Cup of Coffee: Castro homers twice as WooSox stay alive

9/17 Cup of Coffee: Worcester won its third straight, as Allan Castro (pictured) twice came up clutch on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the WooSox did not get the help they were looking for elsewhere on the International League schedule, and continue to face an uphill battle for a playoff spot.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Durham Bulls (TB) 5

Twice Worcester fell into deficits, trailing both 3-0 and 5-3, and both times Allan Castro erased them with a long ball. Castro's two-run blast in the third inning scored Franklin Arias and knotted the score at 3-3. Four innings later, his second two-run homer of the night carried into the right-center field seats and put Worcester up 6-5, a lead it would not relinquish. Arias also singled and drove in a pair. Braiden Ward, who scored on the second Castro long ball, was 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, giving him 60 on the year. 

On the mound, starter Blake Wehunt battled through five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked two. Patrick Halligan allowed a run in the sixth, before Seth Martinez, John Brebbia, and Sam McWilliams turned in a scoreless inning apiece. Martinez got credit for the win while McWilliams noted his second save of the year.

Although Worcester did what it needed to do, four of the five teams ahead of the WooSox were also victorious on Wednesday. Rochester and Indianapolis both got in the win column, holding onto a tie for first place in the second half standings. Syracuse also won to remain a game back. Only Scranton fell, and joins Worcester in a tie for fourth place at two games out. 

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Player of the Day: Allan Castro is closing the season on a power surge. The right fielder previously homered twice on Sunday, and now has gone deep five times in his last four games. He is hitting .286/.358/.455 since the All-Star Break and moves into a tie for second in the organization with 70 RBI on the year. Castro is currently ranked 34th in the system. 

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

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