PawSox Game Notes for Opening Day - April 4 vs. Syracuse

Happy New Year - The Pawtucket Red Sox and their division rival Syracuse Mets (AAA-New York Mets) begin their rendezvous with destiny today at 2:05 pm at NBT Bank Stadium with the 2019 season-opener to help start the 136^th year of the International League. This season marks the 47^th consecutive year the PawSox have been the International League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (since 1973) - a relationship topped in Triple-A only by the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Kansas City Royals (since 1969). It also represents the 50^th year the Pawtucket Red Sox have partnered with Boston (Pawtucket was a Double-A Red Sox affiliate from 1970-72 before becoming Triple-A).  

Meet the Mets - Syracuse, on the other hand, will begin their first season as the New York Mets Triple-A affiliate (the Mets now actually own the Syracuse club). The Syracuse Chiefs were most recently the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals (2009-2018) after many years as the affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-2008). The Syracuse club was known as the Chiefs from 1934-1996, then the SkyChiefs from 1997-2006, before reverting back to the plain old Chiefs from 2007-2018. The Mets most recently had their Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas as the Las Vegas 51s from 2013-2018. The Mets did have an affiliate in the International League from 2009-2012 as the Buffalo Bisons. Before that, the Mets were a member of thje IL as the Tidewater Tides from 1969-1992 and then became the Norfolk Tides from 1993-2006. The Mets were in New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League in 2007 & 2008. One other item of note…Manager Tony DeFrancesco, the Mets incumbent manager in Last Vegas last season, is the new Syracuse skipper. He was a former catcher for the PawSox during the 1986 season.  
Lights, Camera, Action - The 2019 PawSox debut this afternoon - one week before they begin their home schedule with their home-opener at McCoy Stadium next Thursday at 6:05 pm vs. these same Syracuse Mets. Today's game, and all seven games on this season-opening roadtrip to Syracuse and Buffalo can be heard on the PawSox Radio Network led by flagship WHJJ News Radio 920 AM and 104.7 FM. Josh Maurer and Mike Monaco will handle the radio calls. When the team returns to Pawtucket, Opening Night at McCoy will also be televised on both myRITV throughout Rhode Island and Bristol County, MA and on Charter TV3 in Central Massachusetts. 
Weather Gods - The recent PawSox Opening Day curse - they have had three straight season-openers postponed due to weather - will come to a halt this afternoon with today's cold (40 degree), but sunny forecast. In 2016, the PawSox home-opener vs. Buffalo on April 7 was rained-out marking the first time Pawtucket's home-opener had been postponed since 2003 when the first three PawSox home games that year were all snowed-out (April 7, 8, and 9 vs. Ottawa). On April 6, 2017, the PawSox had their season-opener at Lehigh Valley against the IronPigs postponed due to rain. And last year for the third straight time, Pawtucket had their season-opening game postponed, this due to snowfall at home on April 6 vs. Lehigh Valley. Pawtucket has suffered six postponed home-openers in their 46-year history…1983, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2016, and 2018.
Small Setback - The PawSox were held to two hits in their delayed season opener against Lehigh Valley last April 7, suffering a 3-1 setback to the IronPigs. It marked just Pawtucket's second Opening Day loss in the last 13 years. 
NEXT ON TAP - The probable pitching match-ups for the remainder of the series at Syracuse:
Fri. 1:05 pm RHP Chandler Shepherd (7-10, 3.89)* vs. RHP Corey Oswalt (4-4, 6.02)# 
Sat. 1:05 pm RHP Josh Smith (5-6, 4.14)* vs. RHP Chris Flexen (6-7, 4.40)#
Sun. 1:05 pm RHP Ryan Weber (9-6, 2.73)% vs. RHP Drew Gagnon (6-6, 4.57)#
Strong Opening Acts - The PawSox will be bidding for their 12^th Opening Day victory in the last 14 years today. Pawtucket won 8 straight season-openers from 2006-2013 before losing to Lehigh Valley, 4-0 on April 3, 2014 at home. However, they then won 3 openers in a row prior to last year's defeat. So, the PawSox are 11-2 in their last 13 season-openers (6-2 at home and 5-0 on the road) since 2006. Over a longer span, the PawSox have come up winners in 13 of their last 17 season-openers following an 8-game Opening Day losing streak that stretched from 1994-2001.  
