The PawSox’ 10-22 record lands them in dead last in the International League standings, and for the second time this season, they are a season-high eight games below .500. During this homestand, they are 1-1 and are coming off a 2-6 road trip that concluded in four consecutive losses last week.
But the bright side is, they’re back in McCoy Stadium.
At home, Pawtucket has won 12 of its last 17 games, and it will be playing 17 of its next 29 games at home. Overall, the PawSox are 18-14 at McCoy.
Now, if only starting pitcher Kris Johnson (3-5) can do something about that 4.02 team ERA in June.
Johnson allowed five earned runs in five innings his last time out at Indianapolis and hasn’t won in two starts, but his record can be deceiving. Although he took a loss on May 24, he only allowed one run on three hits over six innings. Home is also where Johnson seems to thrive: In 2009, Johnson boasted a 3.68 ERA in eight starts at McCoy but saw that average balloon to 7.99 in 14 road starts.
Of course, many fans’ eyes will be solely focused on Lars Anderson, the pride and joy of the Red Sox organization since he was drafted in the 18th round of the 2006 draft.
The first baseman was promoted to Pawtucket on April 29,, and although he is 0-for-11 in his last four games, hitting coach Gerald Perry thinks there’s plenty of potential to be seen.
"He's an aggressive hitter,” Perry said. “He has a good swing, all the good qualities you'd like to see in a good hitter."
After embarking on a five-game hitting streak in which he went 7-for-21 with a double, a home run and four RBIs, Anderson is going through the same season ups and downs that face anyone trying to make the transition from Double-A to Triple-A.
Adjustments, according to Perry, are something Anderson has never had a problem making.
"It’s a game of adjustments,” Perry said. “There's no easy way. If he has a bad game, he's able to forget about it and go about his business the right way the next day. He has a lot of confidence in himself."
Confidence has been key for Anderson, who certainly faced his fair share of difficulty throughout the beginning of his career in the Red Sox organization. The 22-year-old — who was named the Red Sox’ Minor League Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and is the fourth-rated prospect in the organization, according to Baseball America – has been able to find success precisely because he hasn’t fallen into the trap of buying into his own hype.
"If you really believe in yourself, you don't mind the expectations everyone puts on you because you're probably expect more out of yourself than other people do,” Perry said.
Anderson is batting cleanup against Louisville’s Matt Maloney. Meanwhile, Josh Reddick – coming off a five-game stint with the Red Sox in which he went 2-for-11 with a triple, before being replaced by new cult hero Dan Nava – is batting sixth.
Full lineups are as follows:
Pawtucket
1. Niuman Romero, 2B
2. Gil Velazquez, DH
3. Angel Sanchez, SS
4. Lars Anderson, 1B
5. Aaron Bates, LF
6. Josh Reddick, CF
7. Dusty Brown, C
8. Jorge Jimenez, 3B
9. Bubba Bell, RF
Louisville
1. Chris Burke, CF
2. Zack Cozart, SS
3. Yonder Alonso, 1B
4. Wladimir Balentien, RF
5. Juan Francisco, DH
6. Todd Frazier, 3B
7. Drew Sutton, LF
8. Chris Valaika, 2B
9. Chris Denove, C
