WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Red Sox (14-12) were swept in a make-up doubleheader by the Syracuse Mets (13-14) on Sunday afternoon at Polar Park to end their 7-game series. Game 1 went to Syracuse, 6-5 as the Mets held off a valiant WooSox comeback attempt.
Game 2 was again all Mets early as they scored 12 runs in the top of the 1st inning before the WooSox made a game of it only to fall short, 20-12. Game 2 (which was only a 7-inning game) was the highest scoring game in WooSox and Polar Park history. Despite Sunday’s defeats, the WooSox still took the series over Syracuse, 4 games to 3.
Syracuse scored the first 6 runs in Game 1 and had a 6-0 lead after 4-innings. The Mets got a 2-run HR from Rafael Ortega in the 2nd-inning off WooSox spot starter Austin Adams (0-1) who was charged with the loss (2 IP, 2 R, 4 SO). Bryan Mata came on to begin the 3rd inning and allowed 3 runs in the 3rd on two walks, a wild pitch, and a 2-run HR by Billy McKinney. Syracuse scored again off Mata in the 4th as Ortega (3-for-3 with a single, double, homer, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored) doubled and came across on an RBI single by Donovan Walton.
Worcester’s come back began in the bottom of the 5th inning. Alex Binelas stroked a one-out double and scored on a Corey Rosier single. Nick Sogard (2-for-3, BB, run) singled and with two outs, Marcelo Mayer ripped a 2-run double down the RF line. Vaughn Grissom followed with an RBI single to cap the 4-run rally. The WooSox appeared set to tie the game when Nathan Hickey drilled a line drive into the right center field cap, but Syracuse CF Drew Gilbert made a sensational diving catch on the warning track to end the inning.
The WooSox pulled to within, 6-5 with a run in the 6th inning thanks to a Connor Wong RBI single. Wong, on Boston’s injured list since April 8 with as fractured left pinky finger, caught all 7-innings in Game 1 and went 2-for-4 at the plate with two sharp singles.
Worcester put their lead-off man on to begin the 7th (and final) inning, but they could not complete the comeback. Reliever Gabriel Jackson, just up from Double-A Portland, made his WooSox and Triple-A debut in Game 1 and was impressive throwing 3 scoreless innings on just 1 hit with 2 strikeouts to finish the game. The win went to Syracuse reliever Adam Warren (2-0) who worked 1-inning of relief after starter Blade Tidwell went the first 4.2-innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts.
Game 2 began with Zack Kelly making a spot start to help a WooSox rotation that has faced call-ups, injuries, and two doubleheaders in the last five days. Syracuse SS Donovan Walton (3 hits, 3 runs) took Kelly’s first pitch over the Worcester Wall and it would not get any better from there. The Mets would send 16 batters to the plate in the frame and go on to score 12 runs on 5 hits and 8 walks. RF Jared Young belted a 3-run HR and had a 2-run double in the inning. Kelly (4 walks) and reliever Jonathan Brand (4 walks), just up from Portland, combined to walk seven batters in a row at one point including the last five with the bases loaded as the WooSox allowed the most runs they have ever given up in an inning.
Not giving up, however, was the WooSox offense who immediately got to work in the bottom of the 1st plating 4 runs of their own. Nick Sogard and Vaughn Grissom led with singles and they would score on a Marcelo Mayer sac fly and a Nathan Hickey RBI single. Nate Eaton smacked an RBI double and the fourth run came home on a groundout by Yasmani Grandal.
The WooSox continued to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the 2nd as Mayer blasted a 3-run HR (his 7th of the season to tie for the IL lead while increasing his league-leading RBI total to 34). After two long innings it was Syracuse 12 and Worcester 7.
The Mets increased their lead to 18-7 on a grand slam by Jakson Reetz in the 5th-inning. Worcester scored 4 times in the 6th inning on a 3-run double by Nate Eaton (4 hits) and an RBI single by Corey Rosier. Reetz (3 hits, 7 RBI) added a 2-run HR in the 7th-inning off WooSox centerfielder/reliever Phillip Sikes. Nathan Hickey (3 hits) smacked an RBI single with two outs in the 7th to score Mayer (double) to make the final, 20-12. For what it’s worth, Worcester out-hit the Mets, 17-14 in the nightcap.
The WooSox will enjoy their usual Monday off-day before resuming their 13-game homestand at Polar Park with the opener of a 6-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday at 6:05 pm. Starting pitchers are undecided for Tuesday. The WooSox and Mud Hens will play Tuesday – Friday all at 6:05 pm, Saturday at 4:05 pm, and Sunday at 1:05 pm. Tuesday’s game will be live on NESN+ as well as on NASH 98.9 FM, The Pike 100.1 FM, and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.
