PawSox split at McCoy
1B Travis showing improvement with glove
PAWTUCKET – Far more than his work with the glove, it was the way Sam Travis punished opposing pitching at the lower levels of the minor leagues that pushed him to Triple-A just two years after getting drafted in the second round out of the University of Indiana.
That meant he had quite a bit of catching up to do defensively at first base – both to compete in the International League and to put himself in contention for a major-league call-up. Right now, it’s a matter of smoothing out the rough edges.
The acknowledgment that Henry Owens gave Travis as the PawSox first baseman jogged off the field on Thursday afternoon, suggests that his efforts to become dependable with the glove are being noticed and appreciated. Travis had just corralled a one-hop throw from shortstop Deven Marrero for the final out of the fifth inning of the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader against Indianapolis.
The nifty and nimble work displayed by Travis helped Owens get the win as the PawSox (8-10) salvaged a split with a 4-2 triumph before 3,138 fans. The Indians took the opening game in eight innings, 5-3.
“I thought that was a smart play on his part,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles said about the key scoop by Travis that helped Owens move to 2-0 on the season. “Normally it’s a one-handed position but he was able secure it with two hands.”
Refining his defensive approach has long been viewed as the remaining hurdle for Travis, 23, to cross.
While the bat has yet to come around this season – he’s down to .178 on the season and is just 5-for-27 since his collision with catcher Blake Swihart on April 11 – there have been signs that the glove is making strides in the right direction.
In the top of the seventh inning of the second contest, Travis failed to make a sweep tag on an errant throw by Marrero. The sequence enabled the Indians (6-13) to bring the tying run to the plate.
“It was a play that should have been made. I tried to tag him too early,” Travis said. “Honestly, it was a perfectly thrown ball for me to catch it and tag the runner. It’s kind of hard to practice something like that, but that’s a play that needs to be made by me.”
Travis quickly turned the page after the missed tag. He facilitated a 3-6 double-play when he cleanly fielded a grounder, stepped on the firstbase bag, then delivered a strong throw to Marrero, who was covering at second base. Just like that, the Indians were down to their final out.
“When he’s active and he’s moving, we see better results. Sometimes I think he searches and thinks about it, but when he stays engaged, he can make the plays more times than not,” Boles said. “You can’t be a one-dimensional player.”
Said Travis, “I’m getting comfortable and working on getting better every single day.”
Travis gave credit to PawSox coach Bruce Crabbe, who works primarily with the infielders.
“He’s done a lot, whether it’s scooping, turning double plays, or hitting ground balls,” Travis said. “I can’t thank him enough.”
EXTRA BASES: Bryce Brentz brought out the heavy lumber on Thursday, hitting a home run in each game. The two HRs came on a day when the PawSox took the field for the first time in five days. “We needed to get out in the fresh air and start playing some games,” Boles said. … In his first appearance since collecting his first MLB victory last week in Toronto, PawSox starter Brian Johnson ceded three runs on eight hits and four walks in five-plus frames in Game 1. Big league veteran Blaine Boyer (L, 0-1), who joined the team last week, allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in two stanzas. … Owens spun six innings of five-hit ball and yielded a pair of runs (one earned) with five strikeouts. “I thought he was able to right the ship with his changeup a little bit. It was okay,” Boles said. “Got that last hitter too. … He was able to get that last out to close that sixth.” … The double-play that Travis helped turn in the seventh inning of Game 2 helped Brandon Workman nail down his first professional save. Seven of Workman’s eight pitches went for strikes. … The six-game homestand continues Friday at 6:05 p.m., when the PawSox start a four-game series with the Gwinnett Braves at McCoy Stadium. Pawtucket righthander Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 8.10) is scheduled to oppose Braves righty Aaron Blair (11, 5.79). … The win in Game 2 snapped Pawtucket’s fourgame losing streak.