'He looks like a big leaguer,' WooSox have workhorse in hurler Josh Winckowski
WORCESTER — Josh Winckowski is ready.
If and when the Boston Red Sox need help, the WooSox’ right-hander is poised, prepared and pumped for the possibility of an upcoming opportunity. Yes, Winckowski made his seventh start for Worcester Sunday at Polar Park, but don’t focus on his final line because it doesn’t indicate how well he pitched.
He worked 6 innings (plus four batters in the seventh), allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, struck out 6 with no walks. It was the first time this season he worked into the seventh and tossed a season-high 88 pitches (60 strikes).
“Creating contact and keeping a low pitch count has to be my thing as I move on through my career,” he said. “So, getting through six, seven innings every time I get the ball is a huge thing.”
Even though he suffered the loss as Worcester dropped a 6-2 decision to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, it was still a strong outing for Winckowski.
Overall, he’s been consistent this season.
“He looks like a big leaguer,” said WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott. “He competes with anybody I’ve ever had. Goes out there, knows who he is and uses it. He’s tough on himself. He’s getting better, but he’s probably too tough at times. He competes with himself out there and that’s what helps make him good.”
His repertoire of a fastball, power sinker, slider, changeup and cutter has kept opposing batters off balance.
“He’s a horse and he can eat up innings,” Abbot said.
At times, Winckowski attempts to do too much on the mound, especially when he’s pitching well. Case in point: His slider was nasty Sunday afternoon, but in the later innings he attempted to improve on the nastiness. He started to overthrow the pitch and left a few over the plate and the RailRiders took advantage.
“Sometimes I just try to do a little too much with it then I end up overthrowing it, which actually makes it worse,” he said.
He cruised through six innings, but allowed five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh. He also hit a batter in that inning that seemed to derail his outing.
“That’s the one I’ve been thinking about the most,” he said after the game.
He was pleased with his first six innings.
“A lot of good things,” he said. “The slider is still a little inconsistent. I could probably be punching out more guys, but overall obviously excited with the first six innings. Just a little unlucky I missed a pitch or two in the seventh.”
The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder fits the profile of a pitcher who should be able to work deep into games.
“In my mind, and I’ve been in the industry for a long time, we’re protecting (pitchers) maybe a little too much, especially at the lower levels,” Abbott said. “You can argue it both ways, but they’re losing opportunities to pitch deep into games.”
Abbott believes the so-called third time through the lineup for a pitcher is a modern-day stigma, but elite big league pitchers have no issues working deep into games.
“You have to learn how to do that,” Abbott said. “You have to learn how it feels. He was very efficient today (74 pitches after six innings) and you’ve got to learn how to get those guys out third time around.”
WooSox manager Chad Tracy thought Winckowski was excellent, despite a few seeing-eye ground balls in the seventh.
“He was absolutely in complete control of the game. He threw the ball really well,” Tracy said. “He got a lot of bad swings and weak contact. Then they just got a couple of hits off him ... sucks because the line doesn’t end up looking good, but he was outstanding.”
If the Red Sox need help in the coming week, Winckowski will be ready. If Boston doesn’t come calling, he’ll make his next start in Lehigh Valley.
Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WooSox have workhorse in hurler Josh Winckowski
