The Worcester Red Sox entered their week long series at Polar Park against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs looking to extend their six game winning streak, and in Tuesday’s contest the WooSox got off to a fast start and never looked back in a 10-1 victory.
The scoring began in the second frame on a Jonathan Arauz RBI single, and Josh Ockimey followed with a two-run blast to center to make it 3-0. The IronPigs grabbed a run in the top of the third, but in the home half the WooSox grabbed two of their own on a Franchy Cordero RBI double and a Jeter Downs RBI single. In the fifth, an Arauz single drove in two to make it 7-1, and a seventh-inning Cordero double plated two more. An eighth-inning Arauz sacrifice fly made it the 10-1 final.
Raynel Espinal went five innings for the win, scattering three hits and striking out seven for his sixth victory for the season. John Schreiber, Marcus Walden, and Kevin McCarthy combined to face just 14 batters in four innings of relief.
After seven wins in a row Worcester was due for a clunker, and they absolutely had one Wednesday in a 8-2 loss to Lehigh Valley. Daniel Gossett took the defeat, allowing six runs in 4.1 innings before giving way to Zac Grotz, who allowed two more in 1.2 innings. An eighth-inning bases-loaded walk by Franchy Cordero avoided the shutout, and Yairo Munoz drove in a second run with a single to center.
All season long the WooSox seem to always get the timely hit, and it was no different Thursday when Jeter Downs launched an eighth-inning home run to left to lift Worcester to a 3-2 victory. The WooSox first two runs came in the third inning on a Jarren Duran RBI double and Franchy Cordero RBI single. Tanner Houck, making his first appearance since opening night, started and went three innings without surrendering a hit while striking out six. Matt Hall followed with two scoreless innings, fanning three.
Things were going smoothly for Worcester until Austin Brice surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to IronPigs designated hitter Mickey Moniak in the seventh frame, necessitating Downs’ homer to put the WooSox back into the lead. Kaleb Ort then pitched the final two frames for the win, striking out three and dropping his ERA to 0.50.
Friday was all about the long ball as Worcester launched three of them in a 5-1 win. Yairo Munoz had the first WooSox homer on a screaming liner over the left-field wall in the second frame. After an IronPigs homer in the top of the fifth Jarren Duran made it 3-1 with a two-run shot to left-center. In the eighth Michael Chavis launched a towering two-run homer to left for the 5-1 final.
Stephen Gonsalves earned the victory by going six innings and allowing just the one run while striking out seven. Kevin McCarthy whiffed three in two innings of relief work.
It was the usual Saturday late afternoon game for the WooSox, and they cruised through the first eight innings and survived a bumpy ninth in a 6-3 victory. Jack Lopez knocked in the first Worcester run in the second with a single to right, and in the fourth, he did it again to make it 2-0. Franchy Cordero doubled in two runs in the seventh for the four run lead, and then Lopez picked up his third RBI of the day in the eighth. Jarren Duran followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Those late runs ended up being important as Phillips Valdez struggled on the mound in the ninth, but John Schreiber, who wasn’t exactly sharp himself, managed to get the final two outs for the win. Kyle Hart evened his record at 3-3 with another stellar performance, striking out five and allowing three hits in seven innings of work.
Sunday was a beautiful day for baseball, and fans in attendance got to see a bonus inning walk-off homer when Jarren Duran launched a three-run shot over the left-field wall to give Worcester a 5-2 win. Lehigh Valley got on the board in the first, but in the third, the WooSox got back to even on a Josh Ockimey blast to left-center. The IronPigs retook the lead in the fourth, and in the sixth, a Jack Lopez double knotted the score 2-2. That was the score until Duran’s tenth inning heroics.
It was a bullpen start for Worcester, with Caleb Simpson eventually picking up the win.
210Sports’ WooSox of the week
Pitcher: Kyle Hart is this week’s winner, earning a win in a seven-inning scoreless start, striking out five while allowing just three hits.
Batter: Jarren Duran gets the nod, going 10-26 with two doubles and two home runs. He had seven RBI and scored four runs.
Last week’s transactions
Monday, June 14: Boston recalled Michael Chavis from Worcester and designated Ryan Weber for assignment. (Weber was claimed by Milwaukee).
Wednesday, June 16: Boston outrighted Brandon Brennan to Worcester and optioned Michael Chavis to Worcester. Worcester activated Caleb Simpson from the suspended list.
Thursday, June 17: Worcester activated Tanner Houck and Chad De La Guerra from the IL. Worcester placed Raynel Espinal and Johan Mieses on the TIA (Olympic Qualifier).
This week’s schedule
at Rochester (Washington)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 7pm
Wednesday: 1pm
Thursday: 7pm
Friday: 7pm
Saturday: 7pm
Sunday: 1pm
—
Got something you loved (or hated) about the post? Head on over to the 210Sports Facebook page and leave a comment. You could comment on this post too, but fair warning, the spam filter catches lots of stuff it shouldn’t and it might be weeks before we see your comment. While you’re there, give the page a like if you could.
-30-
210Sports 