-By Darryl Harding Sr
A slight breeze comes off the field on this clear 69° day at Polar Park where the Worcester Redsox host the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Jacksonville holds fourth place in the standings 6.5 games out of first.
Southpaw starter Kyle Harrison spins from the hill for the Woosox. Harrison has struck out one hundred and seven batters the entire season. This premiere game of the homestand started with the Shrimp posting a run in the first inning against Harrison.
Unfortunately after relinquishing two singles, Harrison balked and the first run crossed the plate. Woosox answered immediately when SS David Hamilton took a 92 mph four seamer, low and inside, and sent it over the wall in right center.
Taking Jumbo Shrimp starting pitcher, lefty Patrick Monteverde, yard now tied the game at 1-1. Both pitchers settled in and we had a bona fide pitchers duel until the bottom of the fourth.
A single and a walk paved the way for Woosox C Seby Zavala to record an RBI double and that was followed by LF Philip Sikes chalking up two RBIs with an additional single. 4-1 was quickly cut when Jacksonville reciprocated with a two run inning of their own.
Locked at 4-3, advantage Worcester, both pitchers completed five innings. Harrison threw eighty-five pitches overall, hitting the strike zone at a 67% rate. Woosox bullpen shined in late innings and right handed relievers Justin Slaten and Bryan Mata pitched through the next eight outs without allowing the Jumbo Shrimp to report any damage.
Matching the Worcester energy Jacksonville managed similar results and kept within striking distance. RHP Zack Kelly came in for the four out close and despite a small hiccup letting up a walk in the ninth, Kelly tallied all four outs and the Woosox take the initial game of the series 4-3.
Worcester Redsox manager Chad Tracy commented on the bullpen’s success, “The bullpen was outstanding…that was four innings of holding a one run lead and they did the job.”
Harrison grabs the win and Kelly registered the save. MiLB baseball resumes Wednesday at 6:45 pm here at picturesque Polar Park.