.
Cody Kukuk (1-2) picked up the tough luck loss for the Red Sox. Kukuk allowed 2 runs, just one of which was earned, and 5 hits in 6 quality innings of work. The lefty walked 1 and struck out 5.
The Dash started their scoring in the 2nd. Grant Buckner reached on an error and came around to score after a Keon Barnum double and an RBI single by Joey DiMichele. Then in the 4th, the Dash scratched across their lone earned run off of Kukuk. Barnum reached on a walk, stole second, and scored on DiMichele's second RBI single of the night. The Dash's final run came in the 8th of Kyle Stroop. Jacob May led off the frame with a single. May reached 2nd on a balk by Stroop, stole third, and scored on a single by Buckner.


The Red Sox best chance to get back in it came in the 9th. Mario Martinez singled to lead off the final frame off of Brad Goldberg. Then Carson Blair doubled for the second time on the night, scoring Martinez. That prompted the Dash to bring in Brandon Hardin from the bullpen. He walked Aneury Tavarez which put the tying run on first. But Hardin retired Tim Roberson and Kevin Mager to pick up his second save.

DRIVE

Game Story

Thanks to an 11:05 AM start time, the Greenville Drive (22-21) and the Asheville Tourists (25-19) got an early wakeup call on Tuesday. The Drive were up for the task, getting 13 hits and a dominant pitching effort in an 11-1 victory to avoid being swept in the four-game series.

Jimmy Rider led the way offensively with three hits, including a homer, and Bo Greenwell had three hits as well. Tzu-Wei Lin collected two hits and three RBI, and Zach Kapstein chipped in with two hits.

On the mound, Daniel McGrath (1-1) was nothing short of outstanding in his second start with the Drive. He fired six innings and allowed just one hit and one run, both on a fifth-inning solo homer, while striking out five and not issuing a walk.

After a quiet first inning, the Drive exploded for five runs, all with two outs, in the top of the second. The inning started against Zach Jemiola (3-5), as Rider began the scoring with an RBI single to score Jake Romanski, who singled and swiped second. Greenwell followed with a single to put runners on first and second, and Kapstein then lined a single of his own to center to score Rider.

The Tourists made a pitching change to Logan Norris following Jemiola's walk to Forrestt Allday, but the inning continued as Lin lined a two-run double to center to make the score 4-0, and Jantzen Witte lifted a sacrifice fly to score the fifth run.

Rider smacked his first homer of the season, a solo shot, in the third against Norris to push the lead to 6-0.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

Brian Johnson is quietly posting what may be the most impressive season of any of our starting pitchers.  Through 48.0 IP, he now has a 9.9 SO/9, 2.6 BB/9 a 3.79 SO/W, and a 0.0 HR/9.  Granted, part of that was in Salem, which he was old for, but if he keeps doing what he's been doing in Portland, he is on track to potentially be with the big club second half of 2015.
 
FYI, the only real prospect who comes close to his 3.79 SO/W ratio is Workman at 3.40.  However, Brandon has let up 8 HRs already for a 1.9 HR/9 ratio.  This of course may normalize but right now it sticks out.

 

[pokey_reese]

With Doubront going down and Ranaudo starting on the same day, is he the most likely to get called up for a spot start in Doobie's place?  Back to Webster because he has already been up?

 

[WenZink]

With Doubront going down and Ranaudo starting on the same day, is he the most likely to get called up for a spot start in Doobie's place?  Back to Webster because he has already been up?

 
Because the Sox have 4 days to plan ahead, it could be any of the PawSox 5 that gets the call.  Or, the Sox could move Capuano into Doubront's slot and call up someone from Pawtucket to replace Capuano as the long reliever.  My guess would have been Britton, before the concern about his drop in velocity.  Although there has been some good work and low ERA's by Webster/RDLR.Ranaudo, there have been mixed results in their individual games, with them getting past that one, bad, long inning.  The Sox may not want to risk the possibility of a 2 inning stint by a rookie starter.  Then again, not sure of Capuano's ability to transition to starter right away.

 

[nvalvo]

I was at the Sea Dogs game, and Henry Ramos looks more and more like a prospect each time I see him. The steal of home on a pickoff was just a brilliant combination of baseball sense and athleticism — big secondary lead, broke immediately when the pitcher committed to first. From where I sat along the third base line, he would have beaten the throw even if it had been a good one.