Red Sox Minor Lines: Alex Scherff had a rough day

Pawtucket W 5-3

Tzu-Wei Lin: 2-5, 1 2B

Cole Sturgeon, LF: 0-5, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, RF: 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K

Adam Lind, DH: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI

Mike Ohlman, 1B: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K

Ivan De Jesus, 2B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R

Chandler Shepherd: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K (78 pitches)

Ty Buttrey: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (12 pitches)

This wasn’t the same kind of dominant performance that we’ve seen from Shepherd lately, but it was certainly a solid day. I will admit to being skeptical that the righty would make it through the full season as a starter with this experiment in putting the career-long reliever in the rotation, but he’s only getting better as the year goes on. It would appear I’m wrong on this one. Not the first time, and won’t be the last, of course. Elsewhere, Buttrey is settling into a real groove in the bullpen and Lind has a good day at the plate.

Portland L 1-2

Jeremy Rivera, SS: 0-4, 3 K

Chad De La Guerra, 2B: 0-3, 2 K

Tate Matheny, CF: 0-2, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 SB, 2 E

Austin Rei: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 K

Danny Mars, RF: 1-3, 2 K

Matthew Kent: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K (96 pitches)

It was a rough day for the Portland lineup, and part of the reason was that Josh Ockimey was missing from the lineup yet again. This is now five straight days of missing action for the first base prospect, but there is no sign he’s on the disabled list. I’m guessing he’s injured, but I can’t say for sure.

Salem W 3-2 (F/10)

Santiago Espinal, SS: 1-5, 1 2B, 2 R, 2 K

Brett Netzer, 2B: 4-5, 1 RBI, 1 K

Roldani Baldwin, C: 1-5, 1 RBI, 1 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 2-4

Ryan Scott, DH: 2-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI

Bryan Mata: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 8 K (93 pitches)

It’s been a disappointing year for Mata, even if his ERA is actually 0.24 points lower than it was last year at Low-A. Despite that, he has a slightly lower strikeout rate (which is fine) and a much higher walk rate (which isn’t so fine). This was mostly a good start, but the walks remain a big problem. If he can make the tweak nevessary to shore up his control, Mata will go back to being one of the brightest spots in the farm system. Until then, we just dream on the potential for the 19-year-old.

Greenville L 4-10

Victor Acosta, DH: 2-5, 1 RBI

Pedro Castellanos, 1B: 0-2, 2 BB, 1 R

Alex Scherff: 2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 0 BB, 0 K (57 pitches)

Things had been looking up for Scherff of late after a really bad start to his season for the intriguing 2017 draftee. Well, it was another few steps back on Tuesday. There’s really nothing to take away here as a positive, unless you count the zero walks as a victory. Sure, we’ll take that.

DSL 1 L 1-2

Gilberto Jimenez, CF: 0-4, 2 K

Kelvin Sanchez: 5 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K

DSL 2 W 4-2

Nelfy Abreu, CF: 0-4, 1 K

Antoni Flores, SS: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Danny Diaz, 3B: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Carlos Velez: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Player of the Day: There aren’t really any obviously deserving candidates here, but I’m going to give this one to Matthew Kent. The former 13th round pick had some success in the low-minors, but he’s struggled more and more as he’s moved up the ladder. That is, until this year as he’s having a good year for Portland in 2018. I don’t see much of a future for Kent, but there are some who disagree with me.