Podcast Ep. #158 - Someone has to put you in your place

Fresh off his tour of Athens and the Hellenic Republic (many olives were crushed) Chris rejoins Ian to get back into the groove in our first podcast of the summer. With Memorial Day in our rearview mirror, the guys turn their attention to the draft coming up next week. They pivot to Michael Chavis who will not be heading back to Pawtucket any time soon. Next Chris and Ian tackle the likely prospect promotions to hit in the coming weeks. Ian notes the worrisome shoulder issue that has sidelined Bryan Mata. And the guys close out the show with a quick peak into the mailbag to talk about the new baseballs in Triple A, the scouting scale and two prospects who look to be in line for big league gigs in the coming years. Plus, we welcome back the Ludlow Thieves.

Listen in!

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Scouting Report Updates: Fitzgerald, Castellanos, and other Salem hitters

This season, when we make significant updates to our player page scouting reports based on first-hand looks (as well as reports from trusted sources, as always), we will post them in their entirety on the News Page. This batch of updates is headlined by two intriguing prospects in shortstop Ryan Fitzgerald and first baseman Pedro Castellanos, and is the second of two posts covering updates to hitters who have spent time in High A Salem this season. One or two posts on Salem pitchers—with corresponding updates—will come after our draft coverage next week.

Ryan Fitzgerald, shortstop, Salem Red Sox

Physical Description: Lean, athletic frame without much projection. Looks the part of a middle infielder.

Hit: Starts close-to-even, with his hands up. Utilizes a leg lift timing device. Has some feel to hit. Knows the strike zone. Makes hard contact. Has a tendency to pull and will get shifted by some teams.

Power: Potential fringe-average power.

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Cup of Coffee: Duran and Casas homer, Hart dominates in Triple-A debut

5/31 Cup of Coffee: With the graduation of Michael Chavis, Triston Casas became the new number one prospect in the system in the SoxProspects.com rankings. He celebrated by launching his eighth home run of the month, though Greenville ultimately lost in a rout. Jarren Duran, who jumped up to the third spot in the rankings, hit an inside-the-park home run in a game that was ultimately suspended, and Kyle Hart (pictured, right) had a nearly flawless Triple-A debut.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 0

Kyle Hart became the first pitcher in Triple-A to throw a nine-inning shutout this season as he stifled the IronPigs. Making his Triple-A debut, the 26-year-old left-hander allowed only five hits and struck out eight without walking a batter. Including his Double-A stats, Hart now has a 2.51 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 64 2/3 innings. 

The offense was once again led by Bryce Brentz, who went 2 for 2 with a double, two RBI, and a walk. After struggling in April with a .554 OPS, Brentz has hit .327/.413/.673 in May. Jantzen Witte added a two-run home run, his third of the year. 

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Minor Notes: Taylor called up to Boston, MLB Draft approaches

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• With the MLB Draft only a few days away, SoxProspects.com Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews released his annual Draft Preview on Wednesday. Andrews highlights several players who will potentially be on the board when the Red Sox pick at number 43 and 69 on Monday night, as well as some other intriguing names who will likely be drafted on day two or day three of the draft. 

• The breakout star of the system this year has been Jarren Duran (pictured, right), and you will see him rise in the SoxProspects.com rankings once they are updated on June 1. His scouting report, as well as the scouting reports of Garrett Benge, Jagger Rusconi, and Marino Campana, have recently been updated.

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Scouting Report Updates: Jarren Duran and other Salem hitters

This season, when we make significant updates to our player page scouting reports based on first-hand looks (as well as reports from trusted sources, as always), we will post them in their entirety on the News Page. This batch of updates is headlined by the breakout star of the system in 2019, Jarren Duran, and will be the first of two posts covering updates to hitters who have spent time in High A Salem this season. One or two posts on Salem pitchers—with corresponding updates—will come after our draft coverage next week.

Jarren Duran, center fielder, Salem Red Sox

Physical Description: Tall, lean frame. Quick-twitch athlete. Athleticism stands out on the field. Has room to add strength in his upper body. 

Hit: Starts square and utilizes a toe tap timing device. Very simple swing mechanics. Short, direct swing. Quick hands. Aggressive and will attack early in the count, but can recognize spin and will take a walk. Will take what the pitcher gives him. Looks to put the ball in play with hard line drives to all fields. Tapped into unexpected offensive potential after signing when he changed his initial setup—once starting from a wide stance and coming up and back during college, he now starts upright. Potential plus hit tool.

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Cup of Coffee: Duran homers; Brentz delivers grand slam

Cup of Coffee 5/30: It was a light night on the farm, with just two affiliates in action, as Greenville had the day off and Portland's contest with the Yard Goats in Hartford was postponed due to rain throughout the tri-state area. Pawtucket split a doubleheader with Lehigh Valley, and despite out-hitting Down East, the Wood Ducks kept Salem at arm's length. During Game 1 of Pawtucket's doubleheader, Bryce Brentz (pictured, left) delivered a game-winning grand slam, while Jarren Duran added a homer of his own in Salem's loss.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 3 (Game 1)

Despite notching just three hits, the PawSox emerged victorious on the back of six walks, a Bryce Brentz grand slam and a throwing error in the sixth that allowed three additional runs to score. Rusney Castillo and Juan Centeno had the other two Pawtucket hits. On the mound, Josh Smith allowed each of the three runs on seven hits across 5 1/3 innings. Trevor Kelley earned his first save of 2019 with 1 2/3 one-hit, shutout frames.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 1 (Game 2)

The hit totals were almost identical during the second half of the twin bill, but there were no costly errors or grand slams to speak of, and the IronPigs took the victory. Chad De La Guerra, Gorkys Hernandez and Mike Miller each notched doubles. It was a bullpen game for the Red Sox and Jeremy Bleich allowed three runs on five hits during his two innings. Dan Runzler and Bobby Poyner gave their squad two frames of shutout ball, while Jenrry Mejia added a clean inning of his own in the seventh.

