Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew played in his first minor league game with the Single-A Greenville Drive after missing 46 games in the majors this season.
The Red Sox want Drew to get about 25 at-bats in the minors before he joins the team, and that quest started Friday night with him playing five innings in a 2-0 Drive win over the visiting Augusta GreenJackets. That was enough for two at-bats for Drew, who was second in Greenville’s order.
Drew saw just six pitches in his two plate appearances. His first at-bat took two pitches before he knocked a single with no outs. He advanced to second on a wild pitch from GreenJackets pitcher Matthew Lujan but ended the inning stranded at third.
Drew’s second time to the plate, in the third inning, ended with a four-pitch strikeout.
“It’s just good to get back, to get back in the swing of things,” Drew told The Greenville News. “The game comes back quick in your mind. It’s just more or less getting back on your feet. Playing in game mode, that’s the difference.”
Drew will have to spend at least 10 days in the minors because of option rules and likely will play five games with Greenville before playing five more with either Double-A Portland or Triple-A Pawtucket.
