WooSox Swept by Durham in Doubleheader, 12-2 & 4-3

Grissom Goes 2-4, Plays Seven Innings at Second Base

*Maybelle Blair, of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, threw out the first pitch on Women in Sports Day at Polar Park / Ashley Green* (Ashley Green)

April 20, 2024

WORCESTER, M.A. — For the first time this year, the Worcester Red Sox (8-11) were swept in a doubleheader, falling 12-2 and 4-3 to the Durham Bulls (8-12) on Saturday at Polar Park. In game one, WooSox starter Brian Van Belle went five innings, tying a season-high with six strikeouts.

WORCESTER, M.A. — For the first time this year, the Worcester Red Sox (8-11) were swept in a doubleheader, falling 12-2 and 4-3 to the Durham Bulls (8-12) on Saturday at Polar Park.

In game one, WooSox starter Brian Van Belle went five innings, tying a season-high with six strikeouts. The right-hander allowed five runs, but posted scoreless frames in the third, fourth and fifth to close his outing.

After Durham went up 2-0 in the first on a Junior Caminero RBI double and Ronny Simon RBI single, the WooSox tied the game in their half of the inning. With two on, Jamie Westbrook made it 2-1 on a run-scoring groundout, and Mark Contreras tied the game with a two-out single.

From there, the Bills would score eight consecutive runs, highlighted by a Josh Lowe two-run homer in the second off Van Belle and a six-run top of the seventh, a rally powered by a three-run shot from Rob Brantly.

Offensively, Nick Sogard and Westbrook reached base twice for the WooSox in game one.

Game two saw all seven runs score in the first three innings. Durham took the lead on a Dominic Smith single before Worcester responded with three in the second.

They plated their runs without a hit, scoring on an error, wild pitch and a Mark Kolosvary sac-fly. The Bulls answered immediately in the third on a home run from Tristan Peters, giving them a 4-3 edge.

The WooSox loaded the bases in the seventh and final inning, but a strikeout ended the threat and sealed the doubleheader sweep for Durham.

Out of the bullpen, Justin Hagenman turned in one of the best outings by any Worcester reliever this season, striking out five over three scoreless innings.

Vaughn Grissom continued his rehab assignment, going 2-for-4 and playing seven innings at second base in game two.

The WooSox conclude the six-game series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. versus the Durham Bulls, affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. On the mound, Naoyuki Uwasawa (1-1, 6.30) faces Joe Rock (1-0, 7.80). Television coverage is on NESN+, while radio coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.