Red Sox Minor Lines: Another big day for Kutter Crawford

Pawtucket PPD

Portland W 8-4

Jeremy Rivera, SS: 1-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI

Tony Renda, LF: 2-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Jantzen Witte, 3B: 3-3, 1 HR, 2 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 1-4, 3 K

Tate Matheny: 0-3, 1 RBI, 2 K

Trevor Kelley: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (20 pitches)

I think today’s the day we have to talk about Renda, who has been absolutely crushing it at Double-A this season. Granted, I’ll say right off the bat that this is probably someone you don’t need to get too excited about. He’s 27 years old and was signed after the season started, so this isn’t a big-time prospect we’re talking about. Still, the former Nationals second-round pick (2012) has just hit since he started in the organization. Through 16 games he’s hitting .429/.493/.587, and he only has two games this year without at least one hit. He got a little bit of major-league time a couple years ago, and while I wouldn’t bet on him getting more with the Red Sox it’s not out of the question if he keeps hitting like this.

Salem PPD

Greenville L 3-4

Lorenzo Cedrola, LF: 1-5, 1 3B, 1 R

Cole Brannen, CF: 1-5, 1 RBI, 3 K

Marino Campana, RF: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Everlouis Lozada, 3B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 E

Ricardo Cubillan, SS: 2-3, 1 K, 1 CS

Kutter Crawford: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K (64 pitches)

Brannen continue’s to contribute his daily single atop the Drive’s lineup, and not much else beyond that. The real story here, though, is another Kutter Day. Crawford has been, for my money, the best story in what’s been a rough start to the season for the minor-league system. Last year’s 16th round pick has just continued to shine night in and night out for the Low-A team, and while the scouting reports aren’t as glowing as the numbers at some point he has to get a chance at the next rung up the ladder. Through eight starts, the righty had pitched to a 1.94 ERA over 41 ²⁄₃ innings with 52 strikeouts and just 12 walks. That seems pretty good!

Player of the Day: Crawford certainly has a case for this one, which would be his third of the season already, but Jantzen Witte gets the nod here. He was a force in the middle of Portland’s lineup in the first game of a doubleheader (the second game was suspended and I’ll include those numbers in tomorrow’s edition). Witte has been in the organization for a little while now as a 24th round pick in 2013, and he made a little noise last season in Pawtucket as a corner infielder. I don’t know that he quite has enough to make that final leap to the majors, but he seems like someone the organization likes having around and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stuck around as a coach or a scout even after his playing days are done.