Red Sox Minor Lines: Tyler Thornburg’s rehab is not going well

Pawtucket L 7-11 (F/10)

Gorkys Hernández, CF: 0-6, 1 K

Chad De La Guerra, SS: 4-5, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI

Steve Pearce, DH: 2-4, 1 R, 1 K

Sam Travis, LF: 1-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K

Rusney Castillo, CF: 1-5, 1 K, 1 CS

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 1-3, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI

Chris Owings, 2B: 1-5, 2 K

Josh Tobias, 3B: 3-5, 2 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Tyler Thornburg: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 1 K (23 pitches)

Travis Lakins: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (21 pitches)

Jenrry Mejia: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (35 pitches)

It was an exciting night for a little bit in Pawtucket as they entered the bottom of the ninth trailing by two until Ockimey drove in a couple on a two-run double to tie the game. Unfortunately, Mejia imploded in the tenth including a three-home run to top prospect Brendan McKay. Mejia has been rough after a hot start to the year. Speaking of rough, Thornburg still hasn’t been able to put it together and it’s hard to imagine he’ll find his way back to the major-league roster before his rehab clock runs out. On a more positive note, Pearce is looking solid in his rehab while De La Guerra is smoking the ball at the top of Pawtucket’s lineup.

Salem SUSP

Greenville L 7-8

Cole Brannen, CF: 0-4, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 K

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

Kole Cottam, DH: 1-5, 1 HR, 1 R, 4 RBI, 2 K

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

Tyler Dearden, LF: 1-4, 2 K

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI

Dylan Hardy, RF: 2-3, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Chase Shugart: 6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K (91 pitches)

Similar to the Pawtucket game, this one was exciting for a brief time as Greenville headed into the top of the ninth trailing 7-3. They battled their way back to load the bases before Cottam hit a massive grand slam to tie the game, but Lexington came right back in the bottom of the ninth to win it. The two standouts here were Shugart and Howlett. The former has been rolling after returning from a suspension that caused him to miss the first 50 games of the year. Through five starts the 2018 draft pick has a 1.93 ERA with 25 strikeouts and four walks in 28 innings of work. Howlett, meanwhile, is a potential second-half breakout and his post All-Star-break has gotten off to a massive start with a pair of extra-base hits including a solo shot to start the scoring in Thursday’s game. Howlett is now up to a .727 OPS on the year.

Lowell PPD

DSL 1 L 2-4

Alex Zapete, 3B: 2-4, 2 K, 1 CS, 1 E

Eduardo Lopez, CF: 2-4, 1 SB, 1 CS

DSL 2 W 6-3

Elio Prado, CF: 1-3, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 K

Bryan Gonzalez, RF: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 K, 1 SB

Jose Navas, C: 2-4, 1 2B

Gonzalez continues to be the hottest hitter down in the DSL, as he got on base two more times on Thursday to drive his OPS up to a ridiculous 1.142 mark. Prado is not too far behind him at this point, though. With his third homer of the young season, the outfielder is up to a 1.027 OPS for the year. Prado was a July 2 signing last year for just $85,000.

Player of the Day: His team lost, but this one has to go to De La Guerra. His season has sort of flown under the radar this year, largely because he missed so much time early on. However, the middle infielder has come back roaring and is now hitting .321/.402/.625 for the season. He became an organizational favorite a couple of years ago before falling off last season, but he could be working his way back into the fold with the way he’s swinging the bat now.