Red Sox minor lines: Joe Kelly's starting career continues

Pawtucket W 7-3

Shane Victorino: 1-4, K
Rusney Castillo: 2-3, 2B, BB, SB
Garin Cecchini: 0-2, BB
Allen Craig: 0-3
Sean Coyle: 1-4, HR, 2 K

Pat Light: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Pawtucket W 3-2 (In 11)

Shane Victorino: 1-4, K
Rusney Castillo: 1-4, BB, K
Allen Craig: 1-5, 2 K
Garin Cecchini: 2-4, 2B, BB, K
Sean Coyle: 1-4, BB, K, E

Joe Kelly: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Noe Ramirez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Not going to pretend I really understand what the Red Sox are trying to do with Joe Kelly in the minors. He's 27, and has seen 402 innings in the major leagues. If he hasn't figured it out by now (and the fact is that even in his best years he's been unimpressive in terms of peripherals), there's not a lot of reason to expect some time in Triple-A will make a significant difference. I would have expected his being optioned to mark the beginning of a bullpen transition, but here we are.

Portland L 5-8

Carlos Asuaje: 0-4
Sam Travis: 0-2, BB
Manuel Margot: 1-4, HR

It's been a slow start for Manuel Margot numbers-wise, but he's still managed at least a hit in five of his six games, and after a few early strikeouts, seems to be getting back to his stingy ways in that department. Toss in this homer, and it's a strangely encouraging .240/.240/.400 he's producing.

Salem L 1-3

Wendell Rijo: 0-2, 2 BB, K

Trey Ball: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Salem L 6-10

Wendell Rijo: 2-4

Teddy Stankiewicz: 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR

It's now been four or five straight starts from Trey Ball (depending on how much you can overlook peripherals for results) that don't make you want to just pretend he's not there. 28.1 innings of five-run ball is pretty damn good, and if the 19:13 K:BB is nothing to get excited about, at this point you take what you can get when it comes to positive signs.

Greenville W 4-3

Yoan Moncada: 1-4, K
Michael Chavis: 0-4, K
Rafael Devers: 1-3, 2 K
Nick Longhi: 2-3, 3B, BB, K
Javier Guerra: 1-4, SB, E

Michael Kopech: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Greenville L 9-12

Yoan Moncada: 2-4, 2B, 2 SB
Rafael Devers: 3-5, 2B, 2 K
Nick Longhi: 1-4, K

Some much-needed productive days for a team that had more or less been slumping as a unit for a while before. Hopefully the team that slumps together also streaks together.

Lowell W 4-3

Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-5, K
Mitchell Gunsolus: 1-4
Josh Ockimey: 2-4

Josh Ockimey was one of those guys whose introduction to professional baseball looked a lot like his introduction to baseball, period. He's also looking like one of those guys who just needed an offseason to settle in. He's already got more extra base hits in 26 2015 ABs than he managed in 112 last year, and is just a bit shy of doubling his OPS.

GCL Red Sox W 3-2

Trent Kemp: 1-4, 2 K, SB
Yoan Aybar: 1-4, 3B, 2 K