Webster takes loss in PawSox opener

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not if you win or lose, but how you look. That about sums up how I view the games at Pawtucket. Thursday was opening night as the PawSox took on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pig,s who are currently the 3A farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies and both teams had familiar names in the scorecard — players who would certainly rather be with the “Big Club.” The final score, in a dreadful game, was 4-0 for the mini-Phillies.

For the Sox, the starter was Allen Webster. The person I sat with is a former coach and, like me, a retired teacher. His view, which I have always considered accurate, is that Webster has a major league arm, but questions if he will ever develop the consistent location necessary to be a success. Webster did not impress. What I witnessed was more of what has been displayed ever since Webster came to the Red Sox in the Nick Punto trade. Webster had his usual fastball and his usual location. The end result was three walks and four strikeouts in 3 2/3. His pitch count was also into the 80s.

Craig Breslow, who will be with the big club soon, came in for some work. Breslow walked two in his short (1/3 inning) stint. Probably needs another game or two.

Drake Britton finished up the contest with a nice 1 1/3. Looked good.

On the offensive side it was dismal, with just two hits. Brock Holt, who was a final cut, had a hit and the other hit was by high end prospect Garin Cecchini. That was it for the PawSox as Pigs starter David Buchanan went six with the bullpen closing it out.

Defensively Ryan Lavarnway at first was solid as was Christian Vasquez behind the plate. Vasquez just flat out has a cannon for an arm. Bryce Brentz had a nice outfield assist.

Tickets were still available at game time as McCoy probably had 1,000 empty seats.