Red Sox Bats Lead the Way in the First Week of IL Play

The first week (ish) is in the books for the Triple-A International League. The first eleven days saw the reigning champion Pawtucket Red Sox get out to a fast start, making it look like we may be in for a repeat run in 2015.

While the Paw Sox enter the new week as the best team in all three divisions of the International League, there are certainly several other teams streaking and hot right now. The Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) are cruising. After a 1-3 start, they have reeled off six wins in a row. The Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) are on a four game win streak, while the Scranton/Wilkes RailRiders have turned around a slow start and won their last three in a row.

Surprisingly, the Gwinnett Braves who spent the offseason rebuilding their rotation are off to the second worst start in the IL. They have lost their last five in a row and sit in the basement of the IL South. The Rochester RedWings (Minnesota Twins) and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Philadelphia Phillies) have lost their last four, and the Iron Pigs have claimed the worst record in the IL behind a 3-8 record.

There was a lot of rain over the course of the opening of the season, but it wasn’t enough to wash out some solid performances. Our first recap combines the first three games of week one with the full slate of games from week two, giving us the Grading on the Curve Week One (ish) IL Recap. So, sit back as Grading on the Curve brings you the first installment of the best of the IL.

Next: THE IL NORTH

Mar 12, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (71) takes a swing during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH

The only six team division in the IL saw the Pawtucket Red Sox come out and claim their stake as the best in the land. They have combined for a league best 13 home runs, including a four home run 13-3 massacre over the RedWings on Saturday, and a .271 batting average, good for second in the IL. Blake Swihart is the clear cut leader, hitting .389 with 9 RBI thus far. He closed out the week with a career high four hit day, which included two doubles and 2 RBI. Fellow backstop Humberto Quintero went yard twice in the game.

Apparently, Father Time is of no concern to Randy Wolf. Signed to a minor league deal at the end of spring training by the Toronto Blue Jays, Wolf has led the early turnaround during the Buffalo Bisons 6-game win streak, which started with a sweep of a double header against Pawtucket this past Wednesday. He currently sits at 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA.

Ramon Flores made a splash for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He hit for the cycle on Opening Day and has continued his hot hitting through the week. He currently leads the IL in home runs with four through 10 games.

NORTH STANDINGS

Pawtucket Red Sox        8-3
Buffalo Bisons                 7-3
Rochester Red Wings    5-5
SWB RailRiders              5-6
Syracuse Chiefs              4-7
Lehigh Valley IronPigs 3-8

IL NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Ramon Flores, SWB RailRiders .262, 4 home runs, 7 RBI

IL NORTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Pat Dean, Rochester Red Wings, 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 15 strikeouts/ 3 walks over 2 starts.

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Next: THE IL SOUTH

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH

The Charlotte Knights have come out on fire, riding a 4-game win streak into first place. Obviously, Carlos Sanchez is not happy about not making the final big league roster and is out to prove he should be on the South Side. After battling Micah Johnson down to the last day of spring training, Sanchez was the one sent to Charlotte. He has come out slashing .485/.500/.606 with 20 total bases.

Top lefty prospect Carlos Rodon looked sharp in his first outing for Charlotte, striking out nine en route to a victory, but was banged around a bit in his second outing against the Gwinnett Braves.

Speaking of the Gwinnett Braves, their new look rotation featuring three new acquisitions that instantly became top ten prospects in the system, is off to a slow start. Matt Wisler, Michael Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos combined to go 0-2 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Top prospect Jose Peraza, amidst a whirlwind of trade rumors, is off to a slow start as well. 

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Dylan Floro of the Durham Bulls came out with a lights out performance on Opening Day and hasn’t slowed down since. He has gone 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 0.89 ERA with an impressive 10/2 K:BB ratio. Unfortunately, Floro is all that has gotten going for the defending South Champs, as they sit three games below .500.

SOUTH STANDINGS

Charlotte Knights   7-3
Norfolk Tides          7-4
Durham Bulls         4-7
Gwinnett Braves    3-8

IL SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Carlos Sanchez, Knights, .485/.500/.600, 6 RBI, 6 Runs Scored

IL SOUTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Zach Davies, Norfolk Tides, 1-0, 2.00 ERA, 11 strikeouts over two starts

Next: THE IL WEST

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

The West is the closest division in the IL thus far in 2015 as a mere two games is the difference between first and last place. The Toledo Mud Hens are currently at the helms, but with none of the four teams able to put anything consistent together just yet, it could change any day.

Buck Farmer, the Detroit Tigers top pitching prospect, has led the way for the Mud Hens thus far. A dazzling 8 strikeout, shutout performance on Opening Day against the Louisville Bats set the tone for the season. Farmer currently sits on a 0.90 ERA and is averaging seven strikeouts an outing.

The Louisville Bats have had their fair share of solid pitching performances as well. One of several pitching prospects for the Cincinnati Reds, Michael Lorenzen has gotten off to a hot start. The 23-year old righty’s debut was sensational as he went 7 innings of shutout baseball while striking out three Mud Hens. He followed that up with his second win of the season, hurling 6 more innings of one run ball against Indianapolis.

Offensively, the West currently has the IL co-leaders in RBI on the young 2015 season. Jefry Marte of the Mud Hens is out to a fast start with 12 RBI.

IL WEST STANDINGS

Toledo Mud Hens        6-4
Columbus Clippers      5-5
Louisville Bats              5-5
Indianapolis Indians   4-6

IL WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Chris Parmelee, Zephyrs, .341, 2 home runs, 12 RBI

IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK (ISH): Michael Lorenzen, Bats, 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 0.92 WHIP