Romy Gonzalez crushes grand slam in WooSox Game 1 win over Buffalo
WooSox skipper Chad Tracy on Gonzalez: 'He's a good looking baseball player'
WooSox slugger Romy Gonzalez is swinging a hot bat to start the new season. On Friday afternoon, he mashed in the frigid cold at Polar Park, smacking an RBI triple and hitting a grand slam in Worcester’s 9-7 win over Buffalo.
Gonzalez padded the WooSox lead in the third inning, connecting for a triple into right field and scoring infielder Nick Sogard. It was Gonzalez's first three-bagger of the season and the eighth of his career in the minors. He now has two triples this season after not having any in the last two campaigns.
One inning later, Gonzalez would give the WooSox much needed insurance runs. With the bases loaded and no outs, Gonzalez demolished a 95.3-mph four-seam fastball from the Bisons' hurler Troy Watson over the left center field wall for a grand slam. The blast scored Chase Meidroth, David Hamilton, and Sogard.
Gonzalez has provided skipper Chad Tracy with some thump in the heart of the lineup. With Bobby Dalbec with the Red Sox, the new slugger has filled in nicely, mainly hitting out of the No. 3 or 4 spot.
“He’s been impressive the whole year, so far," Tracy said to reporters postgame. “The versatility—he’s at shortstop, he’s at first base, he can play the outfield, he can play second base—what he’s doing versatility-wise, and also the power and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field—he’s been awesome for us.
“He’s a good-looking baseball player,” added Tracy.
Gonzalez was not in the lineup for the nightcap of the double header. With two more games this weekend, Tracy will pencil him into the heart of the lineup for the final two games against Buffalo.
