By Darryl Harding Sr –
A plethora of Worcester Bigwigs, City Councilmembers, State Reps and the Mayor were all present to witness Polar Park’s first game of the season. The Woo Sox opening day 2024 marks the fourth season of Red Sox AAA affiliate baseball.
Sporting a number of fresh faces, the Woo Sox brandish high hopes for a spectacular 2024 showing. Beginning seeds of championship dreams start with championship caliber people, so it’s no surprise that 2004 World Series Champ Trot Nixon was introduced and spoke to the crowd.
Also back to back D1 State Basketball Champs North High were present, representing Worcester at its best. Worcester’s opening home game is a matchup against the Buffalo Bison, AAA Toronto Blue Jay affiliate with a staunch pitching battle between Buffalo’s RHP Yariel Rodriguez and Worcester’s RHP Cooper Criswell.
In a game with runs at a premium both starters went a total of four and a half innings relinquishing only three hits and no runs between both teams. Although managing the strike zone very well Criswell continued posting goose eggs for the Bison and wiggling his way out of any potential danger, forcing batters to hit into double plays twice to keep him out of trouble.
Even with the Bisons pitching a no-hitter up until the bottom of the eighth the score remained at zeros until Extra Innings. With the perfect example of “small ball” in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Sox were almost able to produce a run. A Mark Contreras single followed by a Nick Sogard walk left the perfect opportunity for a sacrifice bunt by Eddy Alvarez to send Contreras and Sogard to second and third with one out.
Only with a perfect throw to home plate, from Buffalo second baseman Orelvis Martinez, let the Bison tag out Contreras at the plate and eventually forcing the Sox into extra innings. Desperately trying to post a crooked letter the Woo Sox unfortunately were unable to manifest a run and Buffalo in the top of the 10th inning scored two runs on a short rally from DH Addison Barger, 2B Orelvis Martinez and C Peyton Henry.
Even with the loss manager Chad Tracy was pleased with the pitching performance,”With all of our guys ahead early and often… race too two strikes…get to two strikes in three pitches. If we can do that with our stuff we’ll be good.” Worcester Red Sox baseball will continue tomorrow barring weather at 3:05pm as a season kicks off in full swing.
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