The Road is Open - Pawtucket has not lost a season-opener on the road in 14 years since a fellow named Curt Schilling made a rehab start for Pawtucket on April 7, 2005 at Indianapolis (following his famous bloody sock post-season with the Red Sox in 2004) and suffered a 7-5 loss. Since then, the Sox are 5-0 the last five times they have begun a season on the road.
The History Book - Today marks the 47^th Opening Day (or Night) for the Pawtucket Red Sox as the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. However, since we only have access to records since the late Ben Mondor took over as PawSox owner in 1977, we can report that the PawSox are 21-21 in season-openers since 1977 (bold years indicate Home-Openers):
2018 April 7 1-3 vs Lehigh Valley LP Kyle Martin scheduled home-opener on April 6 is snowed-out
2017 April 7 14-7 @ Lehigh Valley WP Shawn Haviland Sox spoil LHV home-opener 2 years in a row (13-1 in 2016)
2016 April 8 2-0 vs. Buffalo WP Henry Owens opener delayed one day after April 7 rain-out
2015 April 9 4-0 @ Lehigh Valley WP Brian Johnson Johnson, Noé Ramirez, and Heath Hembree combo SHO
2014 April 3 0-4 vs Lehigh Valley LP Allen Webster 8-game Opening Night win streak ends
2013 April 4 8-4 (10) @ Scranton/WB WP Alex Wilson 8 straight Opening Night wins - Hazelbaker HR in 10^th 
2012 April 5 4-2 vs Buffalo WP Justin Germano 7 Opening Night wins in a row…Ciriaco 4 hits
2011 April 7 2-1 vs Rochester WP Rich HillJ.C. Linares 2-run triple in 6^th is game-winner
2010 April 8 11-3 vs Rochester WP Joe Nelson PawSox most runs ever in home-opener
2009 April 9 6-4 @ Buffalo WP Enrique Gonzalez Daniel Bard debut - 4 SO in 2 IP for SV 
2008 April 3 3-0 vs Indianapolis WP Bartolo Colon Four Sox pitchers hold Indy to 1 hit
2007 April 5 7-4 @ Charlotte WP Kason Gabbard Brandon Moss grand-slam HR in 1^st-inning
2006 April 6 3-2 vs Indianapolis WP Mike Bumatay Machado RBI FC in 9^th - 3^rd straight H.O. win
2005 April 7 5-7 @ Indianapolis LP Curt Schilling Curt Schilling suffers loss on rehab start
2004 April 8 4-3 vs Buffalo WP Anastacio Martinez Sox rally for 3 runs in B9th for win
2003 April 3 8-10 @ Buffalo LP Ryan Cameron Game takes season-high 3 hours & 37 minutes 
2002 April 4 4-3 vs Buffalo WP Don Wengert PawSox snap 8-game Opening Day losing skid
2001 April 5 2-5 @ Buffalo LP Carlos Castillo PawSox lose their 8^th straight season-opener 
2000 April 6 3-6 vs Syracuse LP Tomo Ohka Ohka's first loss after 15-0 minor league record 
1999 April 8 0-7 @ Scranton LP Juan Pena First time Sox ever been shutout in opener
1998 April 10 1-4 vs Syracuse LP Jim Farrell Opener rained-out on April 9 - Lou Merloni HR 
1997 April 3 8-11 @ Charlotte LP Mark Mimbs Donnie Sadler led off the season with a HR
1996 April 4 3-9 vs Syracuse LP Nate Minchey Alan Zinter cracks HR from both sides of plate
1995 April 6 3-4 @ Toledo LP Dale Plummer Game goes 14-innings and takes 4:10 to play
1994 April 7 1-3 vs Syracuse LP Nate Minchey Andy Tomberlin HR for only Sox run
