Worcester Red Sox 8, Rochester Red Wings 7 (BOX)
A game that seemed like a laugher, in favor of the Woo Sox, turned into a wild one at Polar Park on Thursday against the Red Wings (WAS). The craziness started in the top of the third with Nick Sogard starting a triple play on a caught line drive, with the runners going on the pitch.
This play sparked the Woo Sox to get eight runs over the next
two innings. Andrew Knizner knocked in three runs on a double in the third, Sogard knocked in two on a ground rule double, and Mickey Gasper knocked in the eighth run on an RBI single.
After Tyler Uberstine went three innings in relief to get the win, some familiar names for fans of the major league club had a rough go in relief. Tyler Samaniego allowed four hits and two runs, before Alec Gamboa allowed seven baserunners and three runs to finish the 8-7 win.
On Friday, Raymond Burgos (1-4, 6.25) will take the mound for Worcester at 6:45.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 15, Portland Sea Dogs 8 (BOX)
The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats (TOR) played in a similar slugfest on Thursday, before New Hampshire broke things open with a six-spot in the eighth inning.
Gage Ziehl got the start and didn’t have it, allowing three home runs and eight earned in three innings. The Sea Dogs stayed in the game, cutting the lead to 9-7 after five, thanks to Brooks Brannon’s 13th home run, and Nate Baez’s 9th, a three run shot.
Not to be forgotten while trailing big in the ninth, Franklin Arias dropped his 18th home run of the season.
Once again…
John Holobetz (4-3, 4.57) will get the ball on Friday at 6:03 (???) ET.
Greenville Drive 5, Greensboro Grasshoppers 4 (BOX)
A couple of big flies powered the Drive to a 5-4 win on Thursday against the Grasshoppers (PIT). Antonio Anderson hit his fifth in the third inning, followed by Justin Gonzales’s 11th moments later.
Calvin Bickerstaff got the bulk of the work pitching, throwing 4 1/3 innings to get his fifth win, striking out five and allowing just one run. Steven Brooks got his sixth save.
Marcus Phillips (0-4, 6.75) will toe the rubber for the Drive at 7:00 on Friday.
Columbia Fireflies 10, Salem RidgeYaks 5 (BOX)
RidgeYaks pitchers Jacob Meyers and Brady Tygart were tagged early and often on Thursday, with the Fireflies (KC) opening up a 9-4 lead after five innings. Catcher Adonys Guzman was the star offensively, knocking in a run with a single early and homering in the fifth.
The RidgeYaks will send Christian Foutch (0-5, 6.18) to the hill on Friday at 7:05.
