Araúz Cranks Game-Winning Homer to Give WooSox 5-2 Win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Worcester Red Sox (20-13) broke a seventh inning tie with an eventual game-winning homer against the Syracuse Mets (11-22) in a 5-2 victory on Thursday night.

Half an inning after Syracuse tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, the WooSox put together their biggest offensive frame of the night. The threat began with a Connor Wong walk, followed by a Johan Mieses single to put two on for Worcester. That brought Jonathan Araúz to the plate, who blasted a 1-0 offering over the right field wall—when it landed, the WooSox led 5-2 on the way to their third straight win. The long ball marked the second homer this week for the 22-year-old, who has three hits in his last three games.

Johnny (Araúz) on the Spot pic.twitter.com/S4HIjBRmJV

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) June 11, 2021

Worcester jumped on top first for the third time in the series, this time on a two-run homer from Jarren Duran in the top of the third. The swing gave Duran his first two RBI and second extra base hit since returning from Team USA's Olympic Qualifier on Tuesday.

The Mets answered with a Drew Ferguson solo shot in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game in the sixth on an RBI double from Khalil Lee. Both runs came off starter Daniel Gossett, who turned in another strong performance, tossing 5.2 innings of two-run ball and striking out three. Austin Brice, Matt Hall and Kaleb Ort combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to close out the win.

The victory gives the WooSox 20 wins and puts the team seven games over .500, a highwater mark through 33 games. Over three nights in Syracuse, Worcester has blasted eight homers and scored 28 total runs.

The WooSox continue the six-game road series Friday against the Syracuse Mets at 6:35 p.m. Radio coverage starts live at 6:15 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network. Worcester’s Stephen Gonsalves (2-1, 4.07) faces Tylor Megill (0-0, 4.50).