IronPigs dominate PawSox
Shepherd remains difficult to assess
PAWTUCKET — The potential is clearly there, witnessed by nine strikeouts racked up in five innings.
Alas, PawSox starting righthanded pitcher Chandler Shepherd continues to be a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
On a day that saw the Red Sox dip into the Double-A pool for the 26th man (Darwinzon Hernandez) for Tuesday’s doubleheader at Fenway Park and promote a MLB first timer in PawSox reliever Travis Lakins, Shepherd – another 40-man option for the Sox – was tagged for five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings.
He allowed two home runs, one a three-run shot to Lehigh Valley DH Dylan Cozens.
The blast by Cozens came in the fifth inning and helped the IronPigs stage a 9-4 victory in the first game of a three-game homestand, one that was witnessed by 2,185.
There was plenty to like and dislike about Shepherd’s outing. He walked the first batter of the game, then struck out the side. He fanned two more in the second, then fell victim to two singles and an error in the third, as the IronPigs grabbed a run to tie the game at 1-1.
After allowing a solo home run to Lehigh Valley’s Deivy Griullon in the fourth, Shepherd was taxed extra hard in the fifth. A walk to No. 9 hitter Malquin Canelo was followed by a single allowed to Shane Robinson. Two batters later, Shepherd fell victim to Cozens, who at the time gave the IronPigs a 5-1 lead.
On the season, Shepherd is now 0-3 with a 5.63 ERA.
Pawtucket got three runs back thanks to a three-run homer off the bat off Rusney Castillo on the fifth, but Lehigh Valley pulled away behind a three-run uprising in the seventh. That same inning, PawSox reliever Dan Runzler limped off the mound after throwing just six pitches.
The loss was the fourth straight for Pawtucket.
“Making that phone call was really cool,” said PawSox manager Billy McMillon when asked about informing infielder Michael Chavis that he had been called up by the Red Sox. “I called him about 10:30 in the morning [last Friday] and he was on a 1 o’clock flight.”
Chavis goes down as the first PawSox player in the McMillon era to receive word that he would be making his MLB debut.
“I hadn’t even thought about it along those lines, but it would be really cool if he ends up a Hall of Famer,” said McMillon.
EXTRA BASES: Lakins was set to leave McCoy Stadium. First, though, his wife Alexis needed to arrive before the couple could head up to Fenway Park. The 24-yearold Lakins was added to Boston’s 25-man between games of Tuesday’s doubleheader between Boston and Detroit. To make room for Lakins, the Sox optioned lefty reliever Bobby Poyner. … Lakins was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six games for the PawSox this season. He became the sixth different Pawtucket player to be promoted to Boston. … The PawSox are expected to reinstate RHP Teddy Stankiewicz in time for him to make tonight’s start for the PawSox. Stankiewicz was on Pawtucket’s injured list with a right shoulder strain. He made one start for the PawSox last year. … Roster-wise, Pawtucket also added RHP Erasmo Ramirez and LHP Jeremy Bliech. Ramirez is in line to start Thursday’s noontime start at McCoy against Lehigh Valley. Bliech, 31, was assigned to Pawtucket after signing a deal with Boston on Monday. A veteran of 250 MiLB games, Bliech was released by the Phillies as spring training drew to a close. … “He’s in good spirits,” said McMillon when asked about PawSox INF/OF Tony Renda, on the IL since April 14 with a right shoulder strain.