Nine different hitters recorded at least one hit on Thursday as the Worcester Red Sox’ offense erupted for an impressive 14-1 win against the Buffalo Bisons at Sahlen Field.
Nick Sogard (three), Nathan Hickey (three), Eddy Alvarez (three), and Tyler Heineman (three) recorded 12 of Worcester’s 18 combined hits to help them improve to 30-36 on the season.
Meanwhile, Red Sox starting pitcher Joshua Winckowski allowed one earned run over six innings and struck out eight. Worcester’s bullpen posted four combined strikeouts over the final three innings.
The game took an exciting turn as both teams remained scoreless after three innings. It was Hickey who changed the game with a two-run double, scoring Will Robertson and Sogard. The excitement continued as Alvarez singled home Hickey, and Nick Yorke earned a two-run hit, extending their team’s cushion to 7-0.
After a quiet fifth inning, Tyler Heineman capped off a four-run sixth inning to help Worcester make it 11-0. The Bisons weren’t shut out, though, as Phil Clarke and Cam Eden posted back-to-back singles to ensure runners on the corners. With their team already facing a double-digit deficit, Steward Berroa responded with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Clarke from third.
It wasn’t enough, though, as the Red Sox countered with three more runs during the seventh and ninth innings before relief pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn struck out two of the three batters faced to ensure Worcester came away victorious.
Worcester and Buffalo will continue its six-game series on Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Red Sox will send Jason Alexander (3-4, 4.42 ERA) to the mound opposite a bullpen game for Buffalo.
