Windy Mccoy Nights

PawSox SP Allen Webster didn't let the wind affect his game against the Rochester Red Wings

Ryan Fox (@Spider_Fox87)

Since the beginning of its foundation, many have dubbed Chicago, Illinois as the Windy City. However after tonight, you can argue that Pawtucket, Rhode Island might be deserving of that title. Just ask the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings players.

With winds blowing from right field at 21 miles per hour, balls that would normally be extra base hits were turned into routine fly out. When the ball did make it out of the infield, it was a harrowing experience for those patrolling in the outfield to get to it.

For the first 6 innings, it was a pitching duel between PawSox starter Allen Webster (1-1, 3.60 ERA) and Red Wings starter Alex Meyer (0-0, 5.14). There were only a combined 5 runs (4 by Rochester, 1 by Pawtucket) during this frame due to the stellar performance of each pitcher and also the heavy winds.

The PawSox got their first chance to get on the board in the bottom of the 6th inning. With 1 out, PawSox RF Alex Hassan belted one deep to right. However the wind held it up for too long and it ended up being just a very loud out. Then the next two batters walked as PawSox 3B Will Middlebrooks was up with a golden opportunity to get not only his first RBI in his rehab start but just a first hit. Instead he went the way of the K and the PawSox were left scoreless.

Then in the top of the 7th inning, Webster was pulled and RP Wilfredo Boscan took over. But of providing relief, Wilfredo provided agida the same way as a bad alfredo sauce. Inheriting a runner from Webster (Red Wings 1B Brad Nelson), Boscan struck out one Red Wings batter. Then a wild pitch got Nelson to third and he scored on a sac-fly to right by teammate DH Eric Fryer to make it 1-0.

PawSox tried to rally in the bottom of the 7th inning on back-to-back singles by 1B Brandon Snyder and C Dan Butler with two outs. However CF Corey Brown ended up hitting the ball back to the pitcher for a 1-3 ground out to end the rally. It seemed like the PawSox were destined to fall to the Red Wings in a disappointing 1-0 fashion. Then the 8th inning happened.

In the bottom of the 8th, both Hassan and 2B Ryan Roberts got on base on back-to-back walks. Then 3B Garin Cecchini came to the plate. Taking over for Middlebrooks, Cecchini smacked a big time double off of Red Wings reliever Edgar Ibarra to drive in Hassan and Roberts. Then Cecchini himself scored via an RBI single courtesy of his teammate, C Ryan Lavarnway.  PawSox RP Chris Resop came in to pitch in the bottom of the 9th to close things out.

When it was all said and done, the PawSox won 3-1. Webster pitched a gem. He went 6.1 IP and gave up 5 hits, walked 1, gave up 1 run (it was earned) struck out 5 on 97 pitches (64 strikes) in the no-decision. The winning pitcher for the PawSox was Boscan, picking up his 2nd win of the season (2-0, 0.00). He went 1.2 IP and gave up just a two walks and struck out three. Resop ended up getting the save in the 9th, his first save of the season

The win pushes the PawSox to 12-9 for the season. They’ll be playing the 3rd game of the series with the Rochester tomorrow at 12:05 p.m.