IL Worcester Red Sox

Two Clutch Stephen Scott Homers Lead WooSox to Dramatic Win

Published on July 20, 2023 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


MOOSIC, PA - In what might be forever remembered as The Stephen Scott Game, Worcester's catcher and nine hitter broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run homer in the eighth, then hit an eventual game-winning three-run blast in the ninth to power the Worcester Red Sox (12-5, 51-41) to a dramatic 10-8 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (9-7, 44-46) on Thursday night at PNC Field.

Scott's first home run was a potential game-winner in the top of the eighth inning. Ronaldo Hernandez had just tied the score at 4-4 with a leadoff bomb into the bullpen, and Scott stepped in with two men aboard after a Niko Kavadas double and a Narciso Crook walk. He fell behind 0-2, but eventually crushed a 1-2 splitter from Matt Bowman deep over the fence in right, putting Worcester in front 7-4 on a homer that traveled an estimated 414 feet.

It wasn't quite enough to put the RailRiders away. Scranton rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with nobody out on a single and two walks. Brendan Nail struck out Wilmer Difo for the first out, but a sac fly, a run-scoring balk, and RBI hits from Everson Pereira and Andres Chapparo gave the RailRiders an 8-7 advantage before Chase Shugart (W, 3-1) closed out the inning.

Fortunately for the WooSox, Stephen Scott was just five batters away. Scranton closer Greg Weissert (L, 3-3) recorded two outs in the ninth but gave up a single to Hernandez and a walk to Kavadas. Scott then skied a 1-2 pitch deep down the right field line. Brandon Lockridge tracked it all the way to the wall, but ran out of room as the ball sailed over the fence to give the WooSox a 10-8 lead. It was the first time Weissert surrendered more than two runs in an outing all season.

A.J. Politi (S, 9) worked around a leadoff walk for a hitless ninth to seal Worcester's eighth win in the last nine games and sustain sole possession of first place in the second half playoff race.

Scott's six RBIs match a WooSox franchise record, originally set by Enmanuel Valdez