After a terrible week in Lehigh Valley the Worcester Red Sox limped back to Polar Park for another series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders hoping for better things, but with a line-up missing some of the team’s biggest names the WooSox are having issues in all phases of the game and it showed in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss.
Worcester got out of the gates pretty quickly in the contest, with Josh Ockimey’s second-inning double driving in two runs. It stayed 2-0 into the sixth when Sox reliever Brandon Brennan entered the game and coughed up the lead, costing starter Raynel Espinal a chance of his eighth win of the season. Matt Hall dug the hole even deeper when he wasn’t able to find the plate and couldn’t make it through the seventh inning in allowing two more runs.
It was a doubleheader on Wednesday and in the opener the WooSox played decently but still found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-3 final. Once again Worcester got on the board early, with Johan Mieses giving the team a 1-0 lead with a first-inning RBI double. Pitcher Kyle Hart, who went the seven-inning distance, gave up back-to-back doubles in the third to allow the tying run, but Josh Ockimey homered to give his team the lead back in the home half. Scranton put up two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before Ockimey homered again to make it 4-3, but that was as close as Worcester would get.
After a rain delay the second game was able to get underway, and the few fans that stayed around saw the WooSox fall behind but make a late-inning comeback as Worcester walked off 3-2 winners. Down 2-0 and coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth the WooSox got themselves back to even on RBI singles from Josh Ockimey and Tate Matheny. In the bottom of the seventh Franchy Cordero tripled to dead center, and then scored when RailRaiders reliever Braden Bristo uncorked a wild pitch.
Thursday was an ugly game for the WooSox when starter Kevin McCarthy couldn’t make it through the third inning and Worcester never even got close in an 11-3 loss. It was a little better on Friday when Stephen Gonsalves struck out seven batters in six innings, but once again the WooSox ended up on the wrong end of a big score, losing 7-2.
On Saturday, Worcester got their game started, but a torrential rainstorm that flooded a huge portion of the city caused the game to be suspended to Sunday. They managed to get a couple of innings in on Sunday until another storm caused the remainder of the series to be postponed.
210Sports’ WooSox of the week
Pitcher: Jose Adames gets the nod this week, earning the WooSox only win of the week. He struck out two and allowed just one hit in two innings pitched.
Batter: Josh Ockimey is this week’s winner, going 7-14 with a double and two home runs. He knocked in six runs, walked three times, and scored twice.
Last week’s transactions
Monday, July 12: Worcester placed Connor Seabold on a rehab assignment to the FCL.
Tuesday, July 13: Worcester activated Jeter Downs from the TIA.
Thursday, July 15: Worcester placed Johan Mieses (Olympics) on the TIA, and added Matt Kent and Seth Blair from Portland.
Friday, July 16: Boston selected Jarren Duran and recalled Tanner Houck from Worcester. Boston placed Danny Santana on a rehab assignment in Worcester. Worcester placed Zac Grotz (right elbow inflammation) on the IL and Jack Lopez (Olympics) on the TIA.
This week’s schedule
At Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 7pm
Wednesday: 7pm
Thursday: 7pm
Friday: 7pm
Saturday: (DH), 4:30pm
Sunday: 1:30pm
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