Red Sox Minor Lines: Michael Chavis returns, Drew Pomeranz implodes

Pawtucket L 2-6

Tzu-Wei Lin, SS: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, CF: 1-4, 1 K, 1 CS

Sam Travis, 1B: 0-4

Drew Pomeranz: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K (56 pitches)

Ty Buttrey: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K (38 pitches)

Williams Jerez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (36 pitches)

Robby Scott: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (26 pitches)

So, uh, that’s not what you want to see from Pomeranz. In his first rehab outing down in Pawtucket, the Red Sox lefty was absolutely rocked by the Twins Triple-A affiliate. All four of the hits he allowed left the yard and he clearly wasn’t fooling anyone. Something tells me he’ll get another rehab appearance.

Portland W 5-3

Jeremy Rivera, SS: 0-5, 2 K, 1 E

Chad De La Guerra, 2B: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 K

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

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Luke Tendler, LF: 3-4, 1 RBI

Travis Lakins: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (27 pitches)

Ockimey getting a triple sure is something, and apparently it happened because Tim Tebow had some trouble playing the Monster replicate in Portland. More important was Lakins’ outing. He not has ten great relief appearances under his belt in which he’s still yet to allow an earned run. This one is notable as his first to go beyond a single inning of work.

Salem L 3-6

Tyler Hill, RF: 1-5, 1 R, 1 K

Brett Netzer, 2B: 1-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 SB

C.J. Chatham, SS: 1-4, 1 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 0-3, 1 RBI

Tanner Houck: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 5 BB, 9 K (99 pitches)

Houck continues to struggle mightily with command, and this could be the starkest example. Five walks and four hits (including one home run) is just not going to cut it and it leads to 99 pitches in less than five innings. On the other hand, the strikeout stuff has been coming around for the 2017 first round pick and he now has 29 strikeouts in his last 26 ¹⁄₃ innings. Still, he has to figure out the command if he’s going to stick as a starter.

Greenville L 2-6

Ryan Fitzgerald, SS: 2-4

Marino Campana, LF: 0-4, 1 K

With Lorenzo Cedrola being traded Monday afternoon, Greenville became even more uninteresting than it already was. For now I guess I’ll track Campana on a daily basis for lack of better options.

Lowell W 3-1

Jarren Duran, CF: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K

Michael Chavis, 3B: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K

Tyler Dearden, LF: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Eduardo Bazardo: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K (74 pitches)

Durbin Feltman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (13 pitches)

So, there’s a lot interesting going on here. Obviously, Chavis being back is the number one thing. This is basically a rehab assignment as he returns from his suspension, and the results aren’t great in his first game of the year, but his presence on the field is a good enough story for now. Feltman was great again and shouldn’t have too much time left in Lowell. Even after just two appearances it’s clear he’s got this level figured out. Bazardo was great and now has a 3.15 ERA through four starts with 31 strikeouts and only four walks in 20 innings of work. Plus, Duran had a double. Good day in Lowell.

GCL W 7-6

Ricardo Cubillan, 1B: 2-3, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI

Lane Milligan, CF: 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 K

Nicholas Northcut, DH: 3-5, 3 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Freiberg Marin, SS: 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 E

Northcut enjoyed the best game of his young professional career on Monday smacking three doubles. With both Triston Casas and Nick Decker injured right now, we need Northcut to keep the GCL interesting.

DSL 1 W 4-0

Gilberto Jimenez, CF: 2-5

Ceddanne Rafaela, 3B: 1-4, 1 R, 2 K

Denny Diaz, SS: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

Jose Navas, C: 2-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI

DSL 2 L 3-4 (F/10)

Nelfy Abreu, CF/2B: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 R

Angel Maita, RF: 2-5 , 1 2B, 1 RBI

Danny Diaz, 3B: 0-3

Abreu has been huge at the top of the DSL 2 squad’s lineup and he now has just one fewer walk than strikeout. Overall, after knocking these two extra-base hits, Abreu is hitting .283/.387/.446 to start his pro career.

Player of the Day: There were a few notably good games in the system on Monday, but I’ll give this to Nelfy Abreu. He was the third biggest prospect from last year’s July 2 class, but he’s making the biggest impact early in the first year of their pro careers.