By Jonathan Burgos –
The Worcester Red Sox were back in action Tuesday night in the Canal District against the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch was 6:45pm and the Worcester Red Sox were looking to get back in the winning column; they locked off a 12-game homestead at Polar Park starting tonight with the opener of a 6-game series against the 1st-place Red Wings. Pitching for the Worcester Red Sox Tuesday night was RHP Connor Seabold who is 3-0 and 1.63 era. Seabold owns the 3rd best ERA in the International League and the 3rd lowest batting average against (.173). He is 1st in the league with a 0.83 WHIP (just 17 hits & 6 walks in 27.2 innings). Connor is coming off an excellent outing in Toledo this past Wednesday allowing just 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk with 8 strikeouts in a 7-1 victory.
On the other side of the mound is RHP Jackson Tetreault (0-2, 5.56). The 25 year old righty becomes the youngest RED Wings Opening Day starter since Kohl Stewart (24 years old) in 2019. Through six starts, he leads all Red Wings pitchers in punch-outs with 24, and innings pitched with 28.1 earned his first win on 5/5 against Scranton/WB where he worked 5.2 hitless innings (3 H, 4 SO).
It’s Woosox Tuesday which means “ Take Two Tuesdays’ ‘ Each Tuesday fans will be able to purchase a specific promo item for the price of one and receive another for free. Tonight’s special item is buy one Helmet of Donut Holes and get one free tonight!!!
Worcester says hi to a familiar face this time as the opposition. Red Wings Development Coach Billy McMillon who was the Worcester Red Sox Manager for their inaugural season, and the last manager for the Former Pawtucket Red Rox makes his return.
The visiting Red Wings were up first to bat. Connor took his last warm up pitches before first pitch at 6:45pm. Top of the 1st inning LF Andrew Stevenson hits a single off of Jeter’s glove. Stevenson steals to second base to advance. Luis Garcia flys out to Durran for the first out of the inning. Noll grounded out to second baseman arauz for the second out, runner advances from second to third. Seabold punches his first strikeout by getting Meneses down swinging. Bottom of the first Jarren Durran opens up the hitting column with a line drive single. Tetreault punches out Arauz for his first strikeout of the game. Jeter Downs cracks a line drive home run to open up the scoreboard 2-0. 1B Tristan Casas grounded out to first for the second out. RF Rob Refsnyder grounds out to the shortstop for the final out of the 1st inning. After one the score is Worcester Red Sox 2, Red Wings 0.
Top of the second Seabold gets RF Palacios to swing at the first pitch. After a strong battle Connor gives up his first walk. After giving up his first walk Urena connects for a line drive and the runner advances to second. Fox grounds out to the 3B and gets the out at second both runners on 3rd and 1st base. Seabold wins the foul ball battle by striking out Casey for his second put out of the game, two outs remaining. Rochester opened up the score Barrera hits a single to drive in the first run of the game score 2-1. As the Red wings kept the momentum going Stevenson connected on a line drive to run the second score of the game to tie it up 2-2. SS Garcia hits a triple which scores the runner to make it 4-2. Noll cracks a single to continue the scoring train for Rochester the score 5-2 Wings. The scoring did come to an end with Seabold getting the punch out to make his third of the game. Bottom of the second Hernandez goes down swinging for the second out of the bottom half of the second. DH Ramos grounds out to third for the final out of the second inning. After two innings the score is Rochester 5, Woosox 2.
Top of the 3rd Seabold draws his second walk to Palacios. First two times they met tonight Connor has drawn a walk both times. E-4 is drawn to 2B Arauz runner advances to third. Double steal is on with both runners getting to the bag safe, and scoring a run making it 6-2. Rochester tries to steal third but is caught with a great throw from catcher Hernandez. Bottom of the 3rd starts off with 3B Yolmer Sanchez getting on base with a walk. Full count to downs goes down looking at 93mph pitch to end the inning. The score 6-2 after 3 innings.
As the 4th inning gets underway a new pitcher enters the game, Silvino Bracho. Seabold strikeouts 3, and walked 3, threw 64 pitches 43 for strikes. Scoreless top of the inning with the second half about to begin. Kicking off the second half Triston Casas, goes down swinging on a 94mph pitch for the first out. Ryan Fitzgerald goes down swinging on a 84mph pitch for the second out of the inning. Fourth inning ends with a flyout. At the end of four Rochester 6, Red Sox 2.
Top of the 5th inning Brancho strikes out Meneses with a 87mph pitch for the first out. Casas with the nice grab turns it to the pitcher for the 3rd out of the top half. Bottom half begins with a 92mph pitch strikeout to Sanchez, Last out of the inning ends with a 92mph strikeout to Durran. RHP Jackson has 7 strikeouts on the night.
Top of the sixth Worcester Red Sox bring in a new pitcher #5 Philips Valdez, walks his first batter. Wild pitch issued to pitcher valdez, runner advances to third. Valdez gets his first strikeout of the game getting Casey with a 94mph pitch. Philips grabs the slow roller to get the tag out of the runner advancing to home plate for the second out, the batter advances to first safely. Grounded out on a 83mph pitch to end the inning. Bottom of the sixth begins with a pitching change for Rochester #46 Baldonado comes in for Tetreault. Jackson pitched 5.1 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 HR, and 8 strikeouts. Worcester would go scoreless.
In the 7th inning Sanchez makes a nice sliding grab to throw out the runner for the second out of the top. Batter hits into the 1-6-3 to end the first half. Up to bat is Ryan with a full count and a 11 pitch battle he smacks one to left field for the triple that’s his 3rd triple on the season giving the red sox some chance at a late rally. Two outs Ramos up to bat, Fitzgerald at 3rd, strikeouts from a 85mph pitch to make two outs in the inning. Flyout ends the inning.
Start of the 8th inning Pitcher Micheal Feliz gets the put out for first out of inning. Feliz strikes out the last batter of the inning. Bottom of the half scoreless.
Top of the 9th inning and last chance for the Worcester Red Sox to make something happen. New relief pitcher Feltman gives up a solo homer to Luis Garcia off a 93mph pitch. Second batter he gives up another solo shot to #18 Jake Noll to give the Red Wings a 8-2 lead. Feltman ends the inning with a strikeout to end the home run carousel.
Worcester Red Sox fall to the Rochester Red Wings 6-2 to open up the first of a 6-game series of a 2 week homestead. Crowd attendance for tonight’s game was 6,071. The Worcester Red Sox are back in action at Polar Park for a 12:15pm game Wednesday which will be one year since the grand opening of Polar park, also “ first Responders Wednesday” ( Four Free tickets for first responders compliments of National Grid). Tickets are still available at woosox.com, by phone at (508) 500-8888 or at the Polar Park Ticket Office, 100 Madison St.
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