By: Mike Rose
A back and forth affair throughout saw the Worcester Red Sox pull one out 6-5 in extra innings over the Rochester Red Wings. The Red Wings controlled much of the early portion of the game but allowed the Red Sox to score two in the sixth and two in the tenth to eventually escape with the come from behind victory. Despite the loss Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy was happy with his team's fight.
"When you lose games like this it comes down to execution on both sides," Leroy said. "We didn't get it done late but they fought. As a manager that's all you can ask is they come every day ready to fight their tails off and that's what we've been doing. Hopefully it will turnaround for us and we'll get on a little streak here and get back in it."
Both starters found themselves working out of trouble early and often in this one. Red Wings starter Jose Ureña loaded the bases before striking out three straight batters to escape danger. Red Sox starter Chris Murphy did not have the same luck in the bottom half of the first as Wilson Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single to score Corey Dickerson. Ureña pitched out of trouble again in the second, this time stranding two runners. Murphy worked around a Kevin Plawecki single in the second to keep the score 1-0 heading to the top of the third when Worcester would strike.
Wilyer Abreu and Daniel Palka both left the yard off Ureña in the top of the third to push the Red Sox ahead in 2-1. The team traded 1-2-3 innings in the bottom of the third and top of the fourth before the Red Wings offense would come alive again.
After walks to Jeter Downs and Richie Martin to start the bottom half of the fourth, Plawecki grounded one up the middle that was thrown away by the shortstop Nick Sogard who tried to make the play at second base. The throwing error allowed Downs to score and tie the game once again. Cody Wilson would then follow with an RBI single to left to score Martin and put Rochester back on top 3-2.
Ureña would finish his final frame with a perfect top of the fifth and as the pitcher of record. He finished with eight strikeouts over his five innings of work and allowing just two runs on four hits and two walks. In the bottom half of the fifth, Franklin Barreto went deep for the Red Wings for his fifth home run of the season to extend the lead to 4-2. Also in the bottom of the fifth Jeter Downs left with an injury legging out a double. Derek Hill would take his place in the order.
With the defensive changes by Rochester due to the Downs injury, Dickerson would also exit the game, replace by Matt Adams. It was the first game of Dickerson's rehab assignment from a calf injury that had him on the shelf since April 2.
Jose Ferrer entered the game in the sixth where it all came unraveled for Rochester. Palka doubled before Sogard would drive him in with an RBI single. Two batters later, Caleb Hamilton would come with an RBI base hit to score Sogard and tie the game at 4.
From there both bullpens settled into the game. A double from Ryan Fitzgerald in the top of the eighth that was narrowly missed a home run was the only hit in the final three frames and the game remained tied after nine and headed to extra innings.
In the top of the tenth Worcester started with Abreu on second base as the ghost runner. Jorge Alfaro moved him to third in a deep fly ball to center field. Jordan Weems in his second inning of work for Rochester then face Greg Allen. During Allen's at-bat Plawecki allowed a passed ball and Abreu came in to score and take lead. Allen would work a walk and then unleash havoc on the base paths stealing both second and third before coming in on a Sogard sacrifice fly. The Red Wings would see one run come home in the bottom of the tenth on an RBI double from Richie Martin but they were unable to bring home the tying run.
The Red Wings falls now to 13-22 on the season and currently occupy last place in the International League East standings. They'll look to get back on track in the fifth game of the home series against Worcester Saturday, May 13 at 6:45pm.