The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders used a three-run bottom of the sixth inning to momentarily even the score against Worcester on Wednesday afternoon.
It didn’t last, though, as Seby Zavala recorded his first season home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Red Sox to an impressive 5-4 win.
Worcester used six pitchers during Wednesday’s outcome, as they allowed four runs (three earned), four hits, and struck out seven to improve the Red Sox to 26-26 on the season.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting pitcher Brandon Leibrandt, meanwhile, allowed two earned runs, four hits, two walks, and struck out four in 4.2 innings of action. Relief pitcher Leonardo Pestana earned his second loss upon allowing that ninth-inning blast.
Complete game statistics can be found here.
After three combined scoreless innings, Worcester changed that as Nate Eaton started the scoring with a run-scoring triple. Ryan Noda then connected for a single up the middle to plate Eaton and double their team’s lead to 2-0.
The RailRaiders didn’t remain scoreless for long, though, as a two-out error in the bottom of the fifth inning allowed Jake Gatewood to score and cut their team’s deficit in half.
That was essential because Yasmani Grandal completed a two-run top of the sixth inning with an infield grounder to score Trayce Thompson from third and extend Worcester’s lead to 4-1.
But that cushion disappeared as quickly as it appeared since Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (23-27) countered with three more runs during the inning’s bottom half to even the score at 4-4.
Isaiah Campbell, Luis Guerrero, and Alex Hoppe pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to ensure Zavala‘s go-ahead blast stood.
Worcester and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will be back in action from PNC Field on Thursday at 6:35 p.m.