1993 April 8 10-6 @ Columbus WP Scott Taylor Down 5-2 Sox rally for last open win 'til 2002 
1992 April 9 1-18 vs Rochester LP Paul Quantrill 5 PawSox pitchers give up 22 hits & 18 runs
1991 April 10 11-10 @ Rochester WP Larry Shikles Vaughn & Lancellotti HR - 11 runs Sox most
1990 April 8 5-4 vs Syracuse WP John Trautwein Mickey Pina HR in 16^th ends 4 hour, 55 minute game 
1989 April 5 7-11 vs Syracuse LP Steve Curry
1988 April 7 5-3 @ Richmond WP Steve Curry
1987 April 10 5-10 @ Toledo LP Tom Bolton
1986 April 11 1-3 vs Toledo LP Jeff Sellers
1985 April 10 3-4 @ Toledo LP Paul Gnacinski
1984 April 10 3-2 @ Syracuse WP Rich Gale
1983 April 12 2-11 vs Columbus LP Dennis Burtt
1982 April 14 5-1 vs Syracuse WP Keith MacWhorter
1981 April 10 5-6 @ Rochester LP Win Remmerswaal
1980 April 16 6-13 @ Tidewater LP Danny Parks
1979 April 11 4-3 @ Charleston WP John Tudor  
1978 April 14 5-8 @ Charleston LP John LaRose
1977 April 15 2-0 vs Columbus WP Mike Paxton
Next Year is Here - The PawSox will start the 2019 season with this 4-game series in Syracuse with games today at 2:05 pm and then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons all at 1:05 pm. The Sox will then head further west in New York to face the Buffalo Bisons (AAA-Toronto) for a 3-game set next week with games Monday & Tuesday nights at 6:05 pm and the series and roadtrip finale next Wednesday at 1:05 pm. Pawtucket will head home after that game and begin their home schedule at McCoy Stadium one week from tonight on Thursday, April 11 when they host these same Syracuse Mets at 6:05 pm. The 7-game homestand will be a mirror image of this current roadtrip as the PawSox host the Mets for 4-games through next weekend (April 11 & 12 at 6:05 pm and April 13 & 14 at 1:05 pm) and then Buffalo the following week for 3-games on April 15, 16, and 17 (all at 6:05 pm).  
We Play the Schedule We Are Dealt - After that first homestand, and the first scheduled off-day of the season on April 18, the PawSox make a return engagement to Syracuse for a 3-game weekend set vs. the Mets from April 19-21. In a strange schedule oddity, Pawtucket's first 17 games of the season will come vs. either Syracuse (11) or Buffalo (6). 

2019 PAWSOX ROSTER HIGHLIGHTS - 
The preliminary PawSox 2019 Opening Day roster - the club still must make one move to get to the roster limit of 25 active players - features many familiar faces (18 of the 26 players have played for Pawtucket at some point including 15 last year), but only four were on Pawtucket's Opening Night roster last season (Shepherd, Lin, Miller and Castillo). There are seven newcomers to the Red Sox organization but 5 of those 7 are pitchers (Mejia, Ramirez, Runzler, Tapia & Weber) and only two are position players (catcher Juan Centeno & outfielder Gorkys Hernández). Furthermore, 14 players have spent time in the Major Leagues (8 with the Boston Red Sox). Lastly, the average age of the 2019 PawSox Opening Day roster is 27.6 years-old compared to 27.3 last year.
