By Darryl Harding Sr-
In a recurring nightmare the Worcester Woosox were beaten by the Syracuse Mets in a similar fashion to the 7th inning debacle displayed by the bullpen in their previous match-up. Although not repeating the 10 runs given up in one inning like yesterday, three crooked numbers posted by the Mets in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings spelled disaster for Worcester’s chances of winning.
Chalking up 6 runs, 2 runs and 9 runs in consecutive innings turned a 3-2 Woosox lead onto a Mets blowout. If the games were only innings long Woosox would have remained 3 ½ games behind the league leading Columbus Clippers.
Instead they dropped a game with only 7 games left in the season. On the bright side Woosox are still mathematically in the playoff hunt and despite the outcome RHP starter Justin Hagenman spun an excellent game through the 6th. A six strikeout outing with 61 pitches in the strike zone, out of 89 thrown, Hagenman only allowed 2 runs, one in the 3rd and another in the 4th.
A 3 run rally by the Sox in the 5th, a 2 RBI single by RF Jamie Westbrook followed by a SS Bobby Dalbec sacrifice fly, left the Mets in a deficit. “Hagenman was awesome,” said Woosox club manager Chad Tracy, “it’s as deep as we’ve taken him, innings and pitches and he was up to the task.”
Not making excuses by Tracy was put in a precarious position, concerning the bullpen, with two pitchers moving up to the majors. “We are missing guys… so we’re very thin. A couple guys are optioned that are not going to be here until next week. We’re in a position where you just got to navigate the best you can.”
Woosox wrap up the last home stand of the season at 1:05pm Sunday and finish up with one final series against Lehigh Valley.