Read the original article on MassLive.
WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Red Sox (14-12) were swept in a make-up doubleheader by the Syracuse Mets (13-14) on Sunday afternoon at Polar Park to end their 7-game series. Game 1 went to Syracuse, 6-5 as the Mets held off a valiant WooSox comeback attempt.
Game 2 was again all Mets early as they scored 12 runs in the top of the 1st inning before the WooSox made a game of it only to fall short, 20-12. Game 2 (which was only a 7-inning game) was the highest scoring game in WooSox and Polar Park history. Despite Sunday’s defeats, the WooSox still took the series over Syracuse, 4 games to 3.
Syracuse scored the first 6 runs in Game 1 and had a 6-0 lead after 4-innings. The Mets got a 2-run HR from Rafael Ortega in the 2nd-inning off WooSox spot starter Austin Adams (0-1) who was charged with the loss (2 IP, 2 R, 4 SO). Bryan Mata came on to begin the 3rd inning and allowed 3 runs in the 3rd on two walks, a wild pitch, and a 2-run HR by Billy McKinney. Syracuse scored again off Mata in the 4th as Ortega (3-for-3 with a single, double, homer, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored) doubled and came across on an RBI single by Donovan Walton.
Worcester’s come back began in the bottom of the 5th inning. Alex Binelas stroked a one-out double and scored on a Corey Rosier single. Nick Sogard (2-for-3, BB, run) singled and with two outs, Marcelo Mayer ripped a 2-run double down the RF line. Vaughn Grissom followed with an RBI single to cap the 4-run rally. The WooSox appeared set to tie the game when Nathan Hickey drilled a line drive into the right center field cap, but Syracuse CF Drew Gilbert made a sensational diving catch on the warning track to end the inning.
The WooSox pulled to within, 6-5 with a run in the 6th inning thanks to a Connor Wong RBI single. Wong, on Boston’s injured list since April 8 with as fractured left pinky finger, caught all 7-innings in Game 1 and went 2-for-4 at the plate with two sharp singles.
Worcester put their lead-off man on to begin the 7th (and final) inning, but they could not complete the comeback. Reliever Gabriel Jackson, just up from Double-A Portland, made his WooSox and Triple-A debut in Game 1 and was impressive throwing 3 scoreless innings on just 1 hit with 2 strikeouts to finish the game. The win went to Syracuse reliever Adam Warren (2-0) who worked 1-inning of relief after starter Blade Tidwell went the first 4.2-innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts.
Game 2 began with Zack Kelly making a spot start to help a WooSox rotation that has faced call-ups, injuries, and two doubleheaders in the last five days. Syracuse SS Donovan Walton (3 hits, 3 runs) took Kelly’s first pitch over the Worcester Wall and it would not get any better from there. The Mets would send 16 batters to the plate in the frame and go on to score 12 runs on 5 hits and 8 walks. RF Jared Young belted a 3-run HR and had a 2-run double in the inning. Kelly (4 walks) and reliever Jonathan Brand (4 walks), just up from Portland, combined to walk seven batters in a row at one point including the last five with the bases loaded as the WooSox allowed the most runs they have ever given up in an inning.
Not giving up, however, was the WooSox offense who immediately got to work in the bottom of the 1st plating 4 runs of their own. Nick Sogard and Vaughn Grissom led with singles and they would score on a Marcelo Mayer sac fly and a Nathan Hickey RBI single. Nate Eaton smacked an RBI double and the fourth run came home on a groundout by Yasmani Grandal.
The WooSox continued to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the 2nd as Mayer blasted a 3-run HR (his 7th of the season to tie for the IL lead while increasing his league-leading RBI total to 34). After two long innings it was Syracuse 12 and Worcester 7.
The Mets increased their lead to 18-7 on a grand slam by Jakson Reetz in the 5th-inning. Worcester scored 4 times in the 6th inning on a 3-run double by Nate Eaton (4 hits) and an RBI single by Corey Rosier. Reetz (3 hits, 7 RBI) added a 2-run HR in the 7th-inning off WooSox centerfielder/reliever Phillip Sikes. Nathan Hickey (3 hits) smacked an RBI single with two outs in the 7th to score Mayer (double) to make the final, 20-12. For what it’s worth, Worcester out-hit the Mets, 17-14 in the nightcap.
The WooSox will enjoy their usual Monday off-day before resuming their 13-game homestand at Polar Park with the opener of a 6-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday at 6:05 pm. Starting pitchers are undecided for Tuesday. The WooSox and Mud Hens will play Tuesday – Friday all at 6:05 pm, Saturday at 4:05 pm, and Sunday at 1:05 pm. Tuesday’s game will be live on NESN+ as well as on NASH 98.9 FM, The Pike 100.1 FM, and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.
