IL Worcester Red Sox

Story, Rafaela Homer in 5-4 Extra Inning Loss

Published on August 1, 2023 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


SYRACUSE, NY - Despite an impressive rehab outing from Chris Sale and home runs from Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story, the Worcester Red Sox (15-12, 54-48) were edged by the Syracuse Mets (10-17, 43-58) in a back-and-forth 5-4 loss in 10 innings at NBT Bank Stadium.

Sale threw 40 pitches, including six that reached 96 miles-per-hour, while holding the Mets to one hit (a Ronny Mauricio double) with two walks and three strikeouts.

In his sixth rehab game with Worcester, Trevor Story delivered some heroics in the top of the eighth, launching a go-ahead two-run homer to left field. With the WooSox trailing 2-1, Nick Sogard walked and forced Syracuse to bring in Sean Reid-Foley to face Story. After working the count to 2-2, Story drove a changeup 373 feet out to the Mets bullpen to put Worcester in front 3-2.

It was the second WooSox longball of the game, including Ceddanne Rafaela's opposite-field blast in the first inning. For his seventh homer in Triple-A, and his first on an 0-2 pitch, Boston's No. 2 ranked prospect drilled a 93 mile-per-out fastball from Eric Orzee over the wall in right field to give Worcester an early 1-0 edge.

The lead held until the fifth inning, thanks in part to a stellar outing from Rio Gomez. He tied his season-high with eight strikeouts over three innings, but did allow a go-ahead two-run home run to Luke Voit in the fifth.

Story's eighth-inning blast looked to be a game-winner, as the Mets were down to their final out with the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth. That was before Jonathan Arauez doubled down the right field line and scored on a game-tying single by Ronny Mauricio, which forced extra innings.

Niko Kavadas delivered an RBI double in the top of the 10th to give Worcester a brief 4-3 lead, but a walk and a throwing error in the home half tied the game for Syracuse and set up Luke Ritter for a walk-off single to left field. It was Syracuse's 16th home win of the season, and six of them have come in their final at bat.

Mets reliever Dennis Santana (W, 4-2) struck out three batters in the ninth and three more in the tenth inning to earn the win.

The teams play game two of this six-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 pm at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse. RHP Dinelson Lamet (0-0, 3.77) gets the start for the WooSox vs. Syracuse RHP and Massachusetts native Mike Vasil (1-1, 6.59). Radio coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. on NASH Icon 98.9 FM and the rest of the WooSox Radio Network.

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International League Stories from August 1, 2023


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