By Paul Vangos
On a picture-perfect Wednesday evening in Worcester, MA, the WooSox took the field less than an hour after defeating the Rochester Red Wings 5-4 in the first seven-inning game of the day. After yesterday’s monsoon-like downpours, 14-inning action in 80-degree sunshine was the prize for the two sides on this day.
Heading into action on hump day, Worcester was looking to get over the proverbial hump of a .500 winning percentage on the season. In total, the Sox were 41-42, but had stumbled out of the gate in the second half of the International League Season with a 5-7 record. They looked to change that with this series against the Red Wings, and after winning Game 1, courtesy of a Tyler McDonough Grand Slam, it was full speed ahead for Worcester.
Seth Martinez started on the bump for the WooSox, while the shaky Andry Lara began on the mound for Rochester. After a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Worcester bats wasted no time in waking up. After Vinny Capra, Kristian Campbell, and Mickey Gasper all reached base safely, Brett Harris stepped up to the plate with one out. Harris, who was traded from the Athletics to Boston a week ago, knocked his first home run as a member of the Red Sox organization into the left field patio, generating an early 4-0 lead for Worcester.
After two strikeouts in the top of the second, Martinez found himself in some trouble after giving up an infield hit and beaning a batter. Trey Lipscomb reached on an infield single in the next at-bat, and after a throwing error by Worcester second baseman Tyler McDonough, Andrew Pinckney came home to put Rochester on the board. Cayden Wallace popped out to end the threat.
Meanwhile, McDonough was picked off at first to end the bottom half of the inning for the WooSox.
With flamethrower Angel Bastardo coming in at the top of the third, the Rochester bats were silenced. On the other hand, Worcester laid the hurt on Red Wing reliever Zak Kent. After being met with a Mickey Gasper dinger off the batter’s eye in Center, Kent didn’t even survive the whole inning; he was chased to the tune of three hits, three earned runs, and a wild pitch.
His successor, Alex Young, didn’t fare much better. Needing just one out, Young walked in a run, then saw Vinny Capra smash a line drive down the line for a two-run double and a 9-1 WooSox lead. Young did not return in the 4th.
Besides a solo shot from both teams—Rochester’s Brady House and Worcester’s Max Ferguson’s dingers canceled each other out, the game flew by in the final four innings. The offenses fell silent, but not before the damage by the home team had been dealt. After a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” and with the crowd on its feet, Sam McWilliams struck out Trey Lipscomb to end the game with a 10-2 Sox victory.
Worcester saw stellar pitching all night from Martinez, Bastardo—who was credited with his 4th win, and Eduardo Rivera; each of whom pitched two near flawless innings. The only earned run Rochester tallied was from House’s solo shot, and the Red Wings managed just three hits all game. And in the end, McWilliams slammed the door in the seventh.
Andry Lara continued his run of poor form tonight, giving up four runs in two innings of work, while also being tacked with his 6th loss to go along with two wins. Kent and Young were beaten up in the five-run third inning, while the final three Rochester relievers limited the damage for the rest of the ballgame.
One concerning thing to watch tonight was Tyler McDonough’s mistakes, both on the base-paths and in the field. He was the second baseman that made both Worcester errors tonight, and he was caught in a lapse when he got picked off at first to end the second inning. Then again, his grand slam in game 1 lifted Worcester to a win, so he can slide by with this one this time.
Worcester continues their six-game series against the Red Wings on Thursday, with both sides jockeying for the chance to stay at or above .500 in the early part of the International League’s second half of the season. Stay tuned for more Worcester Red Sox game updates and articles right here on NewsTalk New England.