Roman Homer Rallies Worcester Past Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 8-5
Worcester, MA – The Worcester Red Sox began an important 6-game series against rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA-Yankees) with a much-needed, 8-5 victory on Tuesday night at Polar Park. Roman Anthony smoked a 2-run HR to right-centerfield in the 7th inning to erase a 4-3 deficit and kickstart a 5-run WooSox rally.
Worcester, MA – The Worcester Red Sox began an important 6-game series against rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA-Yankees) with a much-needed, 8-5 victory on Tuesday night at Polar Park. Roman Anthony smoked a 2-run HR to right-centerfield in the 7th inning to erase a 4-3 deficit and kickstart a 5-run WooSox rally. Anthony finished 2-for-4 with a walk, single, homer & 3 RBI while playing all 9-innings in leftfield.
The first three batters in the WooSox lineup were all rehabbing Red Sox players. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm inflammation) led-off and was 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, and run scored while making 6 assists playing second base. Anthony (ligament tear in his right ring finger) batted second and had his big night, while Trevor Story (sports hernia surgery) hit third going 0-for-4 with a walk and RBI as the shortstop handling 2 assists & 2 putouts.
All three Red Sox rehabbers are expected to play for the WooSox again on Wednesday night at Polar Park.
Anthony lined a single to left sandwiched around strikeouts by Kiner-Falefa and Story in the 1st inning when the WooSox left two runners on base. The Sox struck for two runs in the 2nd inning, however, when Scranton/WB reliever Xavier Rivas threw 12 straight balls to Kiner-Falefa, Anthony, and Story with the last two walks forcing in Franklin Arias (reached on error) and Vinny Capra (walk).
Nate Eaton walked leading off the 3rd inning, stole 2nd and scored on an Arias single to left. Arias, who went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI now has 24 RBI in his 24 games with the WooSox.
Worcester starter Jedixson Paez was outstanding allowing the first RailRiders hit with one out in the 5th inning on a solo HR by Marco Luciano. Paez left with a 3-1 lead after an excellent 5-innings giving up just the 1 hit and 1 run with 0 walks and 8 strikeouts.
The RailRiders scored 3 runs in the 6th off the WooSox bullpen to take a 4-3 lead getting key hits from J.C. Escarra (2-run single) and Luciano (RBI single). Luciano, the Scranton/WB leftfielder, finished with 3 hits including two homers (#11 & 12 on the year).
After Anthony thrilled the 7,282 fans at Polar Park by ripping a 3-1 pitch on a line at 107 MPH off the bat for a 2-run HR to regain the lead, the WooSox added on with 3 more runs in the decisive 7th inning. Romy Gonzalez (1-for-3 with 2 walks) smacked a double, scored on an Arias double, Kristian Campbell singled to bring home Arias, and catcher Nate Baez banged his first WooSox hit to plate Campbell making it 8-4 WooSox.
The win went to John Brebbia (2-0) who tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief while Hobie Harris earned SV #1 working a scoreless 9th inning.
The victory snapped Worcester’s 4-game losing streak and moved them to within a 1-game of the RailRiders in the tight International League pennant race with 23 games to go. The WooSox are 3½ games behind Indianapolis who are now alone in 1st-place in the 2nd half.
Game two of the 6-game series will be Wednesday at 6:05 pm at Polar Park. Gage Ziehl (1-2, 3.68) gets the start for the WooSox while the RailRiders are TBD.
In honor of the return of Roman to Polar Park, the first 700 fans through the gates on Wednesday will receive a Roman Bobblehead. It is also First Responder Wednesday, presented by National Grid, when first responders receive four free general admission tickets; Fallon Health Silver Slugger Night when seniors can enjoy concessions discounts; and Woofster’s Birthday.
The game is live on NESN and can be heard on NASH 98.9 FM, The Pike 100.1 FM, and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.