By Darryl Harding Sr-
On another beautiful day for MiLB AAA baseball, the Worcester Redsox host the Toledo Mud Hens fourth game of this series. The Mud Hens, AAA-affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, eked out a 8th inning comeback last game after losing the first two.
The Woosox placed right handed starter Hunter Dobbins on the hill, attempting to rectify the previous loss and get back on a winning streak, having won their last 12 of 15 games. Dobbins fired rockets reaching almost 98 mph but unfortunately ran into trouble in the 2nd.
After a walk and three consecutive singles ( SS Eddys Leonard, C Stephen Scott and CF Justice Bigbie) Dobbins allowed the Mud Hens one run. Trying to tie up the series 2-2 Toledo brings lefty Bryan Sammons, taking the mound with a 6-5 record in 17 games pitched.
Relinquishing only two hits Sammons kept the Woosox scoreless throughout his four inning outing. Settling in, Dobbins pitched scoreless 3rd and 4th innings and although giving up an additional run in the 5th, managed to squeeze out of a jam stranding Mud Hens with the bases loaded.
Dobbins struck out 7, throwing 92 pitches, 52 for strikes. Right handed reliever Jack Anderson spelled Sammons, after a walk, in the fifth and ran into immediate trouble.
Designated hitter Chase Meidroth single set up a 2B Vaughn Grissom RBI single bringing LF Roman Anthony across the plate. Now 2-1 Mud Hens cashed in some kind of cosmic baseball karma and returned the favor, leaving the Woosox with loaded bases stranded.
RHP Wyatt Olds took over pitching duties for Worcester still down by one. Olds as well as RHP Chase Shugart and righty Liam Hendriks all spun scoreless innings in succession the game remaining winnable at 2-1.
Woosox squandered a golden opportunity in the 8th and again left the bases jacked and a goose egg on the scoreboard. RHP Luis Guerrero struck out the side for the Woosox leaving three outs available for a 9th inning comeback.
Unfortunately Woosox went down 1,2,3 and the Mud Hens triumph 2-1. Woosox club manager Chad Tracy commented on the tight loss. “we had chances, a couple of opportunities… bases loaded there late. You feel like you’re one or two hits away from winning the game… yesterday and today we had opportunities to come up with the big hit and just couldn’t do it.”
Hopefully the Woosox will do it Saturday at 405pm when the season continues. State as plain as day by Tracy, “ you just gotta keep on grinding.”