Red Sox Prospect Hector Velazquez Dazzles In Start With Paw Sox

Hector Velazquez started on the mound today as the Pawtucket Red Sox closed out their home schedule at McCoy Stadium. He dazzled the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs through 7 innings while giving up only 1 hit. HE was credited with the win as the Paw Sox went on to beat the Iron Pigs 3-0 in front of 8,207 fans.

Before today, Velazquez looked like he was starting to get tired. Over a 3 start period, he gave up 10 runs (9 earned). For a guy who has had an ERA for a majority of the season around 1.50, that is very troubling.

But the last time he pitched before today was 9 days ago, and it looked like it benefited him greatly. Velazquez and Brian Johnson are two players that could give the Red Sox pitching staff a huge boost this September.

Hector Velazquez last 4 starts at AAA Pawtucket:

• July 29th at Indianapolis: 5 innings, giving up 8 hits, 5 runs (2 home runs), 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts on 74 pitches (47 strikes).
• August 7th vs. Charlotte: 5 innings, giving up 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts on 88 pitches (58 strikes).
• August 12th against Columbus: 4 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, and struck out 3 on 92 pitches (51 strikes).
• August 18th at Columbus: 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, 3 runs (1 home run) 1 walk, and struck out 5 on 97 pitches (61 strikes).

Velazquez Today

Velazquez was optioned to the Boston Red Sox on August 22nd before being re-optioned back to AAA Pawtucket on the 24th. This gave Velazquez an extra 4 days off. It looked like Velazquez benefited from extra time off.

Hector Velasquez gets Cameron Perkins to ground into a 5-4 FC in the 7th inning of today’s #PawSox game pic.twitter.com/VMeDITZHPL

— Trifecta Network (@trifectanetwork) August 27, 2017

Today Velazquez showed that he can pitch exactly like how he was earlier this season. A few weeks ago after his start against the Columbus Clippers, I said that it looked like Velazquez was tired and needed down time. Today he was able to have his start on extra rest, and pitched like he was refreshed.

Velazquez easily had his best start of the season for Paw Sox. In 7 innings, today, he gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts on 95 pitches (62 strikes). The one hit he gave up was a 2 out single to Cameron Perkins in the 1st inning. After that he retired 19 of the next 20 batters to close out his day.

Velazquez Going Forward

Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson are two pitchers that are probably going to be called up to Boston this September. Both pitchers are capable of starting games for the Boston Red Sox too. They both could come up big for the Red Sox if they do need them while the Red Sox try to get some extra rest for their current starters.

Earlier this month, it looked like that Velazquez was starting to get tired. At one point over 3 starts, he gave up 9 earned runs over 14 innings. That was from a guy who had a 1.58 ERA at the beginning of that stretch.

This extra time off looked like it benefited Velazquez greatly. Going forward, I see that Velazquez could be a valuable member of the Red Sox pitching staff come this September.

Carson Smith Dazzles In Rehab Appearance With The Pawtucket Red Sox

Boston Red Sox reliever Carson Smith made his 8th rehab appearance on Saturday night at McCoy Stadium. It was his seventh appearance for the Pawtucket Red Sox with the right hander continuing his journey back after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

Smith was initially slated to pitch on Friday night with the goal getting him to an every-other-day schedule. But after a discussion on Friday, it was determined, pushing him back a day was the right move.

Smiths Rehab Appearances

1. August 5th for the Portland Sea Dogs: .1 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 2 ER
2. August 8th for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 SO
3. August 12th for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO
4. August 15th for the Pawtucket Red Sox: .1 IP, 3 H, 2ER
5. August 18th for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 1 BB
6. August 21st for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 2 SO
7. August 23rd for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO
8. August 26th for the Pawtucket Red Sox: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 SO

Saturday’s appearance for Smith was an effective one as he continues to take steps in the right direction.

Brian Johnson Pitched Well For Paw Sox Saturday Night

On July 29, the Red Sox placed Brian Johnson on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation. Since Brian Johnson was activated from the disabled list on August 5th, the Pawtucket Red Sox haven’t overextended Johnson, especially on his pitch count. The highest pitch count he has had since then was 76 pitches in his start on August 10th against Columbus.

On Saturday night, it would be Brian Johnsons’ 5th start since he was activated off the disabled list.

Johnson pitched really well against the Iron Pigs, despite his troubles in the first few innings. He did give up a first inning home run, to Cameron Perkins, but that was all he would allow.

Brian Johnson Pitching line Since August 5th:

• August 5th at Scranton: 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walks, and struck out 1 on 60 pitches (39 strikes).
• August 10th against Columbus: 4 innings, giving up 3 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, and struck out 6 on 76 pitches (41 strikes).
• August 16th at Louisville: 1 inning, giving up no runs, no hits, and no strikeouts on 12 pitches (8 strikes). He was taken out of the start early because he was hit with a come backer off his leg to end the 1st inning.
• August 21st against Buffalo: 4 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 runs (both solo home runs) and struck out 5 on 71 pitches (50 strikes).

Brian Johnson Tonight:

Brian Johnson pitched really well tonight. In 7 innings of work, he gave up 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and struck out 3 on 88 pitches (61 strikes). Those two runs came on a first inning home run to Cameron Perkins. It was on a pitch down the middle of the plate. That was the problem for Johnson in the first few inning. Johnson was leaving a few pitches in the middle of the plate which caused a lot of loud outs off Johnson in the first few innings.

However, there was only one base runner for the Iron Pigs past the 1st inning. That came in the 5th inning when Angelo Mora hit a comebacker to Johnson. Johnson was able to get a glove on it but it bounced away from him and when Johnson tried to get him out at 1st, he threw it away as he ended up at 2nd base.

Tonight showed us that they were trusting Johnson to do more. Brian Johnson is has the chance to be a spot starter for the Red Sox this September. If they want him to be stretched out enough so he can pitch effectively for the Red Sox, this was a step forward. Tonight allows him to be able to get stretched out a little longer so he is able to make starts for the Red Sox this September.