Stankiewicz lasts eight frames, gets first win

For a pitcher, longevity in an outing isn't a switch one can turn on or off. A starter can't show up at the ballpark and think, "I'm going to throw nine innings today," in the same way he can say, "I'm going to throw more curveballs today" -- there are too many variables involved. Nevertheless, there are factors that can help a starter achieve that aim.

Teddy Stankiewicz thinks he found one in his delivery and mechanics. Based on Monday's performance, he may well be right.

The No. 20 Red Sox prospect tossed a career-high eight innings Monday, scattering two hits and a walk, to lead Class A Advanced Salem to a 4-0 win over Winston-Salem at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. It was his first victory of the 2015 season as he improved to 1-5 and lowered his ERA from 4.14 to 3.59 in his ninth Carolina League start.

"We've been working on my mechanics, making sure those were sound, and that was a big help today," said the 21-year-old right-hander. "I felt in sync, felt comfortable right from the start, and I took that to the mound and pounded the strike zone and got outs. 

"I was trying to make sure I don't fly open too much. When I'm coming toward the plate, I'm trying to stay in line more because before, my pitches were going left and making my off-speed stuff worse. If I stayed to the plate, that little bit of difference goes a long way."

The more straight-forward mechanics proved successful in a number of ways Monday. Besides impressive control with only the one walk, Stankiewicz was able to generate 13 groundball outs compared to the four punchouts and four more coming through the air. He forced groundball double plays in both the first and second frames.

Keeping the ball on the ground is important for a hurler that pitches to contact as much as Stankiewicz, who has averaged just 4.4 strikeouts per nine innings this season, and he knows it.

"That also just comes from staying in line," he said. "My fastball has a natural two-seam action to it when I'm not getting too crazy with my mechanics. So on days like today, instead of it being just flat, it can drop a little bit and force guys to hit the ball on the ground."

Now in his second full season, the 6-foot-4 right-hander has a solid four-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, slider, curveball) that helped make him a second-round pick in consecutive years in 2012 (Mets, did not sign before going to an Oklahoma junior college) and 2013 (Red Sox).

Boston was able to knock the 45th overall pick's signing bonus down from $1.1 million to $915,000 after it was discovered he was born without a right pectoral muscle. Despite that concern, Stankiewicz has never shown health issues in three years since turning pro. He threw 140 1/3 innings -- a fairly large number for a hurler in his first full pro season without major college experience -- for Class A Greenville in 2013, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, and has lasted at least six innings in six of his nine starts in the Carolina League this season. On Monday, he became the first Salem starter to pitch into the eighth inning in 2015.

Without overpowering stuff, Stankiewicz knows his ability to go deep into games should be his meal ticket up the Red Sox chain.

"Durability is something you have to have to make the next level," he said. "To be able to save the bullpen and give those guys a rest when they need it or save their arms for another day, that's key. It's what the organization wants to see out of us if we're going to go higher."

Right fielder Kevin Heller went 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored as Salem's cleanup hitter Monday. No. 17 Red Sox prospect Wendell Rijo doubled and drove in the club's two other runs in a 2-for-4 showing.