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IL Worcester Red Sox

Rafaela Homers Twice for First Time at Triple-A, WooSox Beat Mets 7-3

July 7, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, M.A. - The Worcester Red Sox (44-40, 5-4) scored in their first four offensive innings on the way to a win over the Syracuse Mets (35-48, 2-7) on Friday night, a 7-3 victory at Polar Park.

Four batters into the ballgame, the WooSox took the lead. With Pablo Reyes in scoring position, Bobby Dalbec laced an RBI double, the first of two for him, down the left field line to make it 1-0.

In the second, Ceddanne Rafaela delivered his first RBI of the night, beginning the best performance of his young Triple-A career. With a man on, he ripped an RBI single to double the advantage, and one batter later, Reyes came through with a run-scoring single of his own.

Leading 3-0 through two, Dalbec and Wilyer Abreu reached to begin the third. After an out pushed the runners in to scoring position, Ronaldo Hernandez smacked a double down the left field line, plating both.

Rafaela's offensive outburst was the story of the night-in the fourth, he crushed a 420-foot homer to left-center, and in the sixth, he made it his first Triple-A multi-homer game with a 389-foot shot to left.

Since his promotion to Worcester, Rafaela has four home runs in nine games.

On the mound, WooSox starter Norwith Gudiño earned his third win, posting the following line: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K. The only runs he allowed came on a two-run homer by former WooSox Jaylin Davis in the fourth.

John Schreiber entered in the sixth on a rehab assignment, getting the first two outs before walking the third and final batter he faced. The right-hander threw 16 pitches (nine strikes).

Andrés Núñez got the final out of the sixth, then added a runless seventh. Ryan Fernandez allowed a run in the eighth on a solo shot from Luke Voit, but A.J. Politi worked a speedy, seven-pitch ninth to finish off the home team's victory.

With the win, Worcester improves to 27-17 at Polar Park.

The WooSox continue the six-game series Saturday at 4:05 p.m. at Polar Park against the Syracuse Mets. On the mound, Brian Van Belle makes his Triple-A debut for Worcester. Television coverage is on NESN+, while radio coverage is live at 3:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.

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