The Worcester Red Sox headed north to Rochester for their week-long series against the Red Wings looking to keep their winning ways going, and things started off well in their 10-6 victory in the opener.
It was a quick start for the WoosSox, who grabbed two runs in the top of the first on RBI singles from Franchy Cordero and Jeter Downs. Jarren Duran made it 3-0 in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly and Michael Chavis added a fourth run in the third on a solo shot. But Worcester starter Daniel Gossett couldn’t hold that lead and Rochester made it 4-4 after four frames.
In the fifth, the WooSox opened up another four-run lead on Chavis’ second solo blast of the game and a Jonathan Arauz three-run shot. The Red Wings grabbed two runs in the home half of the frame, but a seventh-inning RBI double from Chris Herrmann and an eighth frame sacrifice fly Marcus Wilson took the pressure off the Worcester bullpen. Zac Grotz earned his first win of the season in relief, while Kevin McCarthy struck out four in two innings.
On Wednesday things didn’t look great for Worcester heading into the eighth down two, but the WooSox grabbed a couple runs before stumbling in the home half of the frame in a 5-3 loss. Worcester found themselves down two after four but cut that deficit in half on a Jarren Duran fifth-inning solo homer. The Red Wings got that run back in the bottom of the frame, and in the eighth, the WooSox tied it on a Jonathan Arauz RBI single and a Jett Bandy sac fly that was mere inches away from being a grand slam. The usually stellar Kaleb Ort stumbled in the home half, allowing two runs, and took the loss.
Pitching was an issue on Thursday where none of Worcester’s arms were very good as Rochester slashed out 20 hits as they thrashed the WooSox 13-5. Jonathan Arauz’s RBI single in the second and an RBI triple from Yairo Munoz gave the WooSox a 2-0 lead after two and a half. The Red Wings then made it 4-2 before Michael Gettys’ sac fly in the top of the fourth got Worcester as close as they’d get. The WooSox later added runs on a wild pitch and an infield out, but it was far too little to even make the score look respectable. Matt Hall was the only WooSox pitcher in the game to not allow a run, pitching the final inning and a third.
The downward slide continued Friday where Worcester just couldn’t get the timely hit in a 3-2 loss to the Red Wings. Down two after one a Josh Ockimey bases-loaded walk in the second made it 2-1, and a third-inning a Chris Herrmann RBI single knotted the score. Rochester retook the lead in the home half, and that was it for the scoring. Kyle Hart took the loss, allowing three solo home runs.
It was another disappointing day on Saturday as the WooSox led the ballgame four times and each time Rochester came back as Worcester would go on to lose 10-6. In the first Franchy Cordero doubled in a run, but the Red Wings tied it in their half. In the second Jett Bandy made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly, but ex-Sox catcher Blake Swihart tied it in the next at-bat.
A fourth-inning Bandy RBI single was matched in the bottom of the frame. A Cordero fifth inning home made it 4-3 Worcester, and that lead made it to the sixth where Rochester put up four runs. Michael Gettys two-run shot got the WooSox back to within one in the eighth frame, but two more runs by Rochester gave them the win. Brandon Brennan took the loss. Worcester’s best pitcher on the day was Caleb Simpson, who retired all four batters he faced.
Sunday was matinee get-away day against the Red Wings, and the WooSox couldn’t get away from Rochester fast enough as they ran their franchise-record losing streak to five games in an 8-4 loss. Starting pitcher Daniel Gossett allowed seven runs in his six innings of work, and allowed at least one baserunner in every inning he pitched. Chad De La Guerra had the only Worcester run in the first six innings on a long home run to center. A seventh-inning homer by Chris Herrmann, an eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Jeter Downs, and a ninth-inning double by De La Guerra accounted for the other WooSox runs.
210Sports’ WooSox of the week
Pitcher: Kevin McCarthy gets the nod this week, striking out five and not allowing an earned run in five innings over two relief appearances.
Batter: Chris Herrmann is this week’s winner, going 6-15 with three doubles, a triple, and a home run in four games. He scored six runs and knocked in four.
Last week’s transactions
Tuesday, June 22: Boston recalled Connor Wong from Worcester.
Thursday, June 24: Boston recalled Michael Chavis from Worcester.
This week’s schedule
vs Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NY Yankees)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 6:30pm
Wednesday: 6:30pm
Thursday: 6:30pm
Friday: 6:30pm
Saturday: 4pm
Sunday: 6:30pm
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