Castro Comes through in the Clutch Again
IL Worcester Red Sox

Castro Comes through in the Clutch Again

Published on September 16, 2026 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


Allan Castro of the Worcester Red Sox reacts after homering
Allan Castro of the Worcester Red Sox reacts after homering
(Worcester Red Sox, Credit: Ashley Green)

Worcester, MA - Allan "Mr. Clutch" Castro came through with his third game-winning hit in the last three WooSox games to once again lead the Worcester Red Sox to victory, the latest an 8-5 triumph over the Durham Bulls on Wednesday night at Polar Park. Castro's 2-run HR, his second of the game, erased a 5-4, 7th inning deficit and gave the WooSox their third straight win.

Castro, the 23-year-old from Santo Domingo, saved the Sox with a 2-run HR in the top of the 9th inning last Sunday to beat Lehigh Valley, 8-7 and on Tuesday in the series-opener at Polar Park he ripped a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Worcester a 2-1 win. Castro now has 14 homers on the season and a team-high 70 RBI.

The winning WooSox rally came in the 7th inning. Tsung-Che Cheng (2 hits, walk, 2 runs) led the frame with his second single and raced to third on a single by Braiden Ward (3 hits, RBI, run). Ward promptly stole his 60th base of the year (adding to his own Red Sox Triple-A record for Most SB in a season) to put two runners in scoring position. Franklin Arias was next and drove a deep fly to the warning track good for a sac fly to plate Cheng while Ward used his speed to dive safely into 3rd base. Ward would then be able to trot home when Castro followed with a towering 2-run HR way over the Flexcon Landing sign in right center field to give the WooSox their first lead of the game.

Worcester added two insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th to make the final, 8-5 and give the Sox 10 wins in their last 14 games.

The WooSox (39-30 in the 2nd half and 75-65 overall) continue their playoff hopes alive with just four games remaining in the regular season. Worcester is two games behind both Rochester & Indianapolis who are tied for 1st -place and the one playoff spot that comes with the best winning pct. in the 2nd half of the International League season.

Durham scored the game's first run in the 2nd inning when Jack Suwinski doubled and came home on an RBI single by Carson Williams. WooSox starter Blake Wehunt, who came into the game with a 2.08 ERA in his last four starts, gave up two more runs in the 3rd thanks to a 2-out, 2-run single by Xavier Isaac. The damage could have been worse, but Sox shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng made a sensational leaping grab of a liner by Williams to end the inning and leave the bases loaded for the Bulls.

As so often happens in the great game of baseball, the player who made a brilliant defensive gem to end an inning immediately led off the bottom half of the inning and Cheng wasted no time in singling to begin the 3rd inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Ward, Cheng scored Worcester's first run on an Arias RBI single to center. Arias has now hit safely in 18 of his last 19 starts and is batting .331 in his 39 games since joining the WooSox on July 25. Castro followed Arias by lifting an opposite field 2-run HR over the wall in left to tie the game at 3-3.

The Bulls regained the lead when Wehunt balked in a run in the 5th. The 6'7", 25-year-old went 5 innings allowing 7 hits and 4 runs with 2 BB & 3 SO and was not involved in the decision. Patrick Halligan came on to pitch the 6th inning and surrendered a solo HR to Tatem Levins extending the Bulls lead to 5-3. The next three WooSox relievers were outstanding.

Seth Martinez (4-4) struck out the Durham side in the 7th inning and became the winner when the Sox struck for 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. John Brebbia worked a scoreless 8th inning and Sam McWilliams needed just 6 pitches to record a 1-2-3, 9th and his 2nd save.

Boston Red Sox RHP Johan Oviedo will make his first rehab start with the WooSox - and appear in a game for the first time since he made his Red Sox debut this past March 30 - in Game 3 of this series on Thursday night at 6:05 pm. Oviedo, who was acquired from Pittsburgh along with current WooSox reliever Tyler Samaniego in a 5-player trade last December that sent former WooSox OF Jhostynxon Garcia to the Pirates, was placed on the Red Sox injured list on March 31 with a right elbow strain. Oviedo, 28, has pitched in 82 games (67 starts) with St. Louis (2020-2022), Pittsburgh (2022-25), and Boston (2026) going 15-26 with a 4.29 ERA.

The WooSox are down to their final four games of the regular season. The series (and season) will conclude over the weekend with games Friday at 6:05 pm, Saturday at 4:05 pm, and Sunday at 1:05 pm. All of these games take place during what again is being affectionately called "Fan Appreciation Week/Weekend" at Polar Park in a tribute to all of WooSox Nation.

Thursday's game can be seen on NESN+ and heard on NASH 98.9 FM. The WooSox are pleased to offer the following Fan Appreciation events before and during Thursday's game...

- It will be the final "Deuces Wild" on Thursday when fans can enjoy $2 Coney Island and Hebrew National Hot Dogs, $2 Polar Waters, and $2 12-ounce drafts of Coors Light and Masshole Light Lager (the beverage deal was available from 9/11-9/17).

- The Worcester Red Sox take the field as the Worcester Kelley Squares, one of three alternate identities to have launched in WooSox '26, in a tribute to the famous (infamous?) Kelley Square traffic rotary near Polar Park. It will also be Community College Night at the ballpark.

- Fans can meet former Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, a Milton, MA native who had an outstanding 21-year career in the big leagues with 14 different clubs. Rich will sign autographs and take photos in the Sherwood's Diner on Summit Street during innings 3-6.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics

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Images from this story

Allan Castro of the Worcester Red Sox reacts after homering
Allan Castro of the Worcester Red Sox reacts after homering
(Ashley Green)		   



International League Stories from September 16, 2026


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