By DJ Harding-
The Worcester Red Sox faced off against the Syracuse Mets for game two of their six game series. The WooSox won last night’s game in a 8-5 win to improve to 3-3 to start the second half of the season. Yesterday was the Woo Sox third win on the fourth of July in the three years they have played in Worcester.
Going into tonight Worcester has won three straight games at home 9 of their last 11 since June 8, Worcester is also 22-8 at home since April 27.
The first four innings were a tale of two sides as the Syracuse Mets went scoreless through those four innings. The Worcester Red Sox on the other hand would score eight runs in those first four innings.
The Mets had Nate Lavender as their starting pitcher who only pitched two innings giving up four hits, four runs, and three home runs. Hunter Parsons came in the third inning and also only pitched two innings. Parsons also gave up four runs, but gave up three hits and two home runs which were less than Lavender.
The Woo Sox had Jake Faria take the mound as the starter. Faria allowed no runs through the first four innings but by the end of the night gave up eight hits and three runs in 5 ⅓ innings of action.
As Faria shut them down on the mound it was homerun city in the batter’s box for the Woo Sox. Ceddanne Rafaela started the scoring with a homer in the bottom of the first. His solo shot was sent 434 feet and was his second of the season, while being a first pitch leadoff home run.
In the bottom of the second after a Wilyer Abreu single. Nick Sogard, who is the team’s leader in hits, hit a two run homer. Sogard’s home run went 406 feet and then matched with a Ronaldo Hernandez homer which sailed 382 feet giving the Woo Sox a 4-0 lead after the back to back homeruns in the bottom of the second.
Worcester is 40-16 when they score four or more runs this season. On the other hand, the WooSox are 2-23 when they score 3 runs or less. In their 42 wins going into tonight Worcester is averaging 6.5 runs per game.
The bottom of the third saw Emmaneul Valdez hit the team’s fourth homer of the game which traveled 408 feet and give them a 5-0. In the fourth inning Worcester scored for their fourth straight inning first with Narciso Crook hitting a forceout.to score Ronaldo Hernandez.
Pablo Reyes then hit a two run homer which carried 422 fett and is his second in back to back games during his rehab assignment. That homer from Reyes gave Worcester a 8-0 lead through four innings.
The Mets in the top of the fifth got on the board with a Mark Vientos single which scored Micheal Perez and Rafeal Ortega. In the top of the sixth inning Perez hit a double that scored Jonathan Arauz. From those two innings the Mets shortened the lead from 8 down to 5 with a score of 8-3.
The Woo Sox responded right back hitting two more homeruns extending the total number of homers to 7.
David Palka hit a 377 foot homer while Bobby Dalbec sent his homer 432 feet. Athena Woo Sox lead 10-3 after those home runs.
Those seven home runs broke the record for most homers in one game at home with the previous record being six on two instances.
In the top of the eighth Jonathan Arauz hit another home run for the Mets bringing the final score to 10-4.
Worcester naw has a record of 4-3 to begin the second half of the season. Syracuse meanwhile has begun their second half at 1-6.
Manager Chad Tracy said postgame “The Pitching was well. When you have a couple scoreless innings you give the offense a chance to get some runs and the bats were hot tonight.”
The Woo Sox and Mets will face off for game three of their six game series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 6:45.