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2019 Red Sox Draft Preview

It’s that time of year again! The MLB Draft gets underway next week on the evening of Monday, June 3. Day One will include the first, supplemental, second, and competitive balance rounds. Day Two will be Tuesday, June 4, covering rounds three through 10, and Day Three will be Wednesday, June 6, covering rounds 11 through 40.

This year, the Red Sox hope to follow up on what, a year out, looks to have been a fairly successful 2018 draft class that filled in the ranks of the Red Sox prospect rankings with some intriguing talent. That said, the club needs to continue that replenishment this draft, as well as in the upcoming international signing period, to raise the system up out of the lower-ranked farm systems (talent wise) in all of baseball. 

The 2019 draft class looks to be somewhat top heavy, with some outstanding prospects at the very top of the draft, but is generally considered to be on the thinner side in terms of depth. 

Boston will have two picks on Day One, #43 overall (2nd round) and #69 overall (2nd round), followed by the #107 overall pick (3rd round) on Day Two and the 30th pick in rounds 4 through 40. The team’s first round pick originally fell in at #33 overall based on 2018 standings - and because a few teams got extra picks for failing to sign their 2018 first round pick -- but Boston’s draft slot was bumped down ten spots for exceeding the luxury tax threshold in 2018. 

At SoxProspects, we’ve been covering the draft in depth since 2005. During that time, the team’s best selections have included Jacoby Ellsbury (2005, 1st round), Justin Masterson (2006, 2nd), Josh Reddick (2006, 17th), Anthony Rizzo (2007, 6th), Christian Vazquez (2008, 9th), Jackie Bradley (2011, supplemental 1st), Matt Barnes (2011, 1st), Mookie Betts (2011, 5th), Travis Shaw (2011, 9th), Michael Chavis (2014, 1st), Michael Kopech (2014, supplemental 1st) and Andrew Benintendi (2015, 1st). They have also successfully grabbed some relievers, replacement-level players, and trade chips over that period. 

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Cup of Coffee: Casas's go-ahead home run lifts Greenville

5/29 Cup of Coffee: It was a light slate on Tuesday with Pawtucket's doubleheader getting rained out and Salem having a scheduled day off. Triston Casas (pictured, right) did his best to make up for this by launching a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth to lead the Drive, while Darwinzon Hernandez struggled again for Portland. 

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Game One, PPD, rain)

Lehigh Valley IronPigs @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Game Two, PPD, rain)

Both games of the doubleheader were rained out on Tuesday, and the two teams will play a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday at 4:05 pm. The clubs will play another doubleheader later in the season, but the date is to be determined. Kyle Hart was scheduled to make his Triple-A debut after being promoted earlier in the day from Portland. 

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Minor Notes: Roster moves and Ward/Hernandez win POTW

Here are Tuesday's minor league notes:

• According to the team, righty Chase Shugart (pictured, right) has been activated by the Greenville Drive after serving out his 50-game  suspension. This was Shugart's second positive test in his short professional career after being drafted in the 12th round out of the University of Texas last year. During his short time as a pro, the Red Sox have seen his tick up and it has landed him at 25th on the SoxProspects.com rankings to start his year.
• SoxProspects.com Executive Editor pointed out on Twitter that Pawtucket utility player Tony Renda has an upward utility clause in his contract that must offer him to any team willing to put him on their 40-man roster this Friday with the first right of refusal. He had the same clause on March 24th and since then he has only gone 4-for-20 with two doubles and a home run. He has only had one pinch at-bat in the majors since 2016.

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Cup of Coffee: Jimenez sharp as Matheny walks off Portland

5/27 Cup of Coffee: It was a Memorial Day filled with fireworks, as both affiliate wins were decided in the eighth inning or later. Portland rewarded an excellent performance from Dedgar Jimenez with a walk-off grand slam courtesy of Tate Matheny (pictured). In Greenville, Chase Shugart returned to action following his PED suspension and earned the win with a strong performance, and Triston Casas continued his excellent May with a home run.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

It was a frustrating night for Pawtucket, as the Red Sox fell after starter Matt Kent struggled in the fifth inning. Things had been going smoothly for Kent, who surrendered only one run in his first four innings but suddenly allowed six runs to cross in the fifth inning. Erasmo Ramirez found himself pitching out of the bullpen for the first time in 2019 and combined with Adam Lau to finish the game for Pawtucket with 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Despite only scoring three runs the PawSox were efficient on offense, scoring three times despite only notching four hits and a walk. Sam Travis showed some power with his third home run of the season, but only Cole Sturgeon and Josh Ockimey were able to drive in runs as Pawtucket's offensive output came up short.

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Cup of Coffee: Ockimey triple lifts PawSox to victory

5/27 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates went 1-4 on Sunday, with the only victory coming from Pawtucket in a split of its de facto doubleheader. Josh Ockimey (pictured) delivered the key hit, while Marco Hernandez continues to impress on the comeback trail. Triston Casas reached base three times in the Greenville loss, while Salem and Portland both stumbled to afternoon defeats.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

Things did not get off to a good start before the rain came on Saturday evening and they did not appreciably improve upon Sunday's restart. The PawSox offense managed only five hits, with the highlight being a seventh-inning solo homer off the bat of Marco Hernandez. Domingo Tapia turned in excellent work out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit across four scoreless innings. Tapia struck out two and walked one.

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Cup of Coffee: Granberg knocks 3 doubles; Ward throws 7 shutout frames

5/25 Cup of Coffee: It was an up and down night for the Red Sox farm system, with performances ranging from stellar to disastrous. For the third straight start, Thaddeus Ward was superb while an offensive barrage led by Devlin Granberg (pictured) helped Greenville to sweep their doubleheader in Augusta. In Portland, the Sea Dogs came out on top against Altoona, but Salem found themselves on the wrong side of an offensive outpouring and was subsequently routed by their Winstonian counterparts.

