Helping hand
Injured PawSox pitcher makes youngster’s day prior to 8-1 victory over Syracuse
PawSox pitcher Marcus Walden is on the DL with an injury to his throwing arm, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a presence with the team.
PAWTUCKET – For Marcus Walden, a season that started out with so much promise has become as hard as mahogany
Walden hasn’t pitched in a competitive setting since May 30. Between the Boston Red Sox and Pawtucket Red Sox, he’s worked 28.2 innings and appeared in 14 games. He’s currently on Pawtucket’s disabled list with right forearm inflammation. Timeline-wise, it sounds like the right-hander will remain sidelined through the minor-league allstar break (July 9 to 11).
“I’ve been pitching through some elbow pain, I guess you could say,” Walden said prior to Pawtucket’s 8-1 win over Syracuse on Sunday. “The last day I pitched, my forearm got a little tight. I really didn’t like where I was going. I decided to let the trainers know and I’ve kind of been taking a rest since.”
Walden played catch with PawSox trainer Eric Velazquez from roughly 60 feet on Sunday morning. It was an encouraging step for someone who was a surprise addition to Boston’s Opening Day roster after reporting to spring training as a non-roster invitee. The Red Sox view Walden as a long-relief option and felt the best way to keep him stretched out was to have him start games for the PawSox and pitch in the neighborhood of three to four innings per outing.
For a pitcher who’s used to tak- ing the mound on a regular basis – last year’s Pawtucket Pitcher of the Year appeared in 29 games and made 17 starts – Walden has been forced to contend with periods of inactivity this season. In April, he went eight days between appearances. When the calendar flipped to May, Walden joined the PawSox rotation and was locked into a guaranteed role, placing even greater emphasis on his side work to ensure he remained ready at a moment’s notice.
“I like throwing often and that’s something I told [Boston pitching coach Dana LeVangie] going into spring training. I like being in the bullpen and throwing multiple days in a row,” Walden said.
“Now it’s about going out there and competing and having the same trust of my stuff in a game as I do in the bullpen.”
All told, Walden started five games for Pawtucket in May before landing on the disabled list. In those starts, he never went beyond 3.1 innings, with 62 pitches on May 20 representing the high-water mark. The appearance on May 30 saw Walden last just two innings and 48 pitches.
“It’s frustrating knowing that if I get through an outing healthy, I’ve got a very good chance to go back to the big leagues. But pitching at 70 or 80 percent regardless of the level is not going to work,” Walden said. “That’s why we’re taking this month off now and getting healthy for August and September. Hopefully October, too.”
Walden certainly did his best to put a smile on the face of 9-year-old Braylon O’Neil of the Warwick Continental Little League. O’Neil flies around the diamond with the assistance of robotic legs and delivered a strike when it came time for him to deliver a ceremonial first pitch. Afterwards, Walden presented the youngster with one of his gloves.
“It’s a young kid who loves to play the game,” Walden said. “What’s the point of having stuff if you can’t share it with someone like that?”
Jalen Beeks was dynamite on the mound for the PawSox on Sunday, tossing seven shutout innings where he allowed three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. The Red Sox want the lefty to throw all his pitches, and that’s exactly what he did against a Syracuse club that’s now 13 games below the .500 mark. Only three of Beeks’ strikeouts came on fastballs.
“I thought the mix was better today,” Beeks said.
Added PawSox manager Kevin Boles, “I thought he used his curveball, changeup, and cutter equally and showed great fastball command. That’s exactly what we’re looking for.”
Rehabbing reliever Tyler Thornburg allowed a leadoff solo homer in the eighth inning and then generated three consecutive flyball outs. All 13 of Thornburg’s fastballs ranged between 93-94 miles per hour.
“I am close,” said Thornburg, who’s unsure what the next step of his rehab process will entail. He wasn’t scheduled to travel with the PawSox to Buffalo.
Pawtucket’s 24-year old catcher Óscar Hernández impressed all over the diamond, as the former Diamondbacks backstop went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a solo homer and a walk at the plate and also nabbed a pair of wouldbe base-stealers. PawSox first baseman Adam Lind, meanwhile, clubbed his third home run since joining the Red Sox organization and went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Designated hitter Sam Travis cracked a pair of singles to extend his hitting streak to five games — during which he’s 8-for-20.
EXTRA BASES: The PawSox welcomed infielder/outfielder Deiner Lopez on Sunday. The 24-year-old was called up after appearing in 14 games for Double-A Portland. Lopez missed the first 50 games of the season after getting suspended last November for testing positive for the stimulant amphetamine. Lopez was signed as an international free agent by Boston in 2010 and came into the season a career .256 hitter in 466 minor-league games. … Lopez batted ninth and manned second base for Pawtucket. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and three strikeouts. … To make room for Lopez, Pawtucket placed starting pitcher William Cuevas on the temporary inactive list. Cuevas is listed as the probable pitcher for Wednesday’s game at Buffalo. … The PawSox are staging a cool concept for their Thursday, Aug. 16, game with Durham. That night, they’ll be known as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners. The name change pays homage to one of Rhode Island’s most famous cuisines. To commemorate the one-night promotion, the PawSox will wear an on-field cap and game jersey featuring the hot wiener logo. In addition, that same night will feature a pregame dog parade and a hot wiener-eating contest. … Hot wiener merchandise (caps, jerseys) was officially added to the team store and www.pawsox.com on Sunday. Apparently, everything was selling like hot cakes. … Sunday marked the 39th annual Armed Service Day at McCoy Stadium. … The PawSox now hit the road for seven games. The first four games will take place in Buffalo and wrap up with three in Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre. Pawtucket returns home a week from Monday (July 2). … Sunday’s attendance was 7,364.