Redwings' Midgame Surge Wasted in 10-5 Loss to Worcester

By Christopher Drummond

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings saw a promising early lead slip away Friday night, falling 10–5 to the Worcester Red Sox and extending their losing streak to three games.

Rochester entered the matchup looking to rebound after being swept in a Thursday doubleheader, but Worcester struck first and never let the pressure ease.

The Red Sox opened the scoring in the first inning when Mickey Gasper launched a solo home run just over the right-field wall, his third of the season. Worcester added another run in the second on an RBI single from Nick Sogard to take a 2–0 lead.

Rochester answered quickly. Abimelec Ortiz sparked the offense with a two-run double to tie the game before Levi Jordan followed with an RBI single, giving the Red Wings a 3–2 advantage heading into the third.

Ortiz continued his standout night in the bottom of the third, blasting a two-run homer to extend Rochester’s lead to 5–2. The slugger accounted for all four of his RBIs within the first three innings, providing what appeared to be a comfortable cushion.

That cushion didn’t last.

Worcester began chipping away in the fifth inning as Vinny Capra connected on a solo home run to make it 5–3. Despite some control issues on the mound — including four wild pitches — Rochester managed to escape further damage and carried the lead into the seventh.

Then the game unraveled.

The Red Sox erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh, sending their first six batters aboard. Sogard delivered an RBI single, Capra followed with a game-tying RBI double, and Gasper added another run-scoring hit. Allan Castro capped the rally with a two-run double, flipping the score to 8–5 in Worcester’s favor.

“It was an inning to forget,” manager Matthew LeCroy said. “We just didn’t get it done in that seventh inning. We pitched from behind a lot tonight, and at this level, they’re going to make you pay. We have to flush it, make adjustments, and come back ready tomorrow.”

Rochester used three pitchers in the inning, and with the bullpen taxed, infielder Phillip Glasser was called upon to pitch late. Worcester added two more runs in the ninth on a two-run single by Matt Lloyd to seal the 10–5 final.

The loss drops Rochester to three games below .500 and into a 3–1 hole in the series. The Red Wings will need wins in the final two games to salvage a split, beginning with Saturday afternoon’s first pitch at 1:05 p.m.