Pawtucket's starting staff will include three returnees and two newcomers - all of whom are right-handers. Mike Shawaryn , at 24 the youngest pitcher on the staff, will get the nod on Opening Day on Thursday at 2:05 pm in Syracuse. He split last season between Double-A Portland & Pawtucket and compiled a combined 3.44 ERA (5^th best in the Sox system). He will be followed in the rotation by Chandler Shepherd, 26, who is back for his third full season with Pawtucket (2017 as a reliever and 2018 as a starter for the first time in his career). Josh A. Smith , 31, the righty who made 10 starts for the PawSox last season (and is not to be confused with Josh D. Smith who was a lefty pitcher for the PawSox last year) will start the third game of the season. Ryan Weber, 28, who was signed by the Red Sox as a free agent this past December after an outstanding 2018 season with the Durham Bulls (AAA-Tampa Bay) when he posted a 2.73 ERA (4^th best in the International League), will start the series finale in Syracuse on Sunday afternoon. Pawtucket 5^th starter in the rotation will get the nod in Buffalo next Monday when ErasmoRamirez, 28, makes his Red Sox organizational debut. He has appeared in 192 major league games (92 starts) with Seattle (2013-15 & 2017-18) and Tampa Bay (2015-17).
The PawSox bullpen features five members who have pitched for Pawtucket in the past and three newbies. Righties Trevor Kelley (who was born in Providence) and Travis Lakins (who had a combined 2.32 ERA last year) both spent time in Portland and Pawtucket last year, while Marcus Walden appeared in both Boston (making the 2018 Red Sox Opening Day roster) and Pawtucket. Returning lefty relievers are Bobby Poyner , who made 33 relief appearances with Pawtucket and 20 with Boston last season, and Josh Taylor , who was acquired from Arizona for former PawSox SS Deven Marrero last May and spent the bulk of the year with Portland (33 games) before one appearance with the PawSox. Among the more intriguing off-season acquisitions for the Red Sox who will work out of the PawSox 'pen is former New York Met closer Jenrry Mejia . Pronounced Henry Mejia, he had 28 saves for the Mets in 2014 but was suspended by Major League Baseball for the entire 2016-2018 seasons after violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for the third time. Left-hander Dan Runzler , the former San Francisco Giant (2009-12) and Pittsburgh Pirate (2017) who just turned 34 and is the elder statesman on the team, and former Louisville (AAA-Cincinnati) right-hander Domingo Tapia   round out the bullpen…
The PawSox have two veteran major league catchers on their roster led by Sandy León , who is in his 13^th professional season and his 5^th in the Red Sox organization. He has spent all of the last two years with Boston and appeared in a career-high 89 games for the 2018 World Series Champs while leading Major League Baseball with a 3.29 catcher's ERA (the lowest by a qualifying Red Sox catcher since at least 1974). JuanCenteno has seen major league action in each of the last six seasons with the Mets (2013-14), Milwaukee (2015), Minnesota (2016), Houston (2017), and Texas (2018). Jake Romanski saw limited action last season (mainly with Single-A Salem), but played for the PawSox in August of 2017.
Highly-touted 23-year-old third base/first base prospect Michael Chavis , the second youngest member of the PawSox (just over two months older then fellow 1B Josh Ockimey), is coming off an impressive spring training with the Red Sox where he led the club in both HR (4) and RBI (10) in just 22 at-bats. Chavis (pronounced like Davis) comes into the season as the #1 prospect in the Red Sox organization according to MLB.com. The aforementioned Josh Ockimey, also 23, belted 20 HR and had 71 RBI (both 2^nd most among all Red Sox minor leaguers last season) playing for Portland and Pawtucket. Tzu-Wei Lin , a talented 25-year-old from Taiwan who has performed well for both Boston and Pawtucket the past two years, will play both in the infield and outfield as will the versatile Tony Renda who graduated in 2009 from Serra High School (San Mateo, CA), the same school that produced a certain G.O.A.T. by the name of Tom Brady (as well as Barry Bonds). Mike Miller , who was one of the hottest hitters in baseball last July (394) and August (.356) will play all over the infield in what will be his third full season with the PawSox and his 5^th year overall in Pawtucket. Nick Lovullo, son of former PawSox manager, Red Sox coach, and current Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo, and also a product of Holy Cross in Worcester, will make his Triple-A debut in 2019. 
