Red Sox minor lines: A slow Pawtucket start for Mookie Betts

Pawtucket L 2-5

Mookie Betts: 0-4, BB, K
Garin Cecchini: 0-5, 3 K
Christian Vazquez: 1-4, K
Travis Shaw: 2-4, K
Dan Butler: 0-4

Given the way MILB keeps track of season stats, separating by level, for the moment Mookie Betts has a .000 next to his name. Remember this moment. I expect it shall be fleeting.

Portland L 9-11

Deven Marrero: 2-5, 2 2B, BB
Blake Swihart: 2-5, 2B, HR, K
Sean Coyle: 2-4, 2 2B, BB
Keury De La Cruz: 2-4, 2B, K

It was almost surprising to see how interesting Portland remains even after the departure of Mookie. Marrero has emphatically shaken off his slump, going 8-for-17 at the plate over the last few days, while Blake Swihart continues to show more power than we've ever seen from him before. He's about to match his previous career high of seven homers in a season, set in 2012, despite having only half as many at bats as he did in that year.

Salem W 6-4

Corey Littrell: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HR

This is the first time all year that Corey Littrell hasn't given up a walk. It's the fifth time he's struck out better than a batter per inning.

Greenville W 3-1

Forrestt Allday: 1-4, 2B, K
Wendell Rijo: 0-4
Manuel Margot: 0-4

Trey Ball: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Trey Ball didn't give up runs! Trey Ball didn't give up runs! Spread the news! Spread it high and spread it low! Trey Ball didn't give up runs!

DSL L 3-6

Rafael Devers: 2-3, BB, K