By JON SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings fell short a run against the Worcester Red Sox Wednesday evening.
Rochester came back from a two-run deficit late to force extra innings. Jeter Downs crushed a two-run home run in the tenth inning to put Worcester up 6-4. Andrew Stevenson scored Junior Martina to cut the lead to one, but the rally fell short and Rochester lost 6-5.
The majority of the scoring happened between the second and fourth inning of the ballgame. Downs put the Red Sox on the board by scoring on a wild pitch. The Red Wings tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Joey Meneses that scored Matt Lipka with the bases loaded. Josh Palacios singled to give Rochester the lead. Worcester took its lead back right away at the top of the fourth. The Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs. On two walks and a hit-by-pitch, they were able to score three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
Rochester’s bullpen shut Worcester down after the three-run fourth inning. Luis Avilan, Alberto Baldonado, and Patrick Murphy combined for five and a third strong innings pitched. They only allowed two Worcester hits in the five and a third innings. Baldonado fanned four Red Sox hitters in his two innings of work. Avilan struck out one in his inning and a third of work, while Murphy struck out three in two innings pitched.
“They covered that spot in the game to keep us in it to give us a chance to get back into the game and have a chance to win,” LeCroy stated about the bullpen.
The strong effort from the bullpen helped spark the offense. In the eighth inning, Ildemaro Vargas drove in Lipka to cut the Worcester lead to one. Rochester’s rally continued in the ninth inning. Donovan Casey drove in a pinch-running Cole Freeman to tie the game for the Red Wings.
“We know that anytime anybody comes in the game and keeps them from scoring, we’re in every ball game,” LeCroy said.
Rochester will look to get its first win of the series as they are back in action Thursday afternoon against Worcester at 1:05 PM.
Chaz says
Great job on your blog