By Tiffany Williams –
WHAT A PERFORMANCE!:
On Wednesday, July 5th, 2023 the Worcester Red Sox hosted the Syracuse Mets for game two of their first six-game homestand of the season. The two teams met at the beginning of the season (March 31st – April 2nd) for a three-game homestand with Worcester winning that homestand 2-1.
Wednesday night, Worcester grabbed a 10-3 win against Syracuse with seven homers, beating their season high of six homers twice on the road and once at home.
Worcester’s homers Wednesday night totaled 1,231 feet.
Wednesday night was also Worcester’s tenth win against an opponent this season with ten or more points.
In the bottom of the first, Ceddanne Rafaela put Worcester in the game 0-1, with his second homer in two nights. This one was 434 feet to left field and was 106 mph off the bat.
Bottom of the second, first Nick Sogard hit a homer 406 feet and 102 mph off the bat, getting Wilyer Abreu over the plate to put Worcester on top 0-3. Still in the bottom of the second, Ronaldo Hernandez grabbed Worcester their fourth run of the game hitting a homer 382 feet to left field and it was 95 mph off the bat.
In the bottom of the third the homer parade continued with Enmanuel Valdez hitting his seventh homer of the season 408 feet to right field, and it was 102 mph off the bat.
Bottom of the fourth, Narciso Crook grounded into a force out but picked up an RBI with Ronaldo Hernandez scoring to make it a 0-6 Worcester lead. Also in the bottom of the fourth, Pablo Reyes hit his second homer of the homestand 422 feet to center field, 105 mph off the bat and Narciso Crook scored to put Worcester on top 0-8.
Syracuse, after going four scoreless, finally got on the board at the top of the fifth with Michael Perez and Rafael Ortega scoring to make it a 2-8 game, Worcester lead.
Syracuse grabbed their third run of the game with Jonathan Arauz scoring at the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Worcester grabbed their ninth and tenth runs with Daniel Palka hitting his 12th homer of the season 377 feet to left center and it was 110 mph. Bobby Dalbec also hit a homer, it was 432 feet and 110 mph off the bat. Palka and Dalbec tied for the fastest homer of the game.
The Syracuse Mets, they weren’t walking away from this one easy. At the top of the eighth Jonathan Arauz hit his 13th homer of the season.
Jake Faria started for Worcester and went 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, walked three and struck out four.
TONIGHT:
The Worcester Red Sox on Thursday, July 6th, 2023 (6:45 PM) at Polar Park in Worcester will play the Syracuse Mets for game three of this six-game homestand. Tonight’s game will be the sixth of 21 games to be played between the two teams in the 2023 season. Worcester is currently 4-1 this season against Syracuse.
WOOSOX STARTING PITCHER:
Rio Gomez will take the mound and look for his first win in triple A this season. Gomez is 0-2 in five games with the WooSoxs. Gomez this season however is 2-4 between Worcester and Portland. Gomez throughout his career is 12-11 in 141 throughout his MiLB career. Rio Gomez was a 1091 pick in Round 36 of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox.