-By Darryl Harding Sr
After a game postponed, in mid April, due to snow, the Woosox are back in action at prestigious Polar Park. Facing the Columbus Clippers for the fifth time in this homestand, Woosox tried to register a second series win.
Donning the mound with another inning of rehab is RHP Liam Hendriks. Easily breezing through the inning, throwing eighteen pitches with one strikeout, Hendriks looked solid.
RHP Vince Velasquez starts for the Clippers and the Woosox make their mark first, recording a run on 2B Vaughn Grissom RBI single. After the score giving Worcester the advantage 1-0, Velasquez settled in and supervised a scoreless second inning.
Woosox bring another rehabbing pitcher in to spell Hendriks. RHP Hunter Dobbins, fresh from the big leagues, takes the hill to begin the second inning. Finally making their mark in the fourth Columbus racked up a crooked number with a homer by 1B Juan Brito and a LF Micah Pries RBI ground out.
Now 2-1, the Sox struck back immediately tying the game 2-2 on a CF Nate Eaton RBI double. Leaving two men stranded Woosox were unable to capitalize and score remained knotted up.
Dobbins began the fifth inning but was replaced after loading the bases and putting the game lead in jeopardy. Replaced by righty Robert Stock, Dobbins had a decent outing, throwing sixty-one pitches, fourty-one in the strike zone.
A well timed Brito sacrifice fly gave the Clippers the edge 3-2. Quickly firing back the Woosox, effectively carried on chalking up two more Woosox runs. RF Nick Sogard line drives a double scoring C Seby Zavala and DH Roman Anthony.
In similar fashion the Clippers hammered back without delay. Relieving Stock, RHP Wyatt Mills gave up an RBI single to Clippers RF Will Brennan and Huff RBIed in the eighth.
Dangerously close to losing yet another game in the late innings, Woosox desperately attempted to rally in the eighth. Having already shutout the Woosox for the sixth and seventh, Columbus pitcher, left hander, Ryan Webb step to the mound, hoping to continue to thwart the Worcester bats.
Chilly weather would no longer hold the Woosox bats hostage. Stringing together two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly evened up the game. A double steal and a RF Philip Sikes two RBI double established a Worcester lead 7-5.
An additional RBI single from Anthony solidified the victory 8-5 and a four run bottom of the eighth marks the end of the Woosox offensive production woes. “Stretching seven or eight at bats together in an inning, really good ones, and putting up a crooked number. That has eluded us all year and today we got it,” commented Chad Tracy, Woosox clubhouse manager. “Team at bats always reward you.”
Woosox although dropping four games culminated the series on a high note. Sox now travel to Rochester to commence a series against the Red Wings on Tuesday April 15th at 6:05 pm.