Hickey, Sogard Homer but Syracuse Edges Worcester, 3-2

Naoyuki Uwasawa allows 3 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings in WooSox debut

April 10, 2024

SYRACUSE, NY – Despite home runs from Nathan Hickey and Nick Sogard, the Worcester Red Sox (4-6) were edged by the Syracuse Mets (5-5) 3-2 on Wednesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa (L, 0-1) (now-YOU-key oo-wah-SAH-wah) made his WooSox debut, which was also his first career

SYRACUSE, NY – Despite home runs from Nathan Hickey and Nick Sogard, the Worcester Red Sox (4-6) were edged by the Syracuse Mets (5-5) 3-2 on Wednesday night at NBT Bank Stadium.

Starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa (L, 0-1) (now-YOU-key oo-wah-SAH-wah) made his WooSox debut, which was also his first career appearance in the United States after nine seasons pitching in Japan’s NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball). He scattered four hits over five innings, and allowed three runs on a two-run homer from Mark Vientos and an RBI double by Jose Iglesias, which turned out to be the decisive run.

Worcester’s offense provided some pop of its own, but the WooSox were held to solo home runs from Nathan Hickey and Nick Sogard. Hickey jumped on a 2-1 fastball from his former University of Florida teammate Christian Scott (W, 1-0), and led off the second inning with a 357-foot blast over the right field wall for his third homer of the year.

Sogard had a leadoff shot of his own in the sixth, ambushing Yacksel Rios’ first pitch out of the bullpen for his first big fly of 2024. The low liner left the bat at 105 miles-per-hour, cut through a light rain shower, and snuck over the right field wall to draw Worcester within a run.

Down 3-2, the WooSox rallied in the top of the ninth with a walk by Hickey, a single by Mark Contreras, and a catcher’s interference call drawn by Jamie Westbrook, but Grant Hartwig (S, 1) left the bases loaded with a strikeout of Dalton Guthrie.

Worcester’s bullpen was nearly flawless. Zack Kelly faced the minimum over two innings, striking out two batters and inducing a double play to wipe out a sixth inning walk. Cam Booser struck out all three batters he faced in a perfect eighth.

The series continues in Syracuse through Sunday at NBT Bank Stadium. Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with pregame coverage scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on the 98.9 NASH Icon WooSox Radio Network. Red Sox prospect RHP Richard Fitts is scheduled to start for Worcester.