Ockimey step away from Sox
First baseman hammers eighth-inning home run in first game with Pawtucket
PAWTUCKET – For a refreshing change of pace, the Red Sox have elected to looking within the organization when it comes to restocking the PawSox roster.
With players either included in trades (Jalen Beeks, Ty Buttrey, Williams Jerez), released (Adam Lind), or part of the usual Pawtucket-to-Boston shuffle (Brandon Workman, Dan Butler), the local Triple-A roster has become very volatile. Two more recruits straight from Double-A Portland joined the PawSox on Friday and wasted little time introducing themselves to the McCoy Stadium faithful. Power-hitting first baseman Josh Ockimey started and batted sixth while right-hander Mike Shawaryn drew the pitching nod against Rochester.
“You realize you’re one step closer to your dreams,” said Ockimey, who likes to begin each day with a “Good Morning” post on his personal Twitter page.
Dating back to last Sunday, a total of five Portland players have been promoted to the PawSox, though one has since been returned. On the season, a total of 15 players have been transferred from Portland to Pawtucket.
“It’s like it’s a whole new roster,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles said when asked about the recent wave of Portland players washing along Pawtucket’s shores.
The trade that featured Buttrey and Jerez heading to the Angels meant there were openings in Pawtucket’s bullpen that needed immediate addressing.
They were when Travis Lakins and Matthew Gorst joined the PawSox on the same day.
“Both of those guys will come right after you and understand what it takes to succeed,” Ockimey said.
A starter for the Sea Dogs at the beginning of the season, Lakins proved a sure thing after relocating to the bullpen. In 21 relief appearances with Portland, he posted a 0.81 ERA with 24 strikeouts compared to eight walks in 22.1 innings. Lakins tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut on Thursday night.
“Very good breaking ball. Very interesting,” Boles said.
Gorst’s first game with Pawtucket came Tuesday, the same day of his promotion from Portland. It was an outing that was a continuation of the scoreless streak that marked his entire Sea Dogs tenure. With Portland in nine outings, Gorst logged 20.1 innings without allowing an earned run.
“Attacks with the fastball but also uses the cutter quite a bit,” Boles said about Gorst, who opened the 2018 season with High-A Salem.
Between the three minor-league levels, Gorst has a 0.87 ERA, which is seventh best in Minor League Baseball among qualifiers.
Ockimey joins the PawSox after belting 15 home runs in 90 games with Portland. His ability to go deep is a welcome boost for a Pawtucket club that’s gone deep just 81 times in the first 108 games. The 22-year-old made an immediate impact on Friday with a solo home run in the eighth inning that at the time tied the game at 4.
“It was definitely a goal to get up here by the end of the season,” said Ockimey, who was selected to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game. “When you cross that item off your checklist, you celebrate it, but you also have to move on quickly because you have a game the next day.”
As for Shawaryn, he retired the first nine Rochester batters he faced on his way to tossing 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out six. Before Friday, he notched a solid 3.28 ERA in 19 starts for Portland.
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EXTRA BASES: With Blake Swihart joining Christian Vazquez on the disabled list, the Red Sox were in the market for a catcher. Enter Butler, who selected from Pawtucket’s roster on Friday. Hitting .202 in 58 Triple-A games this season, Butler becomes 11th different player promoted directly from Pawtucket to Boston this season. … In response to a report by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that Worcester will be unveiling their PawSox ballpark proposal the week of August 13, PawSox officials countered with, “It is understandable for there to be premature speculation, but we are still in discussions with cities and hope to conclude the process at or near the end of the season.” … As part of Friday’s comings and goings, the PawSox sent outfielder Cole Sturgeon to Single-A Lowell. … Boles caught the ceremonial first pitch from Roland Hemond, the Central Falls native who earlier Friday was in his hometown for the dedication of a ballfield in his honor. A longtime baseball executive who these days is a special assistant to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hemond worked with Boles’ father John while both were employed by the Chicago White Sox. … Friday’s attendance was 6,454. … The final youth clinic of the season will take place Saturday from 2-3:15 p.m. PawSox coaches and select players will be on hand. … After tonight’s game, which will begin at 6:15, they’ll be a fireworks show set to Super Heroes-themed music. … The annual PawSox Fanfest will take place immediately after tomorrow’s game, which starts at 1:35. It will be held at Pariseau Field (adjacent to McCoy) and feature PawSox player autograph booths and other surprises. … Pitching-wise for the PawSox for the final two games of the Rochester series will feature William Cuevas (7-6, 3.57) on the mound for today’s game and Justin Haley (5-7, 3.66) following tomorrow.