Duvall, Dalbec Go Deep in 9-4 Loss to Louisville

Duvall cranks first hit of rehab stint; Dalbec blasts ninth HR in last 16 games

June 2, 2023

LOUISVILLE, KY – Adam Duvall and Bobby Dalbec each launched solo home runs, but the Worcester Red Sox could not keep pace with the red-hot Louisville Bats offense in a 9-4 loss at Louisville Slugger Field on Friday night. Trailing 6-0 entering the fourth inning, Worcester got a lift from

LOUISVILLE, KY – Adam Duvall and Bobby Dalbec each launched solo home runs, but the Worcester Red Sox could not keep pace with the red-hot Louisville Bats offense in a 9-4 loss at Louisville Slugger Field on Friday night.

Trailing 6-0 entering the fourth inning, Worcester got a lift from Dalbec with a one-out blast. He jumped on a first-pitch fastball from former Red Sox farmhand Brett Kennedy (W, 2-1) and crushed a 408-foot solo homer to right center. In 16 games since being optioned to Worcester on May 13, Dalbec is hitting .377 with 9 homers, 18 RBI, and a 1.317 OPS.

Duvall led off the fifth inning with a homer, drilling a 1-0 fastball from Joel Kuhnel 401 feet out to right center. The Louisville native received a warm round of applause from the Kentucky crowd as he rounded the bases. Duvall is now 1-for-9 with a walk and a home run in three rehab games with Worcester.

The WooSox also scored a run in the fifth with a hustle double from Bradley Zimmer and an RBI single by Nick Sogard. Zimmer had Worcester’s lone multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4.

All nine of Louisville’s runs came in the first five innings, including a lead-off home run from top prospect Elly De La Cruz in the fourth and a two-run blast from Michael Siani in the fifth.

A.J. Politi and Chase Shugart combined to hold the Bats to one hit and two walks over the final three innings, but Worcester’s run production stalled after a run-scoring groundout from Ronaldo Hernandez in the sixth.

Worcester’s 12-game road trip continues with a 7:15 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The series runs through Sunday before the WoooSox return home for a six-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings at Polar Park next Tuesday through Sunday.