The outfield will feature two-time International League All-Star and defending IL batting champion (.319 last year) RusneyCastillo who has a .297 career batting average with the PawSox as he begins his 5^th season with Pawtucket. Another popular outfielder returns to the fold after a year playing in Las Vegas (formerly AAA-Mets) as Bryce Brentz , owner of 72 career homeruns with the PawSox is back (Sam Bowen is the all-time Pawtucket HR king with 105). Brent was an IL All-Star in 2017 when he belted 31 HR to become the first PawSox player to win the IL HR title since Earl Snyder in 2004. Cole Sturgeon , who spent the final three and a half months of last season with the PawSox after batting .365 for Portland to begin 2018, will play all three outfield positions again. While Castillo is the oldest position player on the roster (he turns 32 on July 9), the PawSox signed another veteran 31-year-old outfielder this off-season with the acquisition of former San Francisco Giant Gorkys Hernandez, who will be 32 on September 7. Gorkys is in his 14^th professional season and played in a big league career-high 142 games for the Giants last season (hitting .234 with 15 HR & 40 RBI). 
New PawSox manager Billy McMillon, 47, had been Boston's Minor League Outfield & Baserunning Coordinator for the past three seasons after a six year stint as a manager in the Red Sox system…2010 & '11 with Greenville (low-A), 2012 & '13 with Salem (high-A), and 2014 & '15 with Portland (AA). Billy, who this June 22 will be inducted in the International League Hall of Fame in pre-game ceremonies at McCoy Stadium, had a 12-year playing career that included parts of six seasons in the major leagues as an outfielder with the Florida, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Oakland. He was an outstanding player for four different teams in the International League from 1996-2002 finishing with a career batting average of .310 with 79 HR in 609 IL games. Billy won the league batting title, IL Rookie of the Year honors, and was an All-Star when he hit .352 for Charlotte (AAA-Marlins) in 1996. After parts of three seasons with Scranton/WB (Phillies), he went to Toledo (AAA-Detroit) in 2000 and captured his second IL batting crown (.hitting .345 for the Mud Hens) while earning his second IL All-Star nod. Two years later he played his final season in the IL for Columbus (Cleveland) in 2002 where he hit .301 and was named to his third IL All-Star team.  
Pitching coach Kevin Walker made his PawSox and Triple-A debut last season. 2019 will mark his 11th year as a coach in the Red Sox system. In 2018, Walker's pitchers set a new Pawtucket franchise-record with 1,221 strikeouts as Sox hurlers struck out exactly one batter per inning last season. Sox pitchers also posted the 2^nd best ERA in the International League at 3.43 in 2018.
Former PawSox and Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman enters his 5^th season as Pawtucket hitting coach and his 9^th year as a coach in the Red Sox system. The club hit .249 in 2018 led by OF Rusney Castillo who won the IL batting title with a .319 average (becoming the first PawSox batting champ since Wade Boggs in 1981). The Worcester, MA native was an American League All-Star with the Red Sox in 1985 & '86 and is 4^th in Red Sox history with 858 games caught.
Rounding out the PawSox field staff will be coach Bruce Crabbe, back for his 6^th year with the club and his 15^th in the Red Sox system. New Trainer David Herrera has been promoted after 11 seasons with various Red Sox affiliates. He will work closely with new strength & conditioning coach Chris Messina, who moves up from Portland, and assistant trainer Matt Smith who will be making his PawSox debut.  
BOSTON RED SOX DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM - 
Portland (0-0) - The Portland Sea Dogs (AA) will host the Reading Fightin Phils in their season-opener tonight. The Sea Dogs have five of the top 11 Red Sox prospects according to Baseball America…3B Bobby Dalbec (#1), RHP Darwinzon Hernandez (#3), RHP Tanner Houck (#7), INF C.J. Chatham (#10), and reliever Durbin Feltman (#11).
Salem (0-0) - The Salem Red Sox (A) begin their season tonight in Delaware against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Top prospects with Salem include RHP Bryan Mata (#6 according to BA), OF Jarren Duran (#12), and RHP Kutter Crawford (#22).
