WORCESTER, MA – A pair of big innings helped the Buffalo Bisons and Worcester Red Sox trade the lead, but the WooSox were able to strike last for a 10-9 victory on Tuesday night at Polar Park.
Paxton Schultz began his outing by pitching a solid bottom of the first inning, getting the first batter he faced to strike out then ended the inning without allowing a run.
Addison Barger singled to lead-off the top of the second inning for the Herd. Luis De Los Santos hit a groundball to advance Barger to second base. After Tanner Morris reached on a fielding error, Red Sox pitcher Rio Gomez locked in to retire the side without allowing a run.
The Red Sox began the scoring for the night in the bottom of the second inning. Ryan Fitzgerald singled to right field to drive in Wilyer Abreu to make the score 1-0 in favor of Worcester. Nick Sogard followed that up with a double to center field to drive in Ronaldo Hernandez, expanding Worcester’s lead to 2-0.
David Hamilton singled to left field to drive in Fitzgerald and Sogard, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 advantage. Ceddanne Rafaela continued the scoring with a double to drive in Hamilton. Abreu then singled to left field to drive in Rafaela, making the score 6-0 Worcester.
The Bisons plated their first run of the game in the top of the third inning when Spencer Horwitz hit a home run to right-center field to clip the Red Sox lead to 6-1. This home run was the eighth of the season for Horwitz.
Gabe Klobosits pitched a much-needed scoreless bottom of the third inning for the Herd.
Junior Fernandez came on to pitch for the Herd in the bottom of the fourth inning and retired the Red Sox without allowing a run.
Chad Green pitched two-thirds of an inning for the Herd in the bottom of the fifth inning and did not allow any runners to score. Paul Fry came on to pick up the last out of the fifth inning to keep the Red Sox scoreless for a third straight inning.
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The Herd got the bats rolling in the top of the sixth inning. Orelvis Martinez led off the inning with a double. Barger followed that up with a single to put runners on the corners with zero outs. Morris worked a walk to load the bases.
Tyler Heineman doubled to right field to drive in two, cutting Buffalo’s deficit to 6-3. After Mason McCoy walked to reload the bases, Rafael Lantigua singled to make the score 6-4 in favor of Worcester. Ernie Clement doubled to drive in Heineman and McCoy, evening the score at 6-6.
Horwitz followed by hitting his second home run of the game, giving the Bisons their first lead of the night, 9-6.
Worcester responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. The bases were loaded for Abreu as he singled to left field to drive in two, trimming Buffalo’s lead to 9-8. Stephen Scott tied the game at 9 with a double to left field scoring Bobby Dalbec. The Bisons were able to prevent any further damage as the game was tied 9-9 to end the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dalbec singled to drive in Hamilton and give the Red Sox a 10-9 advantage.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Bisons threatened by moving a runner to second base. The Red Sox closed the door as they went on to win 10-9.
Tomorrow, the Bisons and the Red Sox will play the second game of their seven-game series at 12:15 p.m. at Polar Park.
Next up:
Buffalo Bisons vs. Worcester Red Sox
Sahlen Field 1 James D Griffin Plaza, Buffalo, NY
