Last week the Worcester Red Sox hit the road and headed to Allentown, Pennsylvania to take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park hoping to carry some of the momentum from their 9-3 homestand with them.
Tuesday’s series opener things started off well for the WooSox, but they couldn’t hold on to two different leads in a 6-5 extra-inning loss. Worcester took a two run lead in the top of the fourth when Yairo Munoz tripled home Michael Chavis and then scored on Marcus Wilson’s RBI single. But it got ugly from there as Worcester would find themselves down 4-2 heading to the top of the ninth. With two down in the frame, Michael Gettys hit a flair to left for a double to score a run, and then Cesar Puello’s ground-rule double knotted the score 4-4.
In the tenth, Jonathan Arauz gave the WooSox a 5-4 lead with a sacrifice fly, but Marcus Walden couldn’t hold the lead as the IronPigs scored twice in the home half to win. It was Walden’s second blown save and loss on the season. Stephen Gonsalves was the starter, striking out eight in five innings, but still continues to have some control problems as he continues to lead the team in bases on balls.
The less said about the WooSox 6-0 loss on Wednesday, the better. Michael Chavis had the only hit for Worcester, a line shot to center in the top of the ninth to break up the no-hitter. Kyle Hart took the loss, allowing five runs in 3.1 innings. Brandon Workman struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Worcester’s bats didn’t take long to come out of their slump as they had 11 hits in their 9-2 win over Lehigh Valley. Down a run in the third, the WooSox tied the game on an infield error that probably should have been recorded as a hit and RBI for Michael Chavis. Marcus Wilson’s bases-loaded single gave Worcester the lead, and Cesar Puello followed with a two-run single to left to make it 4-1. Michael Gettys’ flair to left then made it five runs in the frame.
It was 5-2 in the eighth when the WooSox added three more runs, one on a Yairo Munoz fielder’s choice and two on Wilson’s double to left. Munoz added another RBI in the ninth for the 9-2 final. Ryan Weber earned the win, striking out seven in six innings. Kevin McCarthy struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.
The rain that pelted Worcester Friday night also was falling in Pennsylvania, leading to the first-ever postponement in Worcester Red Sox history. The game was moved to Saturday as part of a double-header.
In the first of the two seven inning Saturday contests, the WooSox used a seventh-inning home run from Josh Ockimey to beat Lehigh Valley 4-2. The IronPigs took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third, but in the fourth Michael Chavis walked and Franchy Cordero crushed one to right for the 2-1 lead. Lehigh Valley would tie it again in the fifth, leading to Ockimey’s heroics. Raynel Espinal earned his third win on the season with a six inning stint, striking out five. Brandon Workman stuck out all three batters he faced for the save.
Game two started a lot like the first game, but ended with the same result, a Worcester 4-2 win. The IronPigs grabbed two runs in the second innings, and that lead held up until the sixth when the WooSox put up a four-spot in the frame. Four straight Worcester batters walked, earning Michael Gettys an RBI. Jack Lopez’s sacrifice fly knotted the game 2-2, and after Cesar Puello and Gettys performed a perfect double steal Jett Bandy two-run single to right made it the 4-2 final. Daniel Gossett picked up the win with a five inning stint. Kaleb Ort struck out three of the four batters he faced in the sixth, and then Kevin McCarthy survived a wild seventh inning for the save.
Most of the WooSox Sunday games have an early afternoon start, but it was scheduled 6:30pm first pitch in Lehigh Valley and that worked out in Worcester’s favor as they came out on top in a 2-0 rain-shortened contest. A Tate Matheny RBI single got Worcester on the board in the fourth, and in the fifth Franchy Cordero launched a bomb to right field for their second run. Then the rains came, and after a 30-minute delay, the game was declared a final. John Schreiber got the start but pitched just the first inning. Stephen Gonsalves went the rest of the way earning the win, striking out nine in five innings.
210Sports’ WooSox of the week
Pitcher: Brandon Workman is the winner in week four, striking out five of the six batters he faced over two innings of work, and earning a save.
Batter: Franchy Cordero gets the nod this week, going 5-12 with two home runs, three RBI, and four runs scored. He led the WooSox with a 1.378 OPS.
Last week’s transactions
Monday, May 24: Boston optioned Michael Chavis to Worcester
Tuesday, May 25: Boston outrighted Austin Brice to Worcester. Worcester placed Jarren Duran on the TIA (Olympic qualifying tournament).
Thursday, May 27: Worcester placed Jeter Downs on the TIA (Olympic qualifying tournament).
Friday, May 28: Boston recalled Colten Brewer from Worcester.
This week’s schedule
vs Rochester (Baltimore)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 6:30pm
Wednesday: 6:30pm
Thursday: 6:30pm
Friday: 6:30pm
Saturday: 4pm
Sunday: 1pm
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