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Pawtucket Red Sox @ Rochester Red Wings (MIN) Suspended

The rain delayed Pawtucket's misery, as their showdown with Rochester was suspended due to poor weather. This will count as little relief to start Erasmo Ramirez however, as he is still in line for the loss after surrendering six runs in his lone inning on the mound. The game will be resumed tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. 

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Cup of Coffee: Duran, Wilson lead Salem to win

5/25 Cup of Coffee: The PawSox swept a doubleheader and the Drive were the only team to take a loss. Jarren Duran (pictured) continued his torrid start to the season while Denyi Reyes dealt for Portland. Marcus Wilson went deep and Marco Hernandez stayed hot for Pawtucket.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 1 (game 1)

Mike Miller set the tone for the offense by going 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jantzen Witte and Gorkys Hernandez each went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run. Teddy Stankiewicz picked up his second win of the year by allowing just a solo home run over six innings of work. He walked two and struck out four. Josh Taylor finished it off with a clean seventh inning.

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Cup of Coffee: Duran, Fitzgerald keep hitting; Casas blasts seventh homer

5/24 Cup of Coffee: Two affiliates joined the major league club in matinee action, as both Pawtucket and Portland fell in their morning starts. The Sea Dogs squandered another solid effort by Kyle Hart to drop their 10th game in 11 contests. The PawSox staff will not be sad to depart Scranton, as the two teams combined to score 51 runs in the three-game set. Salem fell despite another gaggle of hits by usual catalysts Jarren Duran and Ryan Fitzgerald (pictured). A strong Brayan Bello start and a Triston Casas homer helped Greenville record the system's only win on Thursday.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 10, Pawtucket Red Sox 8

The PawSox dropped the rubber match of an explosive three-game set that saw them outscored by Scranton 26 to 25. Josh Smith was the unlucky victim today, returning after a two-week stint with the major league club. Smith allowed seven runs on four hits in four innings. The ball continued to fly out of PNC Field with Smith surrendering three homers, including one to old friend Ryan Lavarnway. Jantzen Witte went deep for Pawtucket for a two-run ninth-inning blast. Bryce Brentz scored two runs and walked as part of a 2-for-4 day, while Marco Hernandez chipped in with a double for one of his two hits. Josh Ockimey was held 0 for 2 but walked three times to build his organization-leading total to 35. 

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Minor Notes: Casas stays hot, Duran's hitting streak continues

Here are Thursday's Minor League notes:

• Fresh off of winning the Carolina League Player of the Week, the red hot Jarren Duran extended his hit streak to 14 games this week. It's hard to believe given that this is his first full professional season, but Duran still has some work to do to reach his career high streak of 20 games from 2018. 

• The system has seen a number of terrific pitching performances this week, with Daniel Gonzales, Enmanuel De Jesus and Thaddeus Ward distinguishing themselves. The trio combined for 21 innings while only surrendering one run and striking out 22 batters in total. 

• Triston Casas (pictured) stumbled out of the gates in his first full professional season but has quickly turned things around in May by putting up a tremendous .324/.392/.603 batting line. Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald details the former first-round pick's rapid turn around and how he has quickly adjusted to life as a professional baseball player. 

• While Gonzalez is a veteran of the Red Sox system Ward has been turning heads in his first full year as a pro. For his performance on Monday night, Ward earned a mention in MiLB.com's daily prospect roundup as well as a feature from Over the Monster, in which fans were advised to take notice of the right-hander if they haven't already.

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Cup of Coffee: Castellanos goes deep; Brentz records grand slam

5/23 Cup of Coffee: Both the Double-A and Triple-A affiliates fell in close games to Yankees affiliates, though a two-hit, five-RBI performance from Bryce Brentz (pictured, right)  helped the PawSox come close to eliminating a seven-run deficit. However, Salem and Greenville saw more success on the night, each adding to their win columns. Enmanuel De Jesus pitched six shutout innings for Salem, while Yorvin Pantoja shut the door on Columbia with 2 1/3 no-hit frames to close out Greenville's contest. In Pawtucket's game, Marco Hernandez, Brock Holt and Dustin Pedroia continued to work their way back to the big club in rehab assignments.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RoughRiders (NYY) 8, Pawtucket Red Sox 6

Pawtucket was down 8-1 after six frames and could not complete their furious attempt at a comeback. Bryce Brentz replaced Marco Hernandez, who was 0 for 2, and made the most of his moment off the bench. He was 2 for 2 and hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to kickstart his team's journey back to within striking distance. Brentz also drove home the PawSox' first run in the sixth. Matthew Kent allowed the first six runs over 5 1/3 innings in his start, while Bobby Poyner did not fare much better, giving up two more runs in 1 2/3 frames. Despite walking two batters, Trevor Kelley did not allow a run or a hit in his inning of work. Brock Holt and Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 3 and 0 for 3, respectively, in their rehab appearances.

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Cup of Coffee: Marco Hernandez, Bobby Dalbec shine in slugfests

5/22 Cup of Coffee: If the rough night for the major league team leaves you in the need for some good news then you have come to the right place: Pawtucket and Portland combined for 19 runs and 29 hits in their bludgeoning of their corresponding Yankee affiliates in Scranton and Trenton. Marco Hernandez (pictured, right) led the way for Pawtucket, while Bobby Dalbec powered Portland. The power surges in the high minors did not leave enough offense to go around, as Salem and Greenville could not back strong outings by Daniel Gonzalez and Yusniel Padron-Artiles. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 11, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 8

It was a wild night in the Electric City, as the two International League rivals combined for six homers, 12 walks, 23 strikeouts, 26 hits, and 19 runs. Pawtucket's traveling band of rehabbing infielders played a key role, with Marco Hernandez playing lead. Starting at designated hitter (and not technically on a rehab assignment), Hernandez was 4 for 5 with three runs scored. He blasted a solo homer in the ninth to tack on an insurance run and added a stolen base. Brock Holt doubled and had a steal, while Dustin Pedroia had a base hit and played seven innings of second base. Juan Centeno drove in three runs as part of a 3-for-5 evening, while Gorkys Hernandez and Josh Ockimey homered in the win.