Greenville (0-0) - The Greenville Drive (A) start their campaign tonight at home vs. West Virginia. Highlighting the roster is 1B Triston Casas, Boston's 1^st round pick last June.  
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS AT McCOY STADIUM
APRIL 11 OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION & RED SOX WORLD SERIES POSTER 6:05 pm vs. Syracuse 
The first 5,000 fans coming to the PawSox home-opener on Thursday, April 11 vs. the Syracuse Mets at 6:05 pm at McCoy Stadium will receive a commemorative poster featuring the 35 former PawSox players who helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2018 World Series. The full color poster comes courtesy of National Grid, WPRI/FOX Providence, CW 28, and myRITV.  
APRIL 12 OIL CAN BOYD APPEARANCE ON COX LEGENDS NIGHT 6:05 pm vs. Syracuse 
In the first "Legendary Friday Night" of the season, presented by Cox Communications, former Red Sox pitcher Oil Can Boyd will appear at McCoy Stadium on Friday, April 12 during Pawtucket's 6:05 pm game with Syracuse. Oil Can will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch and greet PawSox fans during the game at the Vertikal 6 Fan Center on the main concourse behind home plate at McCoy. 
In addition, the PawSox will celebrate the engagement of Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez with a Red Sox-themed party on April 12 at McCoy. Recognizing the memorable moments provided by the former Yankees slugger, and the pop and movie star who visited Fenway Park in a previous romance, the PawSox will recall the 15^th anniversary of the historic 2004 season on this night-some of which featured A-Rod. Fans wearing Bronson Arroyo or Jason Varitek jerseys will be admitted free as will fans by the name of Jennifer. Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who is expected to be playing with the Syracuse Mets, will walk up to Mariah Carey's greatest hits for the duration of his series at McCoy Stadium as a salute to one of J.Lo's greatest rivals. Ross-Simons, the official jeweler of the Pawtucket Red Sox, will be on hand to inspect fan's wedding rings, so that "nobody is fooled by the rocks that our PawSox fans got," to paraphrase Pawtucket's favorite "Jenny from the Block."
APRIL 16 OSOS POLARES de PAWTUCKET 6:05 pm vs. Buffalo
In partnership with Minor League Baseball, the Pawtucket Red Sox will again change their name for virtually all of their Tuesday home games to Osos Polares de Pawtucket ("Polar Bears of Pawtucket" in English). The first such event of 2019 at McCoy will take place on Tuesday, April 16 when Osos Polares de Pawtucket hosts the Buffalo Bisons at 6:05 pm. The PawSox will wear their newly-designed Osos Polares de Pawtucket game caps and jerseys and the PawSox will celebrate the team's surrounding Hispanic community by playing Hispanic music throughout the ballpark, making PA announcements & lineups in Spanish, and by providing video board information in both English & Spanish. 
PAWSOX PLAYER MOVES - None today. It was another busy player movement year last season as the PawSox were involved in 196 player transactions during the 2018 season. Pawtucket used 59 different players last season (30 pitchers & 29 position players). The club-record is 70 players used in both 1995 and 2006. The PawSox had 13 different player promoted to Boston during the 2018 season (not including rehabbing players). Pawtucket employed 11 different Red Sox players on a rehab assignment last season.  
For perspective…The PawSox were involved in 221 player transactions during the 2017 season and employed 55 different players that season (28 pitchers & 27 position players). They had 18 different players promoted to Boston during the 2017 season (not including rehabbing players)…Pawtucket made 197 player transactions in 2016…In 2015 they made 220 player moves and in 2014 they ended up with a total of 209 player transactions. The Sox used 57 players in 2016, 62 different players in 2015, and they employed 61 different players during the 2014 regular-season (that number rose to 66 players including the post-season). Pawtucket promoted 20 players to Boston in 2016, 23 different players in 2015, and 25 players in 2014.