Worcester, MA – The Worcester Red Sox concluded the first half of their season-long 12-game homestand on Sunday afternoon with a disappointing, 7-6 defeat to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday afternoon in front of another sell-out crowd of 8,411 fans at Polar Park. Worcester was on the verge of their 5th straight victory and coming up winners for the 16th time in their last 18 games, but Lehigh Valley rallied for 5 runs in the top of the 9th inning to turn a 6-2 deficit into a stunning, 7-6 victory.
The WooSox will be off tomorrow (Monday) before resuming their homestand on Tuesday night when they host the Buffalo Bisons in the first of a 6-game series through next Sunday. Worcester has 36 games remaining on the season (18 at home & 18 away) as they bid for the league’s best record in the 2nd half (now 23-14) to earn the playoff spot that comes with that.
In the fateful 9th inning, the IronPigs mounted a five-run comeback to overcome Worcester’s 6-2 lead. Wyatt Olds, who has pitched so well over the past two months (38 SO in his last 25 IP), was the victim of two costly throwing errors of his own – both attempting to get outs at 1st base – along with a walk and three Lehigh Valley hits to suffer the tough loss.
Otto Kemp, who homered earlier in the game, ripped an RBI single through the hole between short and third to make it 6-3. Paul McIntosh followed with a line double into the left centerfield gap, bringing home two more runs to slice the deficit to 6-5. Steward Berroa tied the game with a bunt single, went to second on a throwing error by Olds, and eventually raced home with the go-ahead run on a sac fly by Kameron Misner.
The final line on Olds (4-5) – 1+ IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. RHP Blake Wehunt made his fourth start for the WooSox since his promotion from Portland and did his job – 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. Osvaldo Berrios was sharp despite a solo HR by Gabriel Rincones Jr. in the 6th-inning – 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO. John Brebbia, the 36-year-old, 8-year Major League veteran righthander who was born in Boston and pitched at Sharon, MA High School, made his Red Sox organizational debut and had a 1-2-3, 7th-inning with a strikeout.
WooSox RF Kristian Campbell continued his recent resurgence with a perfect 3-hit day and is now batting .387 in his last 19 games since July 8 with 3 HR, 15 RBI, and 16 runs scored. 3B Vinny Capra went 2-for-4 to extend his WooSox season-high hitting streak to 14 games (22-for-50, .440). CF Nate Eaton had 2 hits, a walk, and 2 RBI while C Mickey Gasper delivered a 2-run single in the 5th inning that gave the Sox a 5-1 lead.
Recently-acquired Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman made his second injury rehab start with the WooSox (this time as the DH) and went 0-for-3. The switch-hitter, batting right-handed on Sunday, flew out to rightfield leading off the bottom of the 1st inning, struck out looking in the 3rd, and popped out to 2nd base in the 5th inning. On Saturday he played 5-innings as the catcher going 1-for-2 with a 2-run double, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored while batting left-handed. The three-time American League All-Star who was dealt to Boston last Monday, had been on Baltimore’s injured list since July 20 with left wrist inflammation.
After Monday’s traditional off day, the WooSox get right back into action at Polar Park this Tuesday night at 6:45 pm when their homestand resumes with the opener of a 6-game series against the Buffalo Bisons (AAA-Toronto). Starters for both teams have yet to be announced. The game is live on NESN+ and can be heard on NASH 98.9 FM and The Pike 100.1 FM.