IL Worcester Red Sox

Hernandez Clubs Grand Slam, WooSox Outslug SWB in 14-12 Win

August 19, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, M.A. - In a game that featured 26 runs, 20 hits, 19 walks and 23 strikeouts, the Worcester Red Sox (27-16, 66-52) outlasted the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (22-20, 56-60) on Saturday afternoon, a 14-12 win at Polar Park in front of 8,688.

Offensively, the WooSox hit three home runs and tied a season-high with 12 walks, in a game that saw runs in every single inning.

After Scranton took the lead in the first on an Everson Pereira homer, Worcester would score seven consecutive runs over the first three innings.

After a leadoff walk in the second, Yu Chang notched his first hit since returning to Triple-A, ripping a two-run home run to the berm in left. An inning later, Bobby Dalbec worked a bases-loaded walk, and one batter later, Ronaldo Hernandez delivered the big blow, smashing a grand slam to left.

Hernandez now has 15 home runs in 74 games, also adding the WooSox' sixth grand slam of the season.

But that was just the start of the day, offensively; SWB would score five straight between the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, Andres Chaparro hit his third homer of the week, a solo shot. The fifth saw a leadoff hit-by-pitch followed by a two-run shot from Austin Wells. After two walks and an out, a run-scoring wild pitch and two-run single by Carlos Narvaez cut the Worcester lead to 7-6.

The advantage grew to 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a passed ball that allowed Wilyer Abreu to score. SWB got it back half an inning later on an RBI double by Wells.

The WooSox grabbed two big insurance runs in the seventh, plating runs on a throwing error from the catcher and a wild pitch. After the RailRiders made it 10-8 in the top of the eighth on Pereira's second long ball, Worcester blew the game open.

With a run in on another wild pitch, Abreu launched a three-run home run over the wall in right, his 22nd of the year, extending the lead to 14-8. In the month of August, Abreu now has an International League-leading nine home runs and 25 RBI.

SWB made the game even more interesting in the ninth, scoring four runs in a frame for the second time on a two-run single by Jake Lamb and a two-run homer from Oswald Peraza. But Nick Robertson struck out Wells, ending the three-hour, 24-minute odyssey.

Between the two teams, 10 pitchers were used-only Worcester's Brendan Nail did not allow an earned run, while Scranton's Michael Gomez allowed an unearned run and Wilmer Difo, a position player, got the final out of the eighth. Eight of nine WooSox starters reached base, and all of them got on at least twice. The game also featured four wild pitches, two passed balls, four errors and a balk.

The WooSox conclude the six-game series and their 12-game homestand (8-3 thus far) on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, affiliate of the New York Yankees. On the mound, Shane Drohan (4-4, 5.52) faces Will Warren (4-4, 5.10). Television coverage is on NESN+, while radio coverage is live on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics



International League Stories from August 19, 2023


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