WORCESTER – The Worcester Red Sox played parts of two games through the Raindrops on Thursday as they won the suspended game 6-2 on Wednesday and fell 1-0 in five innings of rain against the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre-shortened contest in a very wet polar park.
Christian Arroyo served as DH in the second game and ran out with a 0-for-1 strikeout. He was also hit by a pitch and started a long foul flyball. If the weather cooperates, he’ll be in Worcester tomorrow to continue his rehab assignment as he works his way back from a bruised right shin.
Stephen Gonsalves started for the WooSox against the RailRiders on Wednesday, drove two goalless innings and got five out of six outs through strikeout, but also went two and allowed two hits.
Raynel Espinal made his originally scheduled start on Thursday as he went through his normal warm-up routine and picked up where the game ended at the start of the third inning. Espinal went five strong innings, allowing a run with four hits and four walks, dropping six. Four walks did not help his pitch count, which reached 95 through five innings. Espinal has won seven decisions in a row and improved to 7-1 during the season. It was the first time in 15 days that Espinal was back on the hill for Worcester as he wasn’t on the team to play for team Dominican Republic in an Olympic qualifying tournament.
The WooSox took third place on Thursday with a 2: 1 lead. Jarren Duran led the home half of the first half, stole the second and advanced to third after a Cordero groundout. Johan Mieses left with two outs to present Chris Herrmann, who was single in Duran. Jack Lopez then laced a single to the right, but Lousy was tossed on the record, trying to score from second place.
The WooSox expanded their lead in the second. Chad De La Guerra drew a leadoff walk and later scored in the inning at the choice of an outfield player by Duran. Duran then stole his second base of the night, this time a belated theft, with Duran breaking for the pocket when RailRiders catcher Robinson Chirinos was up and out of his crouch. Chirinos pumped double before making the late throw to second place.
On Thursday, the WooSox extended their lead with home runs by Marcus Wilson and Herrmann, who went 3-on-4 over the course of the nine innings. Wilson, who had problems recently, worked against RailRiders starter Deivi Garcia to 3-0, but then received two punches. He grabbed the payout slot and placed it in the left field.
Herrmann went deep from RailRiders replacement Braden Bristo and hit a solo shot to the right, his fifth home run of the season.
The WooSox had a small time window to play before heavy rains came in the evening. With Espinal, the designated starter for Thursday, who fielded in the first game, it was up to the bullpen to cope with the nightcap. John Schreiber got the start and despite two walks to start the game, he settled in to hit two goalless innings.
Matt Hall beat third and the WooSox were bitten by the speed of the RailRider. Estevan Florial hit a leadoff single, stole second, and moved up to third with a one-out groundout. He came home with a Socrates Brito single, and that was all Scranton / Wilkes-Barre would need.
The WooSox had a chance of a draw. Yairo Munoz hit a one-out single in fourth and stole the second, but was caught trying to beat third place in a close match as well. In the fifth and final inning, Jack Lopez hit a one-out double from the Worcester Wall and advanced to third when Jett Bandy grabbed Catcher’s interference, but Duran fanned out to end the inning.
The WooSox and RailRider will try to continue their series on Friday evening in Polar Park, although the forecast looks ominous. The two will also compete against each other on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. and on Sunday at 6:35 p.m.
