September 28, 2022 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hernandez, Mieses go back-to-back in Worcester comeback
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The WooSox guaranteed themselves a winning season with Tuesday's back-and-forth win, moving to 75-73 with one game remaining. After falling into a 2-0 hole, a four-run fifth inning highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of Jarren Duran gave Worcester the advantage. Rochester picked up four of its own in the sixth, but the WooSox staged the comeback on the road. After a run in the seventh cut the deficit to 6-5, Ronaldo Hernandez blasted a two-run homer in the eighth to snag the lead. It was immediately followed by a Johan Mieses blast, providing an insurance run. Mieses had already doubled twice on the night.
On the mound, Chris Murphy ran out of gas in the sixth, blowing up the line of an otherwise solid outing. Murphy had given up two runs through his first five innings but surrendered four in the sixth, three coming on a home run to the 28th batter he faced. Overall, the left-hander allowed six runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3. He struck out five and walked two, throwing 65 of 92 pitches for strikes. Brian Keller followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames, though he did allow an inherited runner to score. AJ Politi fired a scoreless ninth to get credit for the save.
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Player of the Day: Fresh off his Player of the Week recognition, Johan Mieses blasted a homer and doubled twice, keying the Worcester win. Mieses has been a strong performer in a reserve role in 2022, with a .271/.387/.536 line that includes 15 doubles and 12 homers in 230 plate appearances. The 27-year-old now has 140 home runs over parts of nine minor league seasons that included stints with the Dodgers' and Cardinals' organizations before joining the Sox.
Photo Credit: Johan Mieses by Kelly O'Connor