By MIKE ROSE
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– After seemingly creating a wave of momentum with last night’s walk-off victory, the Rochester Red Wings let one get away late falling to the Worcester Red Sox 5-2. Worcester scored four runs in the final two innings to rally for the victory.
Offensively the Red Wings were unable to pick up where they left off Tuesday night with just five hits in the game. Overall Rochester sent the minimum to the plate in six of the nine innings.
“(Kyle) Barraclough kept us off balance,” Red Wings Manager Matt LeCroy said. “He had a good mix and we just didn’t make enough adjustments to really make an impact. Hard fought game against a good team but we just have to be better offensively.”
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The veteran right-hander Barraclough worked a career-high seven innings in the start for Worcester allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. On the other side, Rochester sent Alemao Hernandez to the bump for just his second career Triple-A start. After allowing six runs in his debut against Buffalo he worked 4.2 innings of one-run action Wednesday. The lefty allowed three hits and issued two walks on the night with a pair of strikeouts.
“He mixed his fastball to both sides and had the breaking ball and changeup working,” LeCroy said. “He doesn’t seem to be fazed by much so hopefully, he can continue to throw the ball like that and keep us in games.”
The Red Wings opted to go with closer Gerson Moreno in the seventh inning and into the eighth where a sacrifice fly eventually tied the game. Tim Cate was then called on to record the final out of the eighth. This forced LeCroy to turn to Daniel Mengden in the three-run ninth inning that ultimately decided the game.
Nine Red Sox came to the plate in the frame as hard contact was delivered off Mengden early and often. David Hamilton drove in the eventual game-winning run with an RBI triple. An RBI single from Enmannuel Valdez and an RBI double from Bobby Dalbec pushed the lead out to three and the Red Wings had no heroics left in the ninth as they were retired in order.
“We knew we were going to go two with him (Moreno) and we felt right there was the best spot to put him in, especially with the game that close. It didn’t work but we had a tie ballgame going to the ninth and we gave up a crooked number. We just didn’t respond like we did last night,” LeCroy said
It was a solo home run by Jake Noll that carried out to right-center field in the fourth that began the scoring on the night.
“I think I’ve played I feel like 500 games here in Rochester and I’ve never got one out to right-center field so that was a first for me,” Noll said.
After Hernandez worked into trouble in the fifth Amos Willingham came on in relief and walked in a run to tie the game at one. Rochester got one back in the sixth on an RBI single from Luis Garcia before things unraveled late.
“We just have to come out ready to play,” Noll said. “It’s baseball, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s a tough loss tonight but we’ll be ready tomorrow.”
Rochester (21-25, 55-64) will look to bounce back ahead of a quick turnaround for an afternoon tilt in game three of the series with Worcester (28-18, 67-54). Wily Peralta (3-8, 6.83) is slated to get the start for Rochester while Brian Van Belle (2-2, 7.76) is scheduled to get the ball for the Red Sox. First pitch at Innovative Field is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
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