WooSox Walk Off Game Two in DoubleHeader Split Against SWB

WORCESTER, M.A. — The Worcester Red Sox (35-26) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (39-21) split Wednesday’s exciting doubleheader in a pair of one-run contests, a 4-3 SWB win in game one followed by a 3-2 walkoff victory in game two for the WooSox that featured three unanswered runs over the final two innings in an incessant rain.

In game two, the RailRiders took a 2-0 lead on a Rob Brantly fifth-inning solo homer and a Socrates Brito RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth. Trailing by two in the sixth inning of a seven-inning game, the WooSox put runners on first and third. Josh Ockimey then singled through the left side—part of a three RBI day for Ockimey—to make it 2-1. Tate Matheny came up next and hit a grounder up the middle, scoring Jonathan Arauz to tie the game at two.

In the bottom of the seventh with heavy rains falling, Franchy Cordero came to the plate in a 2-2 game against Braden Bristo (5-1). The left-hander ripped a ball deep to center that missed being a walk-off homer but ended up in a triple to put the winning run 90 feet away. After a flyout, Cordero dashed home on a Bristo wild pitch to score the game-winning run and give Worcester a 3-2 victory.

FRANCHY CORDERO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN pic.twitter.com/yhGpPv0wZh

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) July 15, 2021

Jose Adames (1-0) tossed a key scoreless inning in the seventh, striking out one and inducing a crucial double play, and earned the victory after the walkoff while making his Polar Park debut.

Game one was also decided by a run, and the WooSox began the day by scoring in the first inning. With one on and two out, Johan Mieses doubled to left center to put Worcester on top 1-0.

It was a back-and-forth affair from there, as consecutive doubles by Kyle Holder and Andrew Velazquez tied the score in the third. Ockimey answered half an inning later with a solo shot to center—the first of two— putting the WooSox ahead once again.

In the top of the fourth, Trey Amburgey re-tied the game for the RailRiders with a solo homer to center. A single and double followed, and after a groundout, Holder brought home Socrates Brito with a sac-fly deep to left to give SWB its first lead. The road team extended its advantage in the fifth with a Brito RBI single.

That was a necessary run, because Ockimey crushed his second homer of the day and tenth of the season in the bottom of the inning—a deep blast over the Worcester Wall and the final run of the game, a 4-3 SWB victory. Kyle Hart (4-5) took the game one loss for Worcester, throwing the first seven-inning complete game while striking out eight and allowing four runs.

The WooSox continue the series Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Polar Park versus the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Television coverage is on NESN, while radio coverage starts live at 6:15 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.