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Cup of Coffee: Ward dominates in Greenville, Duran's streak continues

5/21 Cup of Coffee: A dominant performance from Thaddeus Ward (pictured) helped Greenville narrowly avoid an affiliate sweep on what was a forgettable night for the Red Sox system. CJ Chatham and Jhon Nunez each turned in strong performances for Portland, but couldn't avoid the doubleheader sweep by Trenton. In Salem, Jarren Duran extended his hitting streak to 12 games and Dylan Thompson was sharp.

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Trenton Thunder (NYY) 6, Portland Sea Dogs 2

It was a rough start to the doubleheader for Portland, as they fell to the Thunder. Daniel McGrath got the spot start and put in a solid performance, hurling three innings of one-run ball despite surrendering three walks and four hits. In the third Double-A start of his career, Dominic LoBrutto was roughed up and collected his first loss for Portland. In just 1 2/3 innings, LoBrutto was responsible for five earned runs on six hits and only fanned one Trenton batter. Durbin Feltman closed out the game with a perfect appearance, striking out two batters in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. Despite the low run total, several Sea Dogs put in strong offensive performances led by Jhon Nunez, who walked, tripled, and homered. CJ Chatham improved upon his two-hit Sunday night by singling three times, while Brett Netzer singled twice and walked. Tate Matheny and Cody Asche each chipped in with a double apiece.

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Minor Notes: Duran named Player of the Week for third time

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• Bobby Dalbec has turned his season around in Portland, as he has found his power, his walk rate is up, and his strikeout rate is down. Christopher Smith of MassLive.com talked to Alex Cora about Dalbec. Cora believes that watching how Red Sox hitters approached at-bats in the playoffs last year has helped young hitters in the system learn the importance of controlling the strike zone and putting the ball in play. 
• Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald also wrote about Dalbec and his turnaround. Even when Dalbec was struggling early in the year when his batting average was below the Mendoza Line, he still felt like he was contributing by getting on base. 

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Cup of Coffee: Wren, Granberg power Drive; Madden homers twice

5/20 Cup of Coffee: It was a split decision on Sunday afternoon, with the affiliated going 2-2 on the day. Devlin Granberg remained hot and Jordan Wren supplied some power to lead Greenville, while veteran contributions at the plate and yeoman's work out of the bullpen got the PawSox back in the win column. Results were less positive for Salem, where little went right after a Jarren Duran leadoff double, and Portland, who squandered a two home-run day from catcher Charlie Madden (pictured). 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 4

The PawSox salvaged the finale of their three-game set at McCoy Stadium, avoiding the sweep and a possible eighth loss in nine games. Brock Holt provided a fourth-inning solo homer as he continues his rehab assignment. He played seven innings at second base. Rehab-mate Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 4 in his second consecutive start at designated hitter. Among the regulars, Rusney Castillo ripped a double and Juan Centeno drove in a pair of runs with a 1-for-3 afternoon. Starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings, striking out six and walking a pair. Jeremy Bleich, Trevor Kelley, and Travis Lakins combined for four hitless innings of relief.

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Cup of Coffee: Howlett and Duran go yard as affiliates swept

5/19 Cup of Coffee: Runs proved difficult to come by Saturday night, as Red Sox affiliates only mustered five across four games. Jarren Duran and Brandon Howlett (pictured) were two of the few standouts at the plate, launching their second and third home runs of the year, respectively. On the mound, Kyle Hart turned in another solid outing, but it was not enough to prevent a system sweep.

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Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

Despite the beautiful weather, Pawtucket fans did not have much to cheer for Saturday night. Only three Paw Sox batters collected hits, with Josh Ockimey's fifth-inning home run providing all of the offense for Pawtucket in the loss. This was Ockimey's 11th home run of 2019, good for fifth in the International League. Sam Travis and the rehabbing Brock Holt each added singles, while Rusney Castillo walked twice. Dustin Pedroia continued his rehab assignment and Marco Hernandez started his first game for Pawtucket after his extended stay in Salem, but each went 0 for 4 on the night.

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Cup of Coffee: Pedroia, Holt rehab for PawSox; two more hits for Duran

5/18 Cup of Coffee: Jarren Duran helped lead Salem to the organization's only win on Friday, but lost a point on his batting average in the process. The PawSox dropped their series opener despite the contributions of Dustin Pedroia and Brock Holt (pictured, from 2013), while the two-way efforts of Korby Batesole were not enough to overcome Greenville's early deficit.

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Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 5

A Jantzen Witte two-run homer gave the PawSox a first-inning lead, but the Stripers struck back quickly and never looked back. Starter Matt Kent surrendered seven runs, including three homers in 3 1/3 innings. Sam Travis turned in a notable evening at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double. The Pawtucket bullpen had a strong effort, with 5 2/3 scoreless innings allowing just one hit. 

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Cup of Coffee: Hernandez strikes out 11; Duran keeps rolling

5/17 Cup of Coffee: With the major league squad off on Thursday, the minor league docket featured two of the organization's top pitching prospects and a newly signed starter out of indy ball. It was an upside down day where Darwinzon Hernandez (pictured) set career highs in innings and strikeouts and suffered a loss as Mike Shawaryn had a career-worst six walks but secured the win. Jarren Duran was again a bright spot for Salem, while Triston Casas continues racking up the extra-base hits in Greenville.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Columbus Clippers (CLE) 3

The PawSox halted their five-game losing streak despite an uncharacteristically wild outing from starter Mike Shawaryn. The right-hander allowed just two runs in five innings despite walking six and surrendering a homer. He struck out five and gave up just two hits. Shawaryn entered the day with only 12 free passes allowed in his first seven starts. After getting pushed back a day from his regular rotation slot, Shawaryn now is in line to pitch in the majors on May 21 if David Price is unable to return. 

