It was off to Syracuse for the Worcester Red Sox last week as they looked to continue their early dominance over the Mets, and in Tuesday’s series opener the WooSox picked up right where they left off against Syracuse and handed the Mets an 11-4 loss.
Johan Mieses began the scoring for Worcester with a second-inning sacrifice fly, and four pitches later Jonathan Arauz made it 2-0 with a solo shot to right. With the bases loading in the third Connor Wong crushed an 0-2 pitch to left for a grand slam. The WooSox grabbed a fifth run in that frame on a wild pitch to make it 7-0, and in the sixth Yairo Munoz and Mieses added RBI singles for the nine run lead.
In the seventh Worcester starter Ryan Weber made pretty much the only mistake he made in the game by allowing a two-run shot, but otherwise, he was fantastic, allowing just one other hit and striking out five in seven innings. Matt Hall followed in the eighth with a not-so-great frame, allowing two runs on three hits. The WooSox got two of those four runs back in the ninth on a Marcus Wilson two-run jack for the 11-4 final.
It was a similar lopsided score Wednesday, but this time Worcester had to overcome an early deficit with a couple of crooked number innings to defeat Syracuse 12-5 in a rare mid-week matinee. The WooSox opened up a 2-0 lead after one and a half on early home runs by Marcus Wilson and Johan Mieses. Worcester starting pitcher Raynel Espinal had a rough bottom of the second when he allowed four runs, but the veteran righty battled through the frame and held the Mets scoreless through the rest of his six-inning stint.
Worcester retook the lead in the fourth on RBI singles by Wilson and Franchy Cordero and a three-run blast by Michael Chavis. In the fifth, the WooSox added another five runs, starting on a Jack Lopez RBI double. With the bases loaded Wilson was hit by a pitch to score a run, and Cordero capped the frame with a two-run double. The Mets manufactured a run in the seventh for the 12-5 final.
Thursday saw the WooSox bats cool off a little bit, but after allowing Syracuse to tie the game 2-2 after six innings Jonathan Arauz launched a three-run bomb in the seventh to lead Worcester to a 5-2 win. The WooSox opened the scoring in the third with a two-run homer by Jarren Duran. The Mets tied it with a home run in the third and an RBI double in the sixth. Austin Brice earned the win in relief for Worcester, striking out three in an innings and a third. Kaleb Ort earned his sixth save of the season facing four batters in the ninth.
Six hits were all that the WooSox could muster Friday against the Mets pitchers, but with a two-run top of the ninth they were still able to get the game into the win column with a 5-3 final. Zac Grotz got the start for Worcester but didn’t have anything close to a successful outing, allowing four hits and two runs in his one inning stint. The WooSox got one back in the fourth on a Michael Chavis solo shot to left field, and then took the lead in the eighth on his two-run double.
Marcus Walden coughed up that lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Jack Lopez got him off the hook with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. The WooSox grabbed their fifth run on an infield error in the frame, and Kaleb Ort recorded his second save in as many days with a nine pitch ninth frame.
The Worcester bats heated up again on Saturday, and that continued the bad news for Syracuse as the WooSox handed the Mets another defeat with an 11-2 final score. Jarren Duran hit the fourth pitch of the game out to right field and in the third Michael Chavis made it 4-0 with a three-run shot. In the fourth, a Jack Lopez RBI single and a run off a wild pitch made it a six run lead. Marcus Wilson earned an RBI in the sixth on a fielder’s choice, followed by a Chavis sac-fly to make it 8-0.
The Mets got on the board with one in the seventh, but in the eighth Wilson earned his second RBI on a fielder’s choice and Franchy Cordero followed with a two-run blast to right that might be the farthest WooSox homer hit so far. Syracuse got one in the eighth for the 11-2 final. Kyle Hart went seven innings in relief for the win, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out four. Phillips Valdez struck out two in an inning of mop-up work.
Sunday Worcester went for their ever six-game series sweep, and after putting up six runs in the top of the first never looked back in a 13-7 victory. Before the Mets had recorded an out it was 4-0 WooSox thanks to Jeter Downs’ two-run homer and a two-run single from Connor Wong. Two batters later Jonathan Arauz tripled in a run, and then he scored on a Jack Lopez single. Johan Mieses launched a two-run shot in the second to make it 8-0, and Jarren Duran made it 10-0 with a two-run homer of his own.
Syracuse scored two in the third and fifth, sandwiching a Franchy Cordero RBI double, to make it 11-4 through the seventh inning. In the ninth Michael Gettys launched a solo shot, and Downs followed with his second home run of the game. Matt Hall earned the win in relief.
210Sports’ WooSox of the week
Pitcher: Ryan Weber gets the nod this week, winning his one start going seven innings while allowing two hits and two runs, and striking out five.
Batter: Michael Chavis is the easy winner this week, going 9-19 in five games with a double, three home runs, and ten RBI. He also walked three times and scored five runs.
Last week’s transactions
Monday, June 7: Boston outrighted Colten Brewer to Worcester, and assigned Tate Matheny from Worcester to Portland.
Tuesday, June 8: Worcester activated Jarren Duran from the TIA.
Thursday, June 10: Boston recalled Brandon Brennan and optioned Phillips Valdez to Worcester. Worcester activated Zac Grotz from the IL.
Friday, June 11: Worcester placed Caleb Simpson on the suspended list.
Sunday, June 13: Boston selected Ryan Weber from Worcester and designated Brandon Brennan for assignment.
This week’s schedule
vs Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 6:30pm
Wednesday: 6:30pm
Thursday: 6:30pm
Friday: 6:30pm
Saturday: 4pm
Sunday: 1pm
—
Got something you loved (or hated) about the post? Head on over to the 210Sports Facebook page and leave a comment. You could comment on this post too, but fair warning, the spam filter catches lots of stuff it shouldn’t and it might be weeks before we see your comment. While you’re there, give the page a like if you could.
-30-
210Sports 