By: Victor Menendez
ROCHESTER, NY - Some early offense for the Red Wings proved decisive in their 3-2 victory over the Worcester Red Sox. A Riley Adams double and an Andrew Pinckney single provided the offense while Rochester's pitching held the Red Sox in check.
Thaddeus Ward took the bump for Rochester. He went six innings giving up four hits, two walks and two earned runs while striking out three and generating four whiffs. His sinker averaged 92.7 MPH topping out at 93.8. His first outing of at least six innings in over a month drops his ERA to 5.47.
"If you look at a lot of the numbers from the year... it's been a lot of throwing balls," Ward said. "So it's been an emphasis all year to get more in the strike zone."
Hunter Dobbins got the start for the Red Sox. The right-hander lasted 4.2 innings, giving up six hits, two walks and three earned runs while striking out four and generating 14 whiffs. His four-seam fastball averaged 94.7 MPH, topping out at 97.2. Dobbins' ERA now sits at 4.66 on the year.
The Red Wings struck first in the first inning. After Pinckney was hit by a pitch and Brady House singled, Adams drove both in with a 109.6 MPH double off the bat to the left-center gap, giving Rochester a 2-0 lead.
The WooSox got both runs back in the top of the second. Following a Vaughn Grissom walk and a Jamie Westbrook single, Bobby Dalbec blooped a single into right field that scored Grissom. Tyler Heineman followed up with an RBI groundout that scored Westbrook and tied the game at two.
Rochester re-took the lead in the bottom half of the second. Robert Hassell III picked up his first career hit for the Red Wings on an infield single. Pinckney drove him in on a line drive single to right field.
"Feels good to get it out of the way," Hassell said. "Wish it would have happened a little bit sooner, but I'm glad it came on a day we got the win."
"I'm excited for him," Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "I'm hoping he can gain that confidence and continue to finish out the season on a good note."
Both pitching staffs held the offense down for the rest of the game as Brian Van Belle tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Hunter Dobbins. Adonis Medina and Tim Cate blanked the Red Sox for 1.2 innings before the game was called in the top of the eighth.
Rochester improves to 72-62 overall, good for second place in the IL East, and 34-27 in the second half. The Red Sox move to 69-66, fourth in the IL East.
The fourth game of this series with the WooSox will be tomorrow. The Red Wings will be starting Brad Lord (2-2, 3.14) who will face off against Worcester right-hander Brad Keller (3-2, 4.06).
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