GRAPEFRUIT WILD CARD GAME 2

Lance McCullers, Jr., was elated after carrying the Eliminators on his back with eight strong innings

Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Worcester Eliminators put Lance McCullers, Jr., on the hill. The second-generation big leaguer was up to the challenge, but could he outduel his esteemed opponent, Jacob deGrom, on the latter’s home field?

The two righties matched pitch-for-pitch for two innings, but in the third Worcester broke through – the blow coming off the bat of McCullers. Scooter Gennett opened the frame by kicking a routine grounder off the bat of Kyle Seager, who scampered to second as the ball trickled into no man’s land. After a pop out, McCullers navigated a roller through the box and into center to allow Seager to streak home with the game’s first run.

The visitors nearly extended their lead in the fifth, but George Springer grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to stall the threat.

The fifth inning was simply a precursor to the one to come. While McCullers was working on a no-hitter, deGrom was playing with fire…that burned him in the top of the sixth. deGrom labored to full counts on three of the first four hitters in the frame, allowing a pair of singles, a double and a walk to open the Worcester lead to two and load the bases. Seager was next and capitalized with a double down the right field line to plate a pair.

With Brownsville’s bullpen heating up in a hurry, Jonathan Lucroy put the final nail in deGrom’s coffin with a smash up the middle to score the final two, making the total five in the inning and extending Worcester’s lead to 6-0.

McCullers, handed the new cushion, turned in one final 1-2-3 inning before A.J. Pollock broke up the no-no with a single through the left side opening the home half of the seventh. Despite a double play, the Cutters still broke through in the frame with their only run of the game. Aaron Judge and Mark Reynolds both drew full-count walks, and Manny Machado dumped a single to center to score Judge. A baserunning blunder cut the potential rally short, however, as Machado tried to make too much happen and was thrown out going for second.

The game cruised from that point on, with McCullers closing the books on a strong eight innings and Craig Kimbrel striking out two in a perfect ninth. The season would extend for one more day for both Brownsville and Worcester, with the winner of the next contest advancing to the divisional round.

FINAL: WORCESTER 6, BROWNSVILLE 1