Red Sox Minor Lines: Decision time coming for Tyler Thornburg and Adam Lind

Pawtucket L 6-7

Rusney Castillo, CF: 1-6, 1 K

Ivan De Jesus, 3B: 0-3, 2 BB, 1 R

Mike Ohlman, DH: 2-4, 2 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI

Sam Travis, LF: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 R

Mike Miller, SS: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Deiner Lopez, 2B: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 K

Bobby Poyner: 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K (35 pitches)

Tyler Thornburg: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (8 pitches)

This could have been Thornburg’s last rehab outing, though no decisions have been made yet. The plan was for him to throw two innings earlier in the week (which he did), then throw today before evaluating the next step. If they decide he’s still not ready, expect another DL stint to reset his shrinking rehab clock. It’s also worth noting, though he didn’t play on Saturday, that Adam Lind’s opt-out is today. After the trade for Steve Pearce, it seems likely the first baseman/DH will look for an opportunity elsewhere.

Portland W 8-2

Jeremy Rivera, SS: 2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Chad De La Guerra, 2B: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Tate Matheny, CF: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Luke Tendler, DH: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Jhon Nunez, C: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 R

Danny Mars, RF: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 K

Mike Shawaryn: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K (97 pitches)

The offense won this game for the SeaDogs, but Shawaryn’s day is what I’m most intrigued by. All in all, it wasn’t a super impressive start. He did last seven innings and only allowed two runs, which is obviously very good, but he wasn’t missing bats and he walked more batters than he struck out. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to see a pitcher be able to work around not having his best stuff, and that was Shawaryn in this game. I’ll take it.

Salem W 8-4

Tyler Hill, LF: 1-3, 2 BB, 1 R

Brett Netzer, 2B: 0-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

C.J. Chatham, SS: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 E

Michael Osinski, 3B: 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI

Trenton Kemp, RF: 1-3, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI

Chris Madera, CF: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 RBI, 1 K

Bryan Mata: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (81 pitches)

It was another weird start for Mata, and in a way it was similar to Shawaryn’s. Of course, the key difference is length as Mata had to leave after just four innings. The 3.00 ERA for the year suggests different, but it’s been a disappointing year for Mata given his 50/47 K/BB ratio over 57 innings. That’s not the same of saying it’s time to give up on a 19-year-old in High-A, of course.

Greenville L 2-3

Lorenzo Cedrola, DH: 0-4

Marino Campana, RF: 2-4, 1 K

Kutter Crawford: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (83 pitches)

Oh, hey there Kutter. Didn’t see you there. The righty, enjoying a breakout 2018, struggled a bit in his final inning of work, but overall this was an outstanding outing for Crawford. The Kutter Klub is still accepting new members. At the plate, it was a slow day but Campana stays hot for the Drive.

Lowell W 6-4

Jarren Duran, 2B: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E

Cole Brannen, CF: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Kole Cottam, C: 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 K

Tyler Esplin, LF: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB

Jonathan Ortega, 3B: 2-3, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI

Hunter Haworth: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K (71 pitches)

Nice to see a solid day at the plate for Brannen, who has obviously been disappointing in his first year(ish) as a professional. He’s still not hitting for power, and it’s beginning to look like he never will, but he does have a .378 OBP in Lowell at least. Next year is going to be the important one for the 2017 second round pick. Also, have I mentioned that I’m intrigued by Duran?

GCL G1 L 5-6

Juan Hernandez, CF: 2-4

Nicholas Northcut, DH: 1-3, 1 R, 2 K

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 1-2, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI

GCL G2 W 4-2

Juan Hernandez, CF: 2-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 SB

Nicholas Northcut, 3B: 1-3, 1 K

Hernandez had a really nice doubleheader atop of the GCL lineup in both of Saturday’s games, and the 22-year-old is off to a nice start through his first ten games. He’s now hitting .333/.442/.500.

DSL 1 W 10-1

Ceddanne Rafaela, SS: 2-5, 1 2B, 2 R

Lewis Baez, RF: 4-4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI

Fabian Andrade, CF: 3-5, 1 R, 3 RBI

Kelvin Sanchez: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

DSL 2 L 3-4

Angel Gonzalez, LF: 2-4, 1 SB

Nelfy Abreu, CF: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Angel Maita, RF: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K, 1 CS

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

Don’t look now, but Diaz is starting to heat up some. The 17-year-old has been hitting for power all year, of course, but this was his third multi-hit game of the last week and he has a hit in all but one of those games overall. as a result, his line is up to .245/.291/.490. It’s getting there.

Player of the Day: There were some good pitching performances on Saturday, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You hit two dingers, you win this award. Mike Ohlman did just that, and he’s an interesting name at Triple-A. One of the fears of trading Swihart is that the team would lack a third catcher, but Ohlman has had a nice year in Triple-A with a .229/.331/.431 line.