Red Sox Minors: Pitchers make their final starts

Pawtucket L 4-6

Tzu-Wei Lin: 1-3, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB

Bryce Brentz: 1-4, 1 K

Deven Marrero: 0-4, 3 K

Brian Johnson: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Kyle Martin: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K

I was a bit surprised Johnson wasn’t called up on Friday to give the Red Sox a fresh arm behind Doug Fister if needed, but apparently they wanted another start from the lefty before he came up. It wasn’t the best start of Johnson’s career, but it was the end of his Triple-A season. He’ll be up in Boston to provide long relief depth soon enough.

Portland W 7-2

Danny Mars: 1-4, 1 R

Michael Chavis: 0-4, 1 R, 1 SB

Josh Ockimey: 1-4, 1 R

Josh Tobias: 1-3, 1 K

Trey Ball: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Trevor Kelley: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Ball also made what is likely his last start of the minor-league season. It was another disappointing one for the former top-ten pick, but also one that had a few more bright spots than previous years. Ball will turn 24 next June, and I’d be surprised if he is starting for the organization next year. It seems time to make a change, and while some would like to see him in the outfield I’d prefer trying him in the bullpen.

Salem PPD

Greenville L 2-4

Brett Netzer: 1-4, 1 R, 2 K, 1 SB

Bobby Dalbec: 0-4, 2 K

Darwinzon Hernandez: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Dalbec couldn’t keep his hot streak going, and with Roldani Baldwin and Tyler Hill getting time off to end the year, the Drive’s offense suddenly takes a big blow. Meanwhile, Hernandez didn’t have a great end to his season, but the lefty still had a solid start where he just gave up a bunch of hits but controlled the strike zone well enough. His season could’ve ended better, but 2017 was still very good to Hernandez.

Lowell L 1-2

Yoan Aybar: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 SB

Tanner Nishioka: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

GCL Red Sox G1 W 5-4

Pedro Castellanos: 1-2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R

Everlouis Lozada: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K

Tyler Esplin: 0-1

GCL Red Sox G2 L 1-9

Everlouis Lozada: 0-3

Cole Brannen: 0-2, 1 BB, 2 K