By Darryl Harding
With the threat of rain the Woosox begin their second game against the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Polar Park. RHP Garrett Whitlock starts on the mound for the Sox with a 1.96 ERA.
Whitlock retired the first six that he faced before relinquishing a double to RailRiders Kevin Smith. Surviving scoreless innings, Whitlock lasted until the last out of the fifth, 61 pitches thrown, 40 for strikes.
Throwing from the rubber for the New York Yankees AAA-affiliate RailRiders is RHP Clayton Beeter. Beginning with a 2.89 ERA Beeter walked several batters in the first two innings but managed to leave runners stranded. Beeter completed 4.0 innings throwing 78 pitches, exactly half for strikes.
Replaced by RHP Cody Morris, Scranton chalked up two more scoreless innings. Woosox now put RHP Josh Winckowski on the hill, finishing the 5th and 6th allowing only a double to Taylor Trammell. Winckowski returned in the 7th but gave up a run after 2 outs with a double to Smith and a single to Brandon Lockridge.
Now with a 1-0 lead the RailRiders bring LHP Anthony Misiewicz to the rubber to run through the 7th. Woosox deterred a bases loaded threat in the 8th when RHP Luis Guerrero took the mound, but slithered out leaving Scranton with a goose egg.
Misiewicz closed the 8th holding onto a narrow lead. RHP Ryan Zeferjahn pitched the 9th inning for Worcester keeping it stuck at 1-0. Fervently attempting to rally in the 9th Woosox, skillfully singled sending Misiewicz to be replaced by RHP Phil Bickford.
Unfortunately the Sox were unable to rally and dropped one 1-0, the RailRiders allowing only three hits. “We had a handful of chances,” said Woosox manager Chad Tracy, “couldn’t move anybody along, couldn’t get that big hit…one hit, we probably win the game.”