BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings dropped their series finale with the Worcester Red Sox on Sunday, 12-1, as Worcester outhit Rochester 13-7.
Although the game was close in the early innings, Worcester increased its lead throughout the game and took a double-digit lead after scoring multiple runs in the seventh and eighth.
The loss was Rochester’s largest since a 17-6 defeat against Lehigh Valley on Aug. 10.
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Worcester jumped on Red Wings starter Roddery Munoz early, as the first three batters reached base, including an RBI double by Yu Chang to open scoring at 1-0. Two sacrifice flies extended Worcester’s lead to 3-0 by the end of the first.
Rochester got on the board in the bottom of the second against Worcester starter Brandon Walter, as first baseman Jack Dunn drew a one-out walk, and then shortstop Richie Martin smashed a sinker 104.6 MPH down the left field line for an RBI triple- his second of the season- to make it 3-1.
The score extended the Red Wings’ streak of not being shut out to 116 games. That streak is the most in the International League since at least 2005 and the most for a Wings team since at least 1997.
That would be the last of Rochester’s offense for the rest of the game, as Walter went seven innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out six. The WooSox, meanwhile, continued to extend their lead throughout the game.
“We fell behind by three runs in the first, and we couldn’t staunch the bleeding,” said acting manager Billy McMillon. “Their lefty (Walter) gave us fits in his other starts against us, and we weren’t able to match what they were doing offensively.”
Worcester scored two more in the fourth, one in the fifth, four in the seventh, and two in the eighth. Ceddanne Rafaela, Chang, and Bobby Dalbec all had home runs, with Dalbec finishing the game 4-for-4 with three RBI and a double short of the cycle.
Derek Hill, returning from the Injured List after dealing with a heel issue, went 2-4, singling in the first and eighth.
The Red Wings (22-28 in the second half, 56-67 overall, nine games back) finish the season series with Worcester (31-19 in the second half, 70-55 overall, first place) with a 10-10 record, winning series against the Red Sox in May and July but dropping this week’s series and a set in June.
Rochester continues the homestand on Tuesday, when they welcome the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Lefty Alemao Hernandez (0-1, 8.22) is the probable pitcher for the Wings, while Mitch Spence (8-6, 4.59) is scheduled for Scranton.
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