IL Worcester Red Sox

Palka Drives in Two as WooSox Drop Series Finale to RailRiders

July 23, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


MOOSIC, PA - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (11-8, 45-48) denied the Worcester Red Sox (11-5, 50-41) a series win, topping the WooSox by a 6-5 final on Sunday afternoon at PNC Field.

The game was scoreless through two-and-a-half innings. In the bottom of the third, Jamie Westbrook hit a leadoff homer to put Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on top 1-0.

Worcester responded in the top of the fourth. Nick Sogard led off the frame with a single. After a fly out by Wilyer Abreu and a ground out from Bobby Dalbec (that allowed Sogard to advance to second), Ryan Fitzgerald lined a single to right to score Sogard and tie the game at one. Ronaldo Hernandez followed that up with a single, Niko Kavadas walked to load the bases, and Daniel Palka laced a two-run single into center field to give the WooSox a 3-1 lead.

Everson Pereira led off the bottom of the fourth with a homer to bring the RailRiders to within a run.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Brandon Lockridge singled, Estevan Florial pulled a double down the right-field line, and then Pereira lifted his second home run in as many innings. It was a three-run shot to center that put the RailRiders ahead 5-3. Later in the inning, Carlos Narvaez doubled in a run to extend the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lead to 6-3.

That score held until the top of the eighth. Sogard drew a walk to begin the inning. Abreu followed with a walk of his own. Bobby Dalbec pulled a single into left to plate Sogard and make it a 6-4 game. Two batters later, with Abreu at third, Ronaldo Hernandez lined a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Abreu and cut the Worcester deficit to 6-5.

The WooSox split the six-game series with the RailRiders. It was their first series split since last August 16-21 when they split a six-game set at home against Rochester. They finish their nine-game road trip with a 6-3 record.

In his third Triple-A start, Brian Van Belle went 4.2 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out six.

The WooSox will enjoy an off day tomorrow before beginning a six-game series with the Rochester Red Wings at Polar Park on Tuesday night at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday is Taco & Tequila Tuesday presented by Tequila Herradura. It is also Tooth Day presented by Simply Orthodontics and New England Oral Surgery. In addition, it is a Leominster Town Takeover night. Radio coverage begins at 6:25 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon, 100.1 FM The Pike, and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.

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International League Stories from July 23, 2023


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