Red Sox minor lines: Opening Day in Pawtucket and Portland

The Red Sox' minor league season has started off with a bit of a whimper, at least as far as the impact prospects are concerned...

Pawtucket W 8-4 (In 10)

Box Score

Brock Holt: 2-4, BB, SB
Jeremy Hazelbaker: 1-4, HR, K
Ryan Lavarnway: 1-5, 2B, 4 K
Bryce Brentz: 3-5, 2 2B, K
Juan Carlos Linares: 1-5, K

Steven Wright: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Alex Wilson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Even with a double mixed in, a golden sombrero is not an ideal start to the season for Ryan Lavarnway, who spent quite a bit of time in spring training looking completely incapable of hitting a baseball. Bryce Brentz, at least, had quite a good night at the plate, and managed to avoid any gunshot wounds, so that's progress.

Portland L 5-13

Box Score

Xander Bogaerts: 0-4, 3 K
Travis Shaw: 0-2, BB, K
Kolbrin Vitek, 1-3, 2B, 2 K

Drake Britton: 3 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 HR
Keith Couch: 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Daniel Bard: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 HR

Xander Bogaerts probably envies Ryan Lavarnway his double, even at the cost of another strikeout. The good news is he ran a few of those counts full, so at least there's that. Unfortunately, Daniel Bark has naught to hang his hat on. Remember how he looked fixed at one point in spring? So much for that. Drake Britton was likewise awful, though that won't bother those who aren't terribly fond of him after his drunk driving arrest.

Keith Couch, on the oter hand, did manage to pitch alright when you get around the various errors committed in the field behind him. He's starting the season as a piggyback starter, and while there's not exactly much expected of him by prospectors, he has done little but record outs since his minor league debut three years back.