Though starting pitcher Quinn Priester only allowed six hits, two earned runs, and recorded six strikeouts over four innings, the WooSox were defeated by Jacksonville 5-1 on Thursday night at VyStar Ballpark.
The Jumbo Shrimp failed to score against the Red Sox on Wednesday.
So the home team made sure history didn’t repeat itself, as Deyvison De Los Santos drove in Albert Almora Jr. with a single up the middle to ensure Jacksonville moved ahead through one inning.
The momentum was shortlived, though, as Worcester countered with three consecutive hits to even the score at 1-1 during the top two. But as previously mentioned, good things didn’t last long.
And that theory was again proved correct, as Almora Jr. countered with a run-scoring single during the bottom half to help the Jumbo Shrimp regain the lead at 2-1.
After three consecutive scoreless innings, Jacksonville added multiple insurance runs in the sixth inning to secure their fourth-season victory.
Worcester recorded three hits compared to 13 for Jacksonville, while the road team committed multiple errors. Josh Winckowski, though, allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out four in three innings of relief for Priester.
Isaiah Campbell pitched the final relief inning for the Red Sox, as the 27-year-old allowed one hit, one earned run, one walk, and earned one strike out.
The fun started behind a run-scoring groundout from Andrew Pintar. Three batters later, Maximo Acosta reached on a fielding error to score the Jumbo Shrimp’s fourth run.
Worcester and Jacksonville will continue its six-game series at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night at VyStar Ballpark.
Southpaw Shane Drohan (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his first start of the year for the Red Sox after earning the win in two relief innings on March 30.
Drohan, meanwhile, will oppose right-handed pitcher Robinson Pina (1-0, 3.60 ERA) for the Jumbo Shrimp.
