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IL Worcester Red Sox

Valdez Cracks Walkoff, Duran Homers in Ninth Inning Comeback

April 16, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, M.A. - Jarren Duran cracked a game-tying solo homer before Enmanuel Valdez delivered the game-winning swing, as the Worcester Red Sox (6-7) walked off the Columbus Clippers (7-7) by a final score of 6-5 on Saturday afternoon at Polar Park.

The WooSox led 4-2 entering the top of the ninth, but with one out, Micah Pries cut Columbus' deficit to one with a solo home run off A.J. Politi. After a strikeout, Politi walked two straight with two outs. That brought up Richie Palacios, who doubled off the base of the wall in center to score both runners and put the Clippers up 5-4.

In the bottom of the ninth, Duran stepped to the plate with one out and no one on, worked a 1-1 count, then drove the third pitch he saw to the opposite field-it bounced off the top of the wall and vaulted to the berm, tying the game on his second home run of the season.

David Hamilton followed Duran with a double down the line to put the winning run on second. Jorge Alfaro walked, setting up Valdez with two on and one out in a 5-5 game in the bottom of the ninth. Valdez got to a 2-1 count, then ripped a single through the right side, scoring the speedy Hamilton for a walkoff single.

The swing snapped a six-game losing streak for Worcester and gave the home team its first walkoff win of the year at Polar Park in front of 8,732.

Early in the day, WooSox starter Brandon Walter turned in his second straight strong outing, allowing just two runs over five innings against a red-hot Columbus offense. The left-hander struck out five, allowing a run in the first on an RBI single by Zack Collins and a third-inning run on a Bo Naylor RBI double.

In the fourth, Valdez put the home team on the board with a solo shot over the Worcester Wall in right. After a one hit in his first six games, Valdez, Boston's number 17 prospect, now has hits and RBIs in three of his last four games. He finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Walter made way for Joe Jacques in the sixth, and the left-hander turned in his second straight scoreless outing. Over his 1.2 innings, Jacques was aided by a trio of sterling defensive plays: a base-hit saving dive by Niko Goodrum at first, a wall-crashing catch from Greg Allen in left and a sliding grab from Duran in center.

In the bottom of the sixth, the WooSox' offense followed suit, a frame that began with a Hamilton walk. Hamilton promptly stole second, his International League-leading seventh swiped bag of the year. He moved to third on a groundout, and one batter later, Valdez came through with his second big swing of the day. The 24-year-old fouled the first pitch back, then blasted the second off the wall in right-center for a game-tying RBI double. After a strikeout, Goodrum singled home Valdez to put the home team on top for the first time.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Duran singled to right, Hamilton walked and Alfaro delivered a single to plate Duran, a key insurance run to put the home team up 4-2.

Chase Shugart kept the string of strong performances out of the bullpen rolling with 1.1 runless frames, before the two teams combined for five runs in the ninth inning.

The WooSox conclude the six-game series at Polar Park on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. against the Columbus Clippers. On the mound, Norwith Gudino (1-1, 3.72) faces Logan Allen (0-0, 0.93). Television coverage is live on NESN+, while radio coverage is live at 12:45 p.m. on the WooSox Radio Network.

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