Brendan and Matt have already said everything I could and more. For now, all I can offer is to try and find some way back to normalcy, the way things were just over 20 hours ago. With that in mind, we return to baseball.
To make a long story short: thank goodness for the pitching.
Pawtucket L 3-8
Brock Holt: 1-3, BB
Jose Iglesias: 0-3, BB, 2 K
Juan Carlos Linares: 1-3, 2B, BB
Bryce Brentz: 0-4, K
Allen Webster: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
Webster is through his first 10 Triple-A innings with just one run against him, and even better, this time he had his control. The Red Sox are going to take their time with him--they won't rush him up on the strength of two starts--but it's hard not to get excited about having this arm in the wings.
Portland W 7-4
Xander Bogaerts: 0-4, BB, 3 K
Travis Shaw: 1-4, 2B, BB, K
Anthony Ranaudo: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
And right behind Webster comes Anthony Ranaudo. Remember how just two years back he was one of if not the best prospect in the system, right up until he got injured? Well, he's healthy now, and looking like he's supposed to through his own 10 innings of one-run ball.
Xander Bogaerts does not, on the other hand, and we're through 41 at bats of this now. Hopefully he figures it out soon, because there's only so long we can keep telling ourselves that these are just growing pains.
Salem L 2-7
Deven Marrero: 1-2, 2 BB
Garin Cecchini: 1-4, CS, E
Brandon Jacobs: 0-3, 2 K, E, A
Keury De La Cruz: 1-4, K
David Renfroe: 0-4, K
Henry Ramos: 0-3, 2 K
Blake Swihart: 1-3
Noe Ramirez: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Another short outing for Noe Ramirez in relief. So far, the change is not suiting him very well at all.
Greenville L 0-6
Jose Vinicio: 2-4
Cody Koback: 1-3, BB, 2 A
Justin Haley: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
What was Justin Haley doing? Rolling the ball to the plate? He's started off the season with a bunch of walks, and surprising few runs to go with them. Obviously, though, that's not really a viable strategy.
Read more Red Sox:
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- Fifty-dollar tickets and fifty-cent narratives: The end of the Red Sox’ sellout streak
- Daniel Nava, Jonny Gomes making Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. decision easy
- How Clay Buchholz steals the first strike
- On hope, the Red Sox new season, and what (little) we know