Seabold Dazzles, Muñoz Sets Hit Streak Record in Loss at SWB

MOOSIC, P.A. — Despite Connor Seabold’s best start in a Worcester Red Sox (42-36) uniform, the WooSox had their four-game win streak snapped on Wednesday night, a 7-3 loss against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (47-28) at PNC Field.

In his third Triple-A outing, Seabold delivered six scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. The right-hander allowed two total baserunners: a walk in the third and a single in the fourth.

The WooSox offense did its part for Seabold early in the game, starting with a third inning double from Ryan Fitzgerald, his third straight game with an extra-base hit. After a Grant Williams sac-bunt, Yairo Muñoz came to the plate with a 25-game hit streak and the go-ahead run 90 feet away.

And for the 26th straight game, Muñoz came through with a knock, this time a sharp line drive down the right field line to plate Fitzgerald. The RBI single gives the 26-year-old the longest hit streak in modern day Red Sox Triple-A history, surpassing Jacoby Ellsbury’s 25-game stretch in 2007.

Still up 1-0 in the sixth, Worcester put runners on first and third with one out. Jhonny Pereda grounded a ball to the left side for a fielder's choice, scoring Jeremy Rivera. Pereda now has four RBI with the WooSox, all in the last three games.

But SWB’s bats woke up late after Seabold’s exit, starting in the bottom of the seventh inning. Andrew Velazquez led off with a single against reliever Durbin Feltman, stole second and scored on a Socrates Brito single to center that cut the deficit to 2-1.

That was the score an inning later, when the RailRiders put together their biggest offensive outburst of the series so far. Working against Brandon Brennan, SWB put two on thanks to a single and a hit-by-pitch. Estevan Florial was next, and he singled to center to tie the game. Velazquez followed that with a single to left—Rivera, the fielder, bobbled the ball as he picked it up, allowing the go-ahead run to come home and pushing Florial to third. Brito hit the fourth pitch of the next at-bat towards right center, and Tate Matheny made a strong running grab to make it a sac-fly and a 4-2 game.

Brennan walked the next batter, and Billy McMillon signaled to the bullpen for Jose Adames. Adames gave up a ground ball that turned in to a rundown where everyone was safe, a balk that scored Velazquez and a single that scored two more. Altogether, nine RailRiders came to the plate in a six-run, four-hit frame that was ultimately the difference in the game.

Fitzgerald got one back in the top of the ninth with an RBI double to cap off his second straight three-hit game. But SWB got the final out, handing Worcester its second loss of the season when it led through six—entering the night, it was 30-1.

The WooSox continue the six-game series Thursday at 7:05 p.m. against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Radio coverage starts live at 6:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network. On the mound, Raynel Espinal (8-3, 4.26) faces Deivi Garcia (2-4, 7.41).