Kelly & Ort Appear on Rehab as WooSox Fall to Mets

Sogard Drives in Run, Valez Reaches Three Times in 7-2 Loss

By Cooper Boardman

September 16, 2023

WORCESTER, M.A. — The Syracuse Mets (25-40, 58-81) scored five unanswered to beat the Worcester Red Sox (37-30, 76-66) on Saturday afternoon, a 7-2 final at Polar Park in front of 9,508. WooSox starter Rio Gomez went five innings, allowing two runs while notching five strikeouts. Both runs against the

WORCESTER, M.A. — The Syracuse Mets (25-40, 58-81) scored five unanswered to beat the Worcester Red Sox (37-30, 76-66) on Saturday afternoon, a 7-2 final at Polar Park in front of 9,508.

WooSox starter Rio Gomez went five innings, allowing two runs while notching five strikeouts. Both runs against the left-hander came in the third, a solo homer to Matt O'Neill and an RBI single from Daniel Palka.

Worcester trailed 2-0 through four, but rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Koss led off with a double, and after a groundout, Nick Sogard delivered an RBI single. After an Enmanuel Valdez single pushed Sogard to third, he sprinted home with the tying run on a ball that bounced past the Syracuse catcher.

For the second straight day, the WooSox scored all of their runs in one offensive inning. They recorded one total baserunner between innings six through eight. Despite a pair of singles in the ninth, they did not score against the Mets.

Zack Kelly took the mound in the sixth on a rehab assignment, posting the following line: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K on 18 pitches (12 strikes). Kelly allowed the go-ahead swing to Jaylen Palmer, a two-run home run to make it 4-2 Syracuse.

The Mets finished the afternoon with five unanswered runs, including three consecutive RBI singles in the seventh by Abraham Almonte, Joe Suozzi and Jose Peroza.

Kaleb Ort worked a scoreless eighth, finishing his 18-pitch outing with a strikeout.

The WooSox conclude their final homestand of the 2023 season, Super Duper Fan Appreciation Week, at Polar Park on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. against the Syracuse Mets, affiliate of the New York Mets. On the mound, Shane Drohan (5-7, 6.22) faces Denyi Reyes (1-3, 6.09). Television coverage is on NESN+, while radio coverage is live at 12:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.

Sunday is the final day of Super Duper Fan Appreciation Week/Weekend at Polar Park that has featured six days of fan/player interaction, special deals, and gifts for fans. Among the highlights Sunday before, during, and after the home finale, sponsored by Bank of America, are:

Fans will receive a 2023 WooSox Team Photo as they enter the park and from 11:00 – 11:45 a.m., fans can go on the field for autographs from the team who will be seated at tables around the warning track.
After the game, players will sign soft baseballs and toss them into the stands.
Lucky fans selected at random during the game will return to the field at the conclusion of the game as players give them “the shirts off their backs” in appreciation for their season-long support
Once that is done, “Kids (young and old) Run the Bases” sponsored by HP Hood.
And finally, fans can play catch into the night on the outfield grass to cap off our final “Fallon Health Family Funday Sunday”!