Heading into the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night, the Worcester Red Sox needed three more outs to start the second half of their season in the win column.
It was a nail-biting moment as Carlos Narvaez of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders cut their deficit in half with a one-out home run to left field. Jose Rojas then represented the game-tying run with an infield single, adding to the game’s intense drama.
But the momentum was shortlived, as Lucas Luetge struck out Jeter Downs and forced an infield pop-out against Taylor Trammell to ensure Worcester sealed an eventual 6-5 win against the RailRiders at PNC Field.
Less than one week since the Boston Red Sox optioned Bobby Dalbec back to Worcester, the right-handed hitter responded with two home runs, including an essential solo blast to begin the ninth inning.
Despite WooSox starting pitcher Brian Van Belle only lasting 2.1 innings, teammate Chase Shugart earned his third season win behind 3.2 scoreless innings. Joely Rodriguez also pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Meanwhile, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting pitcher Will Warren allowed five hits and two earned runs through four innings. The right-hander also recorded seven of his team’s 12 strikeouts in a losing effort.
Jose Rojas (three RBIs) was one of five teammates to drive in two or more runs.
After one inning of scoreless action, Mark Contreras changed that with a run-scoring single that plated Niko Kavadas to ensure Worcester an early lead during the top of the second inning.
It didn’t last, though, as Brandon Lockridge (double), Oswald Peraza (single), and Jorbit Vivas (single) earned three consecutive run-scoring hits to move the RailRiders ahead 3-1 during the inning’s bottom half.
But the excitement wasn’t finished, as Mark Contreras recorded his 13th double halfway through the fourth inning to score Mickey Gasper.
Dalbec followed that with the first of his multi-home-run performance before Gasper extended the Red Sox lead to 5-3 with a one-out line drive in the fifth inning.
Despite a run-scoring double from Jorbit Vivas, which made it a one-run game through eight innings, Dalbec countered with his 10th blast of the season to ensure Worcester came away victorious.
The Red Sox will continue their six-game road series against the RailRiders on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.
