By: Victor Menendez
ROCHESTER, NY - A three-homer game from Eddy Alvarez propelled the Worcester Red Sox to a blowout 12-2 victory over the Rochester Red Wings.
"I met with the team after to just let them know that you got to continue to fight," Manager Matt LeCroy said. "For me, just to make sure that we... play with an edge, and play with some confidence."
Brad Lord got the ball for the Red Wings. His first start since August 17th saw him give up three hits, three walks, and five earned runs. The usually sharp Lord needed 60 pitches to get through two innings, throwing just 31 pitches for strikes. The outing increased Lord's Triple-A ERA to 4.00.
"Lordy was a little rusty, obviously," LeCroy said. "Unfortunately he was just off, his command was off, I mean he'll tell you."
Brad Keller started for Worcester. The 29-year-old veteran who has seen plenty of big league time in his career gave up five hits, one walk and one run in six innings of work. He struck out nine and generated 16 whiffs using his full five-pitch arsenal. His Triple-A ERA now sits at 3.79.
"From my experience playing, I always wanted to face the guy that played in the big leagues," LeCroy said. "I think it's a challenge to prove that you can hit those guys."
The WooSox put up a crooked number in the top of the first. Chase Meidroth followed up a leadoff double from Roman Anthony with an RBI single. After back-to-back walks to Vaughn Grissom and Jamie Westbrook, Alvarez hit a towering 423 foot grand slam over the scoreboard to put Worcester up 5-0.
"Over the scoreboard, I don't think I've seen that in my four years here," LeCroy said.
Alvarez would strike again in the top of the third. The Red Sox left fielder hooked a cutter from Garvin Alston just inside the right field foul pole for his second home run of the game to put Worcester up 6-0.
Rochester got a run back in the bottom half of the third. Jackson Cluff led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a groundout from Brady House to cut the lead to 6-1.
The Red Wings had another chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. A ground rule double from Jack Dunn put runners on second and third with one out. But Keller was able to strike out Andrew Pinckney and get House to ground out to keep the Red Sox lead at five.
The Eddy Alvarez show continued in the top of the sixth. His third home run of the game came in at 103.5 MPH off the bat and traveled 403 feet. Alvarez joins Kody Clemens as the only two players that have hit three homers in a game against the Red Wings since 2018.
Later in the same inning, Orlando Ribalta completely lost the zone. Four straight walks to WooSox hitters plated Reese McGuire and extended the Worcester lead to 8-1.
Another home run for the Red Sox in the top of the seventh increased the lead to 9-1. This time off the bat of Jamie Westbrook.
An eighth inning Jake Alu double that just stayed fair down the left field line scored Riley Adams and cut the deficit to 9-2.
A Bobby Dalbec three-run homer in the top of the ninth made it five home runs on the night for the Red Sox and made the score 12-2. Tonight was the first time since at least 2004 where Red Wings pitchers allowed 12 or more walks and five or more home runs in the same game.
The Red Wings fall to 72-63. Third place in the IL East, and 34-28 in the second half. Worcester improves to 70-66. Fourth place in the IL East, and 35-26 in the second half.
The final game of this series will be on Monday at 1:05 p.m. right-hander Tyler Stuart (1-1, 6.39) will get the ball for the Red Wings. Richard Fitts (9-5, 4.17) will start for the Red Sox.
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