Three Homers Not Enough as WooSox Drop Opener to Bisons

BUFFALO, NY — Despite a late, ninth-inning rally, the Worcester Red Sox (16-17) fell to the Buffalo Bisons (19-14) on Tuesday night at Sahlen Field by a 7-5 final score.

The WooSox trailed 7-3 going into the ninth inning, and they got a run on a Bobby Dalbec solo homer and another on a sacrifice fly from Chase Meidroth. Worcester had the tying runs on base, but Buffalo ultimately prevailed

The Worcester offense got going in the top of the first. Chase Meidroth lined a 2-2 curveball down the left-field line for a lead-off double. He advanced to third on an Enmanuel Valdez sacrifice bunt. Then, Nick Sogard bounced a single into right field that scored Meidroth and gave the WooSox a 1-0 lead.

The Bisons responded in the bottom of the first. Just like Meidroth, Spencer Horwitz lined a lead-off double. After advancing to third on a flyout, Horwitz scored the tying run on an Orelvis Martinez groundout.

With the bases empty and one down in the top of the second, Jamie Westbrook blasted the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a solo homer to put Worcester in front 2-1. It was Westbrook’s third home run of the season, and it moved him into a tie for the team lead in runs batted in (19).

Orelvis Martinez led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer to left to tie the game again.

Worcester came right back in the fifth when Enmanuel Valdez ripped a solo homer into the right-field seats. Valdez finished the night 2-for-5, a game after he went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a walk.

Buffalo jumped in front again in the home half of the fifth on an RBI double from Nathan Lukes.

In the bottom of the sixth, Damiano Palmegiani home run gave the Bisons a two-run cushion.

The Bisons created some distance in the eighth, scoring three times off the Worcester bullpen. Cameron Eden worked a bases-loaded walk, and Steward Berroa singled in two runs.

The WooSox and Bisons continue their seven-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m. Right-hander Brian Van Belle is the scheduled starter for Worcester in game one. Right-hander Chad Dallas toes the rubber in game one for the Bisons. Radio coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon, 100.1 FM The Pike, and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.