Red Sox Minor Lines: Gilberto Jimenez is off to a hot start

Pawtucket G1 L 3-5

Gorkys Hernández, CF: 0-4, 1 E

Sam Travis, LF: 2-3, 2 2B, 1 R

Bryce Brentz, DH: 0-3, 2 K

Rusney Castilo, RF: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 1-2, 1 BB

Josh Tobias, 2B: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R

Steven Wright: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K (28 pitches)

Tyler Thornburg: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K (22 pitches)

Pawtucket G2 W 8-0

Gorkys Hernández, CF: 1-4, 1 R, 1 K

Sam Travis, 1B: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Rusney Castillo, RF: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI

Josh Ockimey, DH: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS

Jantzet Witte, 3B: 2-2, 1 BB, 1 R

Teddy Stankiewicz: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K (97 pitches)

It was a tale of two games for the PawSox, with some guys performing well offensively on both sides. Those would be Travis, Castillo and Ockimey. The latter is probably the most interesting of those in that Castillo is never coming to the majors for financial reasons and Travis, well, we know who Sam Travis is. Ockimey is a sleeper for a call-up later this year if the Red Sox feel they need a left-handed bat on their roster, particularly with Mitch Moreland out for some time. Meanwhile, Wright and Thornburg both made rehab appearances that left something to be desired in the first game, with the latter in particular struggling. In Game Two, however, Stankiewicz dazzled in a complete game shutout. Teddy Stank has been a bit of a rollercoaster in Triple-A this year with four outings in which he’s allowed one or zero runs but also a few duds mixed in.

Portland G1 W 4-0

Jarren Duran, CF: 1-4, 1 R, 1 CS/PO

Jhon Nunez, C: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

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

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 1-2, 2 BB

Joey Curletta, 1B: 0-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Dedgar Jimenez: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K (93 pitches)

Portland G2 W 6-3

Jarren Duran, CF: 2-4, 2 R, 1 K, 1 SB

C.J. Chatham, SS: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Joey Curletta, DH: 2-3, 1 2B, 3 RBI

Denyi Reyes: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K (90 pitches)

In a nice sweep of a doubleheader on Sunday for the Sea Dogs, a few notes stand out. For one thing, Dalbec is on fire even on days where he doesn’t super stand out. With three more walks and a couple more hits the righty is up to a .385 OBP on the year while also leading the Eastern League in home runs. Further up the lineup, Duran still hasn’t really started to heat up though the second game did see just his second multi-hit effort since joining the Sea Dogs earlier this month. Most important, though, was the return of Chatham, who had been out since May 22 after being hit by a pitch. He didn’t do anything particularly noteworthy on Sunday, but it was nice to see him back in action.

Salem W 16-2

Jagger Rusconi, 2B: 2-5, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Ryan Fitzgerald, SS: 0-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

Pedro Castellanos, 1B: 2-4, 1 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 E

Marcus Wilson, CF: 1-3, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 K

Edgar Corcino, RF: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI

Tanner Nishioka, DH: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Enmanuel De Jesus: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K (88 pitches)

Well would you look at that. Apparently, Salem can still score some runs in the post-Duran era, even with Fitzgerald also being mostly a non-factor at the plate. It was a couple of guys we don’t really talk about making the biggets impact, too, in Corcino and Nishioka. Corcino was an Indy League signing this past winter and in a part-time role he’s shown nice power for Salem. Nishioka, meanwhile, was a senior sign out of the 2017 draft who was great last year but has struggled to get going in an injury-shortened 2019.

Greenville L 1-2

Everlouis Lozada, 2B: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 R

Devlin Granberg, 1B: 2-5, 1 2B

Triston Casas, DH: 1-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K

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

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 1-1, 3 BB, 1 E

This was a frustrating game for the Drive, who poked nine hits and drew five walks but still only managed just one run on the game. One positive standout here was Howlett, who hasn’t been able to get out of his early-season hole as emphatically as Casas but the fellow 2018 draftee is getting on base. We’re still waiting for the power, but with this latest three-walk game his OBP on the year is at .351. Look for him as a potential second-half breakout.

Lowell W 5-2

Nicholas Northcut, 3B: 1-4, 1 R, 2 K, 1 E

Nich Decker, RF: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS/PO

Antoni Flores, SS: 1-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 E

Gilberto Jimenez, CF: 2-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 K, 1 SB

Ryan Fernandez: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (42 pitches)

This was a nice little comeback win for the Spinners on Sunday as they were held scoreless for the first five innings of the game before scoring in three of the final four innings to pick up the victory. Jimenez was the standout in this one as the outfielder is off to a big start just three games into the season. Obviously we can’t read into this small of a sample size at all, but the outfielder is hitting .556 after the first series of 2019.

Player of the Day: I’ve stopped doing this for a little bit, mostly because I’ve been sick and my schedule has been weird but I’m back at it today. We’re giving this one to Teddy Stank, who tossed the complete game shutout in the seven-inning contest. As I said, he’s shown some flashes this year but the former second round pick is probably a middle reliever at best.