Red Sox minor lines: Trickle-down mediocrity

For those looking to flee from the reality that is Red Sox baseball right now, let's turn to the minors...

Pawtucket L 1-8

Alex Hassan: 0-4, 3 K
Ryan Roberts: 1-4, K, E
Will Middlebrooks: 0-4
Ryan Lavarnway: 0-4, 2 K
Bryce Brentz: 2-4, 2 K, E
Chris Vazquez: 0-4
Dan Butler: 0-2, 2 BB, K

Anthony Ranaudo: 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Dalier Hinojosa: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Alex Wilson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Oh, nevermind, these guys suck too. Alright, that's not fair, it's a one-off game in a system where every team has a winning record and every team but Salem is pretty damn interesting in terms of talent. Still, it's particularly troubling to see Anthony Ranaudo follow up on what looked like a good turnaround start with a performance like this. Very...very Doubront of him.

Portland L 4-5 (In 10)

Mookie Betts: 1-4, 2B, E
Deven Marrero: 2-5, SB
Travis Shaw: 1-5
Blake Swihart: 0-5, K
Henry Ramos: 1-4

Keith Couch: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Man, even Mookie was having a rough go of it last night. Comparatively speaking, of course. For any other player a 1-for-4 night with a double is fine, if not spectacular. For Mookie it's like the world coming to a sudden and fiery end.

Salem W 8-5

Pat Light: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Justin Haley: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Welcome to High-A, Pat Light. Better luck in your second outing.

Greenville W 9-4

Manuel Margot: 0-4, 2 K
Wendell Rijo: 1-2, 2 BB

Teddy Stankiewicz: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Tough luck for Stankiewicz to suffer three runs while allowing just four baserunnrers. His strikeout rates have been a little low, though, even for a guy who isn't necessarily expected to rack up the whiffs left-and-right.