By Tiffany Williams –
The Worcester Red Sox were swept in a doubleheader Thursday at Polar Park, falling 4-0 and 11-4 to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. In the opener, Jacksonville’s 21-year-old left-hander Robby Snelling continued his dominant season by striking out eight across six scoreless innings as the Jumbo Shrimp pushed their league-best record to 74-48. Boston College product Cody Morissette, making his Triple-A debut, collected three hits, while rehabbing infielder Connor Norby added a home run and two RBI. Worcester never found an offensive rhythm, scattering five singles and leaving eight men on base.
In Game 2, the WooSox briefly seized momentum with a 2-0 lead before Jacksonville responded with an eight-run outburst in the fifth inning, capped by Victor Mesa Jr.’s grand slam. Starter Connelly Early absorbed the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, in just over four innings. Worcester hitters did what they could, with Trayce Thompson, Corey Rosier, and Mikey Romero each collecting two hits, but Jacksonville’s relentless middle-inning rally proved too much to overcome. Worcester dropped to 62-60 as roster shuffling continued, with outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia promoted to Boston for his MLB debut, joined by right-hander Richard Fitts and infielder David Hamilton. The WooSox placed Vaughn Grissom, Cooper Criswell, and Tyler McDonough on the injured list, weakening the lineup further. The series resumes Friday with Payton Tolle scheduled to face Jacksonville’s Ryan Gusto.
At Mohegan Sun Arena, the Connecticut Sun delivered their sharpest defensive performance of the season, holding the Washington Mystics to a season-low 56 points in a 67-56 win. Connecticut, now 8-27, evened the season series at 2-2 and set the tone with ball pressure that forced 20 turnovers, converting them directly into 20 points. Veteran Tina Charles provided stability and scoring, finishing with 21 points, six rebounds, and two steals in just 21 minutes, marking her 12th 20-point performance of the season and her 464th career game, moving her into 10th all-time in league appearances. Rookie Aaliyah Edwards added her best performance of the year with 10 points off the bench against her former team, while first-year guard Leila Lacan stuffed the box score with five points, five assists, five steals, and three rebounds, notching her league-best third game this season with at least five steals.
The Sun not only suffocated Washington defensively but also dominated the intangibles, winning the paint battle 38-28, outscoring the Mystics in second-chance points 16-2, and getting 25 points from their bench. The Mystics, now 16-20, struggled to generate offense outside of Sonia Citron’s 15 points and Kiki Iriafen’s 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. For Connecticut, the performance reflected progress in a season that has otherwise been defined by struggles, and it showed glimpses of what their young core could develop into with Charles leading the way.
In the Bronx, the Boston Red Sox opened a critical four-game series against the Yankees with a 6-3 victory, halting New York’s five-game winning streak. Boston’s offense leaned on patience at the plate, drawing a season-high nine walks, which set up timely hits late. Nathaniel Lowe drove in two runs, including a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, while Roman Anthony continued his emergence with three RBI, highlighted by a two-run homer in the ninth. Alex Bregman reached base four times, Trevor Story stayed hot against New York pitching, and Jarren Duran extended his on-base consistency, while Aroldis Chapman sealed the game with his 23rd save. Lucas Giolito made his 20th start of the season but received a no-decision, allowing three runs in 4.2 innings, though Boston’s bullpen covered the final 4.1 innings effectively.
For the Red Sox, the victory carried significance beyond standings, as it improved their record to 6-1 against the Yankees this year and extended their head-to-head winning streak to six games, their longest since 2023. It also reinforced Boston’s improved ability to win division matchups, moving to 21-15 against AL East rivals. With just 36 games remaining, these division contests could define the Red Sox playoff push. The Yankees, meanwhile, failed to sustain their recent surge and saw their bullpen exposed late.
At MetLife Stadium, the Patriots were on the opposite end of momentum, suffering a 42-10 preseason defeat to the New York Giants. New England’s roster evaluation continued as rookie quarterback Ben Wooldridge, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana, played the entire game. He showed flashes by throwing his first touchdown pass to rookie wideout Jeremiah Webb late in the second quarter but otherwise struggled under pressure, finishing 10-for-20 for 82 yards with one interception. Webb provided a spark as both a receiver and returner, notching three catches for 31 yards and the score while adding a 22-yard punt return. Special teams offered additional highlights with Bryce Baringer booming a 63-yard punt and Cole Fotheringham recovering a muffed punt that set up a field goal. Defensively, Kyle Dugger intercepted Jameis Winston in the end zone, his second straight week with a red-zone pick.
The positives, however, were overshadowed by the Giants’ dominance on both sides of the ball. Quarterbacks Tommy DeVito, Jaxson Dart, and Winston combined for five touchdown passes, and New York’s receiving corps picked apart New England’s secondary. The Giants’ defensive front set the tone, limiting Wooldridge’s time to throw and forcing mistakes. Rookie TJ Moore’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown epitomized the Giants’ opportunism, though his cart-off injury in the fourth quarter tempered the celebratory tone. For New England, the blowout underscored how far depth players are from being regular contributors and highlighted lingering issues with offensive line cohesion and defensive communication. While the preseason is ultimately about evaluation, Thursday’s lopsided loss raised concerns about the Patriots’ overall readiness with the regular season just weeks away.