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Minor Notes: Dalbec tops the Hot Sheet, Duran's average hits .406

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The Red Sox might soon be able to field an entire infield of power-hitting third basemen, with Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis thriving in the majors, and Bobby Dalbec (pictured, right) dismantling Eastern League pitching. Dalbec earned the top spot on Baseball America's Prospects Hot Sheet after hitting .500/.556/1.438 with four home runs last week. Dalbec has been a streaky hitter in the past, and right now he is in the midst of one of his trademark hot streaks. 

• Coming in at ninth on the Prospects Hot Sheet is Jarren Duran, who hit .529/.588/.556. It is a pretty good week in the system when a guy hits .500 and only finishes second in batting average. Duran has been consistently great all year, and last week helped push his season line up to .406/.468/.536. 

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Cup of Coffee: Houck with a quality start; Duran hit streak up to 7 games

5/16 Cup of Coffee: Offensive challenges were aplenty for the affiliates, as none of the four teams in action recorded more than eight hits, leading to only one win on Wednesday. Tanner Houck issued a quality start to turn the tide after two poor outings, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Devlin Granberg and Cole Brannen were the lone system-wide offensive highlights, as each had two extra-base hits. Granberg had a double and a triple, while Brannen had a pair of two-base hits.

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Columbus Clippers (CLE) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

It was a bullpen day for the PawSox, as six pitchers entered the game for the Red Sox, including Brian Johnson, who threw 1 2/3 innings in a rehab appearance. Chandler Shepherd allowed three runs on five hits in his 2 1/3 innings. The PawSox only recorded a pair of base knocks, but they worked eight walks to score four runs. Five free passes and four runs came in the sixth for the home team. Brock Holt also started a rehab stint, hitting 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, while Josh Ockimey worked three walks on his own.

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Cup of Coffee: Ockimey homers twice, Ward shuts down Hickory

5/15 Cup of Coffee: All four affiliates came up empty on Tuesday night, but there were still several good performances. Josh Ockimey led the way with his two home runs for Pawtucket, and Jarren Duran was on base two more times for Salem. On the pitching side Thaddeus Ward and Eduard Bazardo continued to be two of the most impressive pitchers in the system. 

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Columbus Clippers (CLE) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 4 (10 innings)

With Bobby Dalbec on his heels, Josh Ockimey hit two more home runs to extend his system lead, but it was not enough for the PawSox. Ockimey now has 10 home runs on the season and he also walked twice as he pushed his OPS up over 1.000. The rest of the offense struggled, with the only other run coming across on a Gorkys Hernandez grondout. 

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Cup of Coffee: Duran leads offensive explosion, Dalbec homers again

5/14 Cup of Coffee: Things are as they should be in the Red Sox system, as Jarren Duran (pictured) and Bobby Dalbec filled familiar roles Monday night. Duran reached base five times to lead an offensive barrage for Salem, while Dalbec launched his seventh home run of the season to secure a team victory in Portland. With three SoxProspects.com top-60 prospects on the mound today, each active affiliate received strong pitching performances. Kyle Hart and Kutter Crawford continued their excellent seasons, while Alex Scherff came back into form with a strong start in Asheville.

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Portland Sea Dogs 5, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 2

A strong team effort helped Portland earn the win at home Monday night, with strong performances on both sides of the ball. Kyle Hart got the start and continued to roll with another excellent outing, surrendering only two earned runs in seven innings. Hart also struck out seven Yard Goats and has now surrendered two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts. Brian Ellington and Daniel McGrath each pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, with McGrath earning his first save of the season.

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Minor Notes: Dalbec powers up & Chavis stays up

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• The Eagle-Tribune's Chris Mason could sense it was coming, writing mid-week about the reason to believe Bobby Dalbec's (pictured, right) breakout was coming. He finished the week with some superhuman performances and you can read more about that in the Players of the Week.
• When your a highly touted prospect who has a strong start in the majors, you are going to get a lot of attention. It is no surprise that infielder Michael Chavis continues to draw praise for his early season performance that has him hitting .282/.407/.563 over his first 71 at-bats. After going 0-for-19 earlier this week, he broke out in a big way on Mother's Day, going 3-for-5 with a season-best 5 RBI. The Boston Globe's Nora Princiotti has more on his big day and how he works through struggles.
• You might think after a big game Chavis might relax and soak it all in as a 23-year-old in the majors. Not exactly. Chavis paused to address the media mid-way through his hour-plus-long batting practice he took *after* Sunday's game as MassLive's Christopher Smith notes. Every player has their own routines and Chavis says "I’ve done this since I was a kid. Even when I was like 14 years old, after a game I’d go hit if I didn’t feel good. In high school, I did the same thing. It’s part of my thing.”
• Justin Long, Red Sox Senior Manager of Media Relations and Baseball Info, noted that Chavis is now third in most RBI for a Red Sox player through his first twenty games with 19. He trails George "Boomer" Scott's 1966 season and some guy named Ted Williams who each had 20.

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Cup of Coffee: Travis, Witte keep streaks alive on rainy Mother's Day

5/13 Cup of Coffee: While the major league club spent Mother's Day completing its sweep of the Mariners, the minor league affiliates offered much less cheer. Three of the five games on the docket were rained out, including a Salem doubleheader. Pawtucket and Greenville did manage to get their contests in, but failed to produce a victory despite the continued strong efforts of Jantzen Witte (pictured), Sam Travis, and Devlin Granberg.

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Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

The eight hits for the PawSox came from just four batters in Sunday's loss. Jantzen Witte led the charge with a 3-for-4 effort, raising his average to .329. Witte's eighth double of the season was Pawtucket's only extra-base hit. Sam Travis continues his improved play. The 2015 second-round pick was 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games including multiple knocks in six of his last seven. Josh Tobias also had two hits on the day. Teddy Stankiewicz took the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits in four innings. Bobby Poyner was a highlight in relief, striking out three batters in a scoreless seventh inning.

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Portland Sea Dogs @ Trenton Thunder (NYY), postponed

The Sea Dogs suffered their seventh rain out of the season in Sunday's series finale in Trenton. The game will be made up when Portland returns next week for a four-game series, with the specific date not yet announced.

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Salem Red Sox @ Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE), cancelled

The scheduled doubleheader in Lynchburg was called off due to continuing rain. As Salem does not return in the first half of the season, the games will not be made up. 

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Asheville Tourists (COL) 4, Greenille Drive 2

Greenville had plenty of chances, but a 1-for-13 effort with runners in scoring position poured water on any potential rally. Devlin Granberg doubled to extend his hitting streak to seven games, adding a walk and run scored. Triston Casas drove in both Greenville runs during his 1-for-4 day. He moves into a tie for first in the organization with his 25 runs driven in. Angel Padron got the start, allowing three runs on four hits in four innings of work. Kris Jackson allowed a run on two hits in three innings of work in his South Atlantic League debut. He struck out two without issuing a walk.

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Player of the Day: Jantzen Witte, in his seventh season in the Boston organization, remains one of the system's most steady contributors. His three hits on Sunday give him 555 for his career and 201 at the Triple-A level. The former TCU Horned Frog is now riding a six game hitting streak, going 11 for 25 in that stretch.

Photo Credit: Jantzen Witte by Kelly O'Connor

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Cup of Coffee: Three home runs for Dalbec, as Portland falls

5/12 Cup of Coffee: It was an offense-heavy night for the Red Sox affiliates, as they combined to launch 10 home runs with their opponents across three games Saturday night. Bobby Dalbec (pictured) was nearly the hero for Portland, launching three home runs including an extra-innings blast to extend the Sea Dog lead, but it was not enough to give Portland the win. Josh Ockimey also got in on the action with a pair of homers, while the Drive combined for three home runs in their slugfest win over Asheville.

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Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

It was a heartbreaking loss for Pawtucket, who saw a late lead stolen from them by a ninth-inning Striper rally. Five Pawtucket batters recorded multiple hits, led by Josh Ockimey who launched his seventh and eighth home runs of the season. Rusney Castillo chipped in with a three-hit night and was joined by Sam Travis, Jantzen Witte, and Gorkys Hernandez who each singled twice. In just his second career Triple-A start, Matt Kent hurled five shutout innings, but the wheels came off for him in the sixth inning, where he was unable to record an out. Trevor Kelley relieved him, pitching two innings and surrendering a solo home run while striking out two. Jenrry Mejia attempted to close out the game for the PawSox, but was tagged for two runs and was awarded his third blown save of the year.

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Cup of Coffee: Gonzalez deals, Ockimey goes deep

5/11 Cup of Coffee: All four teams lost last night, but Daniel Gonzalez (pictured, right) and Jarren Duran continued their terrific seasons. Josh Ockimey and Bryce Brentz belted home runs while Yorvin Pantoja turned in a terrific relief outing.

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Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 8, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

Chandler Shepherd's rough season continued, as he gave up three home runs in five innings to fall to 0-5 on the year. Domingo Tapia also fell victim to the long ball, allowing two in his lone inning of work. Travis Lakins and Bobby Poyner were bright spots, each tossing a scoreless frame with one strikeout. Bryce Brentz and Josh Ockimey each blasted solo shots and walked, while Rusney Castillo and Sam Travis each went 2 for 5. Juan Centeno also had a good night with three knocks to boost his average to .297.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas powers Drive, Duran keys Salem

5/10 Cup of Coffee: The Thursday schedule got off to a bang very early, when Triston Casas (pictured) homered in the first inning of Greenville's 10:30 am matchup. The white hot first baseman had three hits, as did perpetually-hot Jarren Duran to lead Salem once again. Bryce Brentz bailed out the PawSox after they squandered a big lead, while Portland suffered the organization's only defeat on the day. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 9, Norfolk Tides (BAL) 6 (10 innings)

The PawSox got off to an early 5-0 lead but needed some extra-innings heroics from Bryce Brentz to come away with the victory. Brentz blasted a two-run homer as part of a three-run 10th on a day when the veteran outfielder had previously singled and walked. Sam Travis also went deep for Pawtucket and Cole Sturgeon doubled and drove in a pair as part of his two-hit afternoon. Starter Mike Shawaryn surrendered a pair of solo home runs that accounted for both scores against him. He allowed three hits in 5 2/3, striking out four without issuing a walk. Jenrry Mejia secured the save with a perfect 10th inning.

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Minor Notes: Reyes pitches a gem, Casas and Dalbec on a roll

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The SoxProspects.com Player's of the Month for April have been revealed, with Jarren Duran and Bryan Mata (pictured) taking home the honors. Duran's victory should come as no surprise as he has batted a spectacular .404/.462/.553, which is made even more impressive by the fact that he has done this as a full-time center fielder. His teammate Mata was similarly dominant, allowing only four earned runs in the month of April and striking out 26 as the youngest pitcher in the Carolina League.

• With the Red Sox starting pitching depth being tested early in May, a series of strong pitching performances will come as welcome news to Sox fans. In just his third outing since his return from the IL Teddy Stankiewicz dominated, pitching six shut out innings Tuesday night. In Portland, Kyle Hart remains on a roll, while Denyi Reyes had his best outing of 2019 on Wednesday night. Hart has now allowed only three earned runs over his last 18 1/3 innings pitched.

