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Cervenka Sent to Cubs as Player-to-be-Named-Later

Reliever had struckout 24 batters in 15.2 innings with the Drive
May 15, 2012
To complete the deal that brought outfielder Marlon Byrd to Boston, the Red Sox sent minor league left-handed pitcher Hunter Cervenka to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday as the player to be named later.

Having made nine appearances, all out of the bullpen, with Greenville in 2012, Cervenka was 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA (14 ER/15.2 IP), 24 strikeouts and 12 base on balls. Cervenka ranked 5th in the South Atlantic League among relief pitchers in K/9 IP ratio (13.79).

The 22-year-old tossed 2.0 hitless innings, walking one and striking out 5, on May 8th as he, along with starting pitcher Mickey Pena and fellow reliever Tyler Lockwood combined for the Drive's first nine-inning no-hitter in franchise history.

A 27th round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Cervenka spent the majority of the 2011 season with the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League, after beginning the year on the Drive's Opening Day roster.

In 22 outings between the Drive and Spinners a year ago, Cervenka went 2-10 with a 7.93 ERA (64 ER/72.2 IP). He ranked among Lowell leaders in games (T-3rd, 15) and strikeouts (2nd, 51).