Worcester Rallies Past Syracuse for Second Straight Win, 10-4

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Red Sox (13-10) scored 4 runs in the 5^th inning to erase a 4-2 deficit and added 3 more runs in the 7^th inning en route to a 10-4 victory over the Syracuse Mets (12-11) on Thursday afternoon at Polar Park. The WooSox – winners of three of their last four games overall - lead the 6-game series with the Mets, 2 games to 1.

Worcester used a balanced offensive attack as all nine players in the lineup reached base safely and 8 of the 9 had at least one hit. CF Nate Eaton was on base four times with a single, triple, walk (with the bases loaded), and hit by a pitch. He was the only Sox player with a multi-hit game. RF Nick Sogard had a single, 2 walks, and 2 RBI while 3B Vinny Capra had a go-ahead 2-run double, 2 walks, 2 RBI, and scored 2 runs.

The WooSox scored four times on three consecutive hits in the decisive 5^th inning uprising as catcher Matt Thaiss had an RBI single, Capra followed with a ringing 2-run double to the left field wall to give the WooSox their first lead of the game, and 1B Nathan Hickey stroked an RBI double to the right-centerfield gap to cap the rally.

Worcester broke the game open with 3 runs in the 7^th inning thanks to three consecutive walks to begin the frame. Those three all came around to score as Sogard smacked a 2-run single and Mickey Gasper ripped an RBI groundout after a brilliant diving stop by Syracuse SS Vidal Brujian that saved another run.

Syracuse took a 3-0 lead in the 3^rd inning thanks to a 3-run HR by 1B Ryan Clifford (#4). That came off Sox starter Alec Gamboa who allowed 4 runs in 4.1 innings with 6 strikeouts.

Jacob Webb (1-0) came on in the 5^th inning and tossed 1.2 scoreless with 3 strikeouts to get credit for the win. Tayron Guerrero (2 IP, 2 SO) and Tommy Kahnle (1 IP, 2 SO) kept the Mets off the board the rest of the way. Syracuse reliever Mike Baumann (0-1) was the loser allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Game four of this 6-game series will be tomorrow (Friday) night at 6:05 pm at Polar Park. Veteran big league righthander Carl Edwards Jr. (1-2, 5.2) will get the nod for the Mets while the WooSox have yet to announce their starter.

The game will be followed by UniBank Fireworks set to the music of the future Ms. Taylor Kelce. Random question…will Tay Tay take Travis’ last name after their July 3^rd wedding?

And from the sublime to the strange but true, in honor of School Vacation Week at Polar Park, presented by Southwick’s Zoo, the zoo will be bringing two (live) donkeys to Friday’s game. The donkeys will be available for a meet and greet with fans, but they have politely declined any autographs!