By Darryl Harding Sr-
Early afternoon rain cleared to reveal a picture perfect day for MiLB baseball, where the Worcester Redsox take on the Rochester Red Wings at the heart of the heart of Massachusetts, Polar Park. This 5th game of the Woosox homestand finds the series tie up 2-2.
After yesterday’s lambasting of the Red Wings, Woosox look to take the series lead and gain a game on 1st place Rochester. Taking charge of the mound for the Woosox 22 game, right handed starter Chase Shugart, with a record of 4-1 and a 4.20 ERA.
Beginning with 57 strikeouts, Shugart sailed through the first three innings allowing one hit, one walk and one base runner, hit by a pitch. Firing from the rubber for Rochester, RHP Brad Lord, stepped up with an admirable 9-1 record and a 1.91 ERA.
Despite fantastic numbers, 95 Ks and a 93 mph sinker, Woosox inflicted the first damage against Lord. 1B Niko Kavadas, who snatched a Woosox club record yesterday with 7 RBIs, banged a double to center to commence.
Next up LF Matthew Lugo caught a 91 mph sinker and sent it 409 ft., out of the park, in the 2nd inning. Answering back in the 4th, two consecutive singles by 1B Joey Meneses and LF Stone Garret ended the day for Shugart.
After tossing 39 strikes, out of 64 pitches, Shugart was relieved by left hander Joely Rodriguez who unfortunately permitted a CF Jackson Cluff double. Scoring the two inherited runners Rodriguez then threw a 92 mph four seam fastball that became a line drive RBI single.
Advantage Red Wings with a 3-2 lead, Woosox pitching settled in spinning three scoreless innings from Rodriguez, RHP Alex Speas and RHP Isaiah Campbell. Efficiently completing 5.2 innings, Lord effectively kept the Woosox hitters off balance and scoreless.
Lord hurled 96 pitches in total, just over ⅔ in the strike zone. Substituted for Lord, left handed Joe La Sorsa finished out the 6th and pitched a shutout 7th inning.
Campbell, still heaving in the 8th, gave up a 427 ft. long ball to RF Travis Blankenhorn, his 19th of the year, tying him for 3rd in the league. Now 4-2 with La Sorsa continuing in the 8th, Worcester attempted a comeback with only 6 outs to spare.
Scorching at the plate, Kavadas got on a 88 mph sinker and cracked it 365 ft. to right field, narrowing the margin to 4-3. La Sorsa was replaced by closer righty Rico Garcia, aiming to accomplish a 5 out save.
Garcia calmly slipped out of the 8th, leaving one stranded runner. LHP Lucas Luetge was brought in for the Woosox, after the Blankenhorn dinger and thwarted any insurance runs from the Red Wings.
An interesting start to the bottom of the 9th as Bobby Dalbec, in pinch hitting, got to a foll count and walked putting the winning run at the plate… but wait a minute, a pitching challenge reversed the call and marked Dalbec out. Unable to rally, Woosox fall in a one point loss to Rochester.
Blankenhorn has proven to be a problem, his homer being the difference maker in this game. Of his 19 jacks, 9 have come here at Polar Park. “He’s a good hitter,” commented bench coach Jose Flores, “good hitters look for any mistakes… (a sweeper) left a little too high in the zone, and he took advantage.”
Last game of the homestand is Sunday at 1:05 pm, where the Sox can hopefully tie the series.