Red Sox minor lines: Brian Johnson returns

Pawtucket L 3-6

Marco Hernandez: 1-4, 2 K
Christian Vazquez: 0-3, BB, K, E
Sam Travis: 2-4, HR, K
Deven Marrero: 0-4, K
Sean Coyle: 0-3, 2 K, A

Brian Johnson: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Roman Mendez: 2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Anthony Varvaro: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Heath Hembree: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Sam Travis hasn't managed to carry his insane hot streak over from spring, but he's on the home run board now, and this early it doesn't take much to turn a slow start fast.

On the mound...well, one of these things is obviously not like the other. But Brian Johnson is on the right side of things in his first start since last year's injury. The short length is just a matter of the Sox taking his build-up a bit slow--he was at just 76 pitches, so he normally could have kept going.

Portland L 3-5

Ty Buttrey: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

Ty Buttrey has always had trouble walking too many batters. Not a good sign if you were hoping this year would be any different.

Salem W 5-1

Yoan Moncada: 1-3, BB, CS
Mauricio Dubon: 2-4
Andrew Benintendi: 2-3, 3B
Rafael Devers: 2-4, 2B

Yankory Pimenten: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

Devers' start feels a bit slow, but after these last couple games it really hasn't been. He's reached base in every game thus far, and holds a .879 OPS. And let this be the first time this season I mention that he won't be 20 until after the season is over. It will not be the last, I assure you.

Greenville W 2-0

Michael Chavis: 2-4, K
Josh Ockimey: 0-4, 3 K, E
Austin Rei: 0-2, BB, K
Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-3, K, SB

Jake Cosart: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Michael Chavis has mutliple hits in four straight games. Is it time for cautious optimism? After Trey Ball has struggled to get any traction, it would be nice to have one of the first-round let downs bounce back.