PawSox shut out Syracuse, 6-0
PAWTUCKET – The type of flu that Robbie Ross Jr. had contracted, “was one of those things that cripples you. Your muscles hurt and your body aches.”
Ross said after tossing a ninepitch, 1-2-3 inning in a rehab appearance for the PawSox on Wednesday that he normally doesn’t get sick. Usually he’s fine and he’s good to go. This time, his body simply would not recover in a timely fashion. The left-handed reliever wasn’t alone as several of his Red Sox teammates were also slowed by the flu.
Ross was one of three pitchers to combine on Pawtucket’s four-hit shutout, a 6-0 win over Syracuse before 2,553 fans. The goal of presenting him with a clean inning was achieved thanks to Shawn Haviland’s six stellar innings.
It was quick and easy for Ross, who retired the first two batters with ease before falling behind 2-0 to Syracuse leadoff batter Rafael Bautista. On the third pitch of the atbat, Bautista grounded to third base.
“Looked good and said he felt great,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles said. “It was good to see him back out there.”
It had been a while since Ross threw in an actual game – April 1 was the last time when the Red Sox closed out the spring-training slate against the Washington Nationals in Annapolis. Last Thursday, the Red Sox placed Ross on the disabled list (retroactive to April 3) with influenza.
“I sat at my house for four days before going to (Fenway Park) and tossing it around a bit,” Ross said. “The next thing I knew, they asked if I wanted to go on a rehab assignment. I said that would probably be good.”
Ross hopes his time with the PawSox is of the one-and-done variety. It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox decide keep three lefthanded relievers on the active roster with Ross joining Robby Scott and Fernando Abad.
“Just trying to get in and get out,” Ross said. “I don’t think they want me to do anything else.”
Ross hopes to walk back in a Red Sox clubhouse that has a healthy aura about it.
“They needed to do something,” he said. “Never in my whole life … I had never seen it this bad.”
Haviland was backed by early run support. For the second time in three days, Rusney Castilllo led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run. A groundout by Allen Craig produced the inning’s second run.
In the third, Castillo led off with a sharp single the opposite way and stole second. Ryan Court then connected for a RBI double down the right-field line to extend Pawtucket’s lead to 3-0. Court (3for-4, two runs) finished a home run shy of the cycle.
Deven Marrero’s first hit of the season was a double in the fourth inning that came after Bryce Brentz smacked the ball hard for a single up the middle. Dan Butler drove them both in to make it 5-0. Court opened the fifth inning with a triple to leftcenter field and came in to score on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Matt Dominguez.
The pitching staff took care of the rest. Haviland picked up his second win in as many chances with four strikeouts.
“He pitched inside for effect,” Boles said. “He got them off the plate and used his cutter and threw his breaking ball. Overall, a job well done.”
Kyle Martin rebounded from two shaky outings in Lehigh Valley to retire all six hitters he faced. The PawSox righty struck out four.
“I liked the attack. He was aggressive,” Boles said. “He had a really good angle to his fastball.”
The PawSox will look to make it three out of four against Syracuse when Brian Johnson takes the mound for Thursday’s 12:05 p.m. start.
It would appear the PawSox dodged another serious bullet with first baseman Sam Travis and catcher Blake Swihart. Both were involved in a scary collision in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game.
“Both came in surprisingly good. We’re very happy,” Boles said. “They’re sore, but they’re doing okay.”
Swihart was available off the bench Wednesday while Travis was given the day off. Travis received stitches while Swihart suffered a black eye.