Cup of Coffee: Worcester takes down Rochester to clinch winning season

9/21 Cup of Coffee: As the Minor League season draws to a close, Worcester jumped ahead early and took another lead late to clinch the fourth-straight winning season under manager Chad Tracy in the penultimate game of the year.

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Worcester Red Sox 4, Rochester Red Wings (WSH) 3

Worcester got a strong start from Jose De Leon, who allowed a single run in the fifth as he pitched 4 1/3 innings with three hits and four walks while tying a season-high with eight strikeouts. Coincidentally, De Leon also struck out eight hitters against Rochester back on June 8. While De Leon was dealing early, the WooSox plated three runs in the third. After Max Ferguson singled and Seby Zavala walked, Mikey Romero doubled to right field to plate Ferguson. The very next hitter, Kristian Campbell, who started in center field, doubled home Zavala and Romero. 

Leading 3-1 entering the seventh, Luis Perales struggled for the first time since returning from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander recorded a single out on a strikeout but walked a pair of batters. Perales only faced three hitters and threw just eight of his 18 pitches for strikes. Jacob Webb followed on the mound and was charged with a blown save as he allowed two runs that were charged to Perales. 

With the score even in the bottom half of the seventh, Ferguson broke the tie with his second home run in Worcester. Webb came out for the eighth and retired the side while working around a leadoff single, and Wyatt Olds closed the game out with a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.

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Player of the Day: Max Ferguson had his fingerprints all over the WooSox's victory on Saturday. After scoring the first run of the game following a leadoff walk in the third, the former fifth-round pick slugged his second home run since being promoted to Worcester and his ninth across two levels. Since being brought up to the WooSox, Ferguson is slashing .250/.323/.429 in 18 games. He is currently unranked in the SoxProspects' Top 60 rankings. 

Photo Credit: Max Ferguson by Kelly O'Connor

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