BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings snapped their three game losing against the Worcester Red Sox with a 3-2 victory in a rain shortened game Friday evening.
”This was a big win,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “It was a rain shortened game that we won, but you’ll take a win however we can take it and get it.”
Friday’s contest started with a 42 minute rain delay. After the delay, Rochester wasted no time in the bottom of the first when Riley Adams continued his hot hitting from last night with a two RBI double that scored Andrew Pinckney and Brady House. Pinckney reached via being hit by a pitch and House collected a base hit to set up the clutch Adams double.
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”He sets the tone for our game,” LeCory said. “It was a big one. It was a bullet that he hit and that was two big runs for us.”
Worcester responded the following inning with two runs of their own to tie the ballgame.
Rochester wasted no time regaining their lead when Pinckney collected a base hit RBI that scored Robert Hassell III who reached base with his first career Triple-A base hit.
”I know it had to be weighing on the young kid,” LeCroy said. “I know he wanted to get that first one out of the way, but I’m excited for him. I’m hoping he gain the confidence and continue to finish out this season on a good note.”
”Feels good to get it out of the way,” Hassell III said. “I wish it would’ve happened a little bit sooner, but I’m glad it came on a day where we got the win.”
After an exciting first three innings, the team’s calmed down offensively as neither team was able to put up a crooked number for the remainder of Friday contest.
Rochester was able to set down Worcester in order four times behind some strong pitching from Thaddeus Ward. Ward earned his eighth victory of the season behind a strong six innings on the mound. The right-hander struck out three while giving up two runs on four hits and two walks.
”We try to take the positives from the outing and move forward with the positives and leave the negatives behind,” Ward said. “There were definitely negatives in tonight’s outing, but there were a lot more positives.”
The delayed start to the contest didn’t disrupt Ward’s preparation and routine for Friday’s contest.
”I had pretty early notice from everybody,” Ward said. “They gave me a very early heads up and I was able to adjust my routine based off that.”
The game was called in the top of the eighth inning with two outs after the rain had been coming down hard since the start of the inning. Worcester’s Kristian Campbell had drawn walk as the final play of the game.
Rochester will look to build off Friday’s contest as they look to keep in the International League playoff race.
”We’re not out of it yet and we’re going to continue to fight to the end and hopefully we carry the momentum from tonight into tomorrow and Saturday,” LeCroy said.
The Rochester Red Wings (34-27, 72-62) and Worcester Red Sox (34-26, 69-66) will continue their series on Friday at 6:05 p.m. as Rochester will send righty Brad Lord (2-2, 3.14) and Worcester will send righty Brad Keller (3-2, 4.06) to toe the slab.
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