By Darryl Harding Sr –
The 5th game of the Worcester Redsox homestand finds a dreary damp day at Polar Park. Luckily the rain waned long enough for AAA baseball and Richard Fitts commands the rubber for the Woosox against the Rochester Red Wings.
Fitts has a 3.72 ERA and a 4-1 record with 41 Ks under his belt. RHP Spenser Watkins starts for Rochester and allowed Mark Contreras to cross the plate, batted in by a Nick Sogard single in the 3rd.
The Red Wings were able to tie the contest 1-1 due to a costly Woosox throwing error, which advanced enabling an unearned run off a Brady Lindsly ground out.
Fitts powered thru 5 innings but ran into trouble in the 6th. Rochester center fielder Alex Call had a homer robbing catch in yesterday’s game, today his bat did the damage. Call’s three run blast scored Carter Kieboom and Jackson Cluff making the score 4-1.
After a walk Fitts was replaced by Ryan Zeferjahn, who unfortunately gave up a two run homer to Erick Mejia, his first batter faced. Desperately needing their bats to come alive the Woosox, feverishly attempted to lessen the 6-1 deficit.
Zeferjahn completed the 7th and handed the baseball over to Luis Guerrero. Red Wings catcher Lindsly smashed a two run homer driving himself and Call across the plate. Now 8-1 RHP Amos Willingham relieved Watkins and this is when the Worcester bats sprung to life.
Watkins threw 83 pitches with 6 strikeouts, allowingonly one run. A Sogard single followed by two walks jammed the bases for Nick Yorke to hammer a grand slam.
Chad Tracy, Woosox manager post game commented on the come back. “I am very happy that we at least got the game back in reach… a couple of base runners away from having a shot.”
No longer a blowout at 8-5, Rochester subs in closer RHP Rico Garcia to attain the 4 out save, his 9th of the season. With an 8-5 final Woosox now travel to New York to face Buffalo.