• Given Boston's quickly disappearing pitching depth, John Tomase of NBC Sports Boston asks if Mike Shawaryn could be the next prospect to receive the call from the big league club.

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Cup of Coffee: Crawford, Reyes dominate; Dalbec helps Portland with late homer

Cup of Coffee 5/9: It was a so-so night on the farm as the affiliates went 2-2 on Wednesday. However, strong performances were abound, even in losses. The two victories, by Portland and Salem, were helped by exceptional starts from Denyi Reyes and Kutter Crawford (pictured, left), respectively. The Sea Dogs were tied with New Hampshire in the eighth, but Bobby Dalbec registered his third hit of the night in the form of a two-run home run to break the tie and give his team the win. Despite the loss, Jordan Wren did his part for Greenville with two hits, including a two-RBI triple.

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Norfolk Tides (BAL) 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

Oscar Hernandez and Sam Travis each recorded two base knocks, leading the team as part of a 10-hit evening, but Pawtucket pitching struggled in the loss. Erasmo Ramirez allowed five runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, in part because of three walks. Bobby Poyner replaced him and allowed two more runs in 2/3 innings of work to close the sixth. Travis Lakins and Domingo Tapia each allowed a run to cross the plate in their inning of work. Eight of the nine Pawtucket starters notched a hit.

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Cup of Coffee: Salem's staff strikes out 18, Hart continues to roll

5/8 Cup of Coffee: There were solid performances at each level on Tuesday, with the pitching leading the way. Teddy Stankiewicz and Kyle Hart each threw six solid innings, and the Salem staff combined to strike out 18 batters. Jantzen Witte provided all the offense that Pawtucket would need, and Portland got a big triple from Bobby Dalbec to beat New Hampshire. Salem only managed two runs, but an unlikely batter became the first Salem player to hit a home run at home this season. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Norfolk Tides (BAL) 1

Jantzen Witte drove in three runs, and Teddy Stankiewicz allowed only an unearned run over six innings to earn his first Triple-A victory. Stankiewicz allowed four hits and walked three while striking out two, and Trevor Kelley, Josh Taylor, and Jenrry Mejia each threw scoreless innings to close the game out. Taylor has now logged eight straight scoreless appearances, and he has not allowed a run since April 11. 

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Cup of Coffee: Casas goes yard in Greenville loss

5/7 Cup of Coffee: It was a lonely night ion the farm, as the Drive were the only affiliate in action Monday evening. The Greenville pitching staff was hit hard, surrendering five runs in an inning twice as part of the rout at Fluor Field. One of the few bright spots for Greenville was Triston Casas (pictured) who homered and drove in three of the Drive's four runs. 

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Charleston RiverDogs (NYY) 12, Greenville Drive 4

Brayan Bello got the start for Greenville and scuffled right out of the gate. After surrendering two runs in the first inning, Bello seemed to recover until things fell apart for him in the fifth. The right-hander surrendered two home runs before closing out the inning, capping off a night in which he was tagged for eight hits and seven earned runs. The Drive bullpen picked up where Bello left off, with Yoan Aybar walking three batters in just 1/3 inning of work, and Yorvin Pantoja giving up three earned runs in his two innings of relief. Brendan Nail closed out the game for Greenville, pitching two innings and striking out five while only surrendering one unearned run.

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April Players of the Month: Jarren Duran and Bryan Mata

It's a Salem sweep on the Players of the Month awards, with Jarren Duran (pictured, left) and Bryan Mata winning Player of the Month and Pitcher of the Month, respectively. Duran winning should come as no surprise to those who followed the system closely, as his offensive explosion has catapulted him into the top 10 on the SoxProspects.com rankings. Playing exclusively in center field, Duran hit .404/.462/.553 over 94 at-bats, accumulating five doubles, three triples, and a home run. His plus-plus speed and contact ability has put immense pressure on every defense he has faced, and he even added on 11 steals for good measure.

A seventh-round pick in 2018 out of Cal State Long Beach, the 22-year-old Duran is already looking like a steal at that draft slot. Since debuting last June his average sits at .364 and he has stolen 35 bases in 94 games. Salem's home stadium notoriously suppresses home runs, and the one Duran did hit this year came on the road, so it will take some time to see what his true power potential is. But if he keeps hitting in the mid-.300's with elite speed, he will be in the upper minors before the season is over. 

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Minor Notes: Chavis on fire, Smith to start for Boston

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• The 157th episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast is now available. Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall discuss Michael Chavis (pictured, right), power numbers in Triple-A, and an update on injuries.
• Chavis, SoxProspects.com's No. 1 prospect, continued to rake over the weekend against the White Sox, going 6 for 20 with three home runs and a double in the series. His season slash line now stands at .333/.460/.725 in 63 plate appearances. 
• Christopher Smith of MassLive.com had a terrific conversation with Chavis, including a discussion about the notes Chavis keeps during games about pitchers he faces and how his swing felt during his at-bats. 

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Podcast Ep. #157: Definitely gonna crush some olives

Chris is ready for his trip to Greece and all the Feta cheese he can eat. But before it’s wheels up, he and Ian cover a lot of ground in the first podcast of May. First up is a look at the way power numbers at AAA are going to impact various fringy power guys in the Sox system. Then they talk about the new second baseman with the big club. This kid has got plenty of raw and is showing it in games. Chris brings up a provision in the CBA regarding rehab assignments, which leads us into an injury update. Finally, the guys break down the new May Rankings. Lots to cover and so little time, so

Listen in!

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Cup of Coffee: Jimenez strong for Sea Dogs; Casas doubles again

5/6 Cup of Coffee: If Portland splitting a doubleheader with Binghamton feels like déjà vu, it's not just you reading the SoxProspects.com Cup of Coffee before your own cup of coffee has set in; the Sea Dogs and Rumble Ponies really did split their third doubleheader in nine days on Sunday. Dedgar Jimenez (pictured) turned in a quality start in the opener, giving Boston's affiliates their only win on the day. Greenville fell despite Devlin Granberg and Triston Casas keeping up some fine hitting and Salem squandered several opportunities before Myrtle Beach opened things up late. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings (MIN), postponed

Rain continues to be the PawSox biggest enemy, as Sunday's game at McCoy Stadium marked their seventh postponement of the year. The two teams will try to make it up on June 7 as part of a doubleheader.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas, Granberg support dominant Drive bullpen

5/5 Cup of Coffee: Greenville came away with the system's only victory on Saturday as the other three affiliates fell in tight contests. The Drive got an offensive boost from Triston Casas (pictured) and Devlin Granberg, and outstanding bullpen work from a trio led by Angel Padron. Two of Boston's top pitching prospects struggled with efficiency, as Darwinzon Hernandez and Bryan Mata worked hard to pitch into the sixth and fourth, respectively.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 10, Pawtucket Red Sox 8

Saturday evening's contest got off to an auspicious start, as Bryce Brentz blasted a three-run homer as part of a six-run first inning. Things quickly went downhill, as a quintet of Pawtucket hurlers surrendered 16 hits. Some positive performances at the plate stood out, including Mike Miller continuing to be a catalyst out of the leadoff spot. Miller reached base three times with a walk and pair of hits. Rusney Castillo doubled as part of a two-hit night, and Sam Travis drove in a pair as part of his 2-for-5 effort.

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Cup of Coffee: Shawaryn dominates, Chatham racks up five hits

5/4 Cup of Coffee: In game two of a doubleheader, the Sea Dogs recorded the only win of any affiliate on Friday. C.J. Chatham was on fire all day, collecting five hits. Mike Shawaryn (pictured) stood out for the PawSox, with eight shutout innings in a tough loss.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 1
The final score doesn't reflect how close this one was, as the PawSox surrendered six runs in the top of the ninth. Mike Shawaryn was brilliant and efficient, tossing eight scoreless innings using just 99 pitches. He only struck out three, but only walked one and allowed five hits. Bobby Poyner and Domingo Tapia combined to allow six runs, although only three were earned. Pawtucket only had three hits, with Bryce Brentz and Sam Travis each going 1 for 3 with a double.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas goes deep, Granberg rips three hits for Drive

5/3 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night across the organization, as the affiliates picked up only one win while the major league club was being dealt a devastating walk-off loss. Pawtucket went overtime to earn the split of its doubleheader, with usual contibutors Rusney Castillo and Josh Ockimey providing the lift. Devlin Granberg (pictured) delivered three hits and Triston Casas went deep in a Greenville loss, while Jarren Duran and his fellow Beer Mongers fell short in Salem.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 10, Pawtucket Red Sox 1 (Game 1)

Little went right for the PawSox after a first-inning solo homer off the bat of Eduardo Nunez. The rehabbing utilityman, getting the start at designated hitter, also singled as he ramps himself up to return from the Injured List. Erasmo Ramirez struggled in his start, allowing five runs on five hits in four innings. He surrendered two homers, walked a pair, and did not record a strikeout.

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Minor Notes: New rankings and rehab assignments

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• May has arrived, and that means that the SoxProspects.com rankings have been updated. With the top six players staying in the same slot, the most prominent move was Jarren Duran's first appearance in the top 10. He moved up four spots and is now ranked at number nine. Alex Scherff (pictured, right) moved up three slots and is now ranked 15th, and Brayan Bello made it into top 20. The biggest riser was Ryan Fitzgerald, who went from 56 to 37, while Yasel Santana saw the biggest decline, going from 44 to 57. 

• To coincide with the new rankings, the new player page templates were rolled out for prospects 11-20, and the scouting reports were updated for Duran, Scherff, Bello, and Brandon Howlett.

• The main movement on the farm system the last few days has centered around rehabbing major leaguers. Eduardo Nunez started a rehab assignment on Monday night in Pawtucket, Dustin Pedroia will be beginning a rehab stint with the Sea Dogs on Thursday, and Brock Holt was recalled from his rehab assignment for the second time, this time due to shoulder soreness rather than his scratched cornea. 

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Cup of Coffee: Howlett with 4 hits; De Jesus allows 2 hits

5/2 Cup of Coffee: It was a night to forget in the Red Sox system, as Portland was shut out, Pawtucket did not play and Greenville suffered defeat despite putting 14 hits on the board. However, Salem ensured Wednesday would not be a total loss, as the No. 1-No. 6 hitters recorded 10 of the team's 11 base knocks, including multiple-hit efforts from Jarren Duran, Pedro Castellanos, Ryan Fitzgerald and Victor Acosta. Despite the Drive's defeat, Brandon Howlett was 4 for 5.

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Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Buffalo Bisons (TOR), Postponed (Rain)

The PawSox saw their game with Buffalo postponed due to wet weather. The two teams will make up the game Thursday

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Cup of Coffee: Castillo and Howlett homer as the affiliates are swept

5/1 Cup of Coffee: There were only a handful of strong performances on the farm on Tuesday, led by Rusney Castillo and Brandon Howlett (pictured, right), who each homered in defeat. Mike Miller also had a strong night at the plate, and Dedgar Jimenez pitched well for the Sea Dogs. 

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Buffalo Bisons 4 (TOR), Pawtucket Red Sox 3 (Game One)

Teddy Stankiewicz served up a two-run home run to Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but otherwise held Buffalo in check over his five innings of work. He allowed only two hits and stuck out four, though only 48 of his 90 pitches went for strikes. Bobby Poyner took the loss after Gurriel hit a walkoff single. Eduardo Nunez went 0 for 4 with a strikeout as he continued his rehab assignment, and Bryce Brentz added an RBI and an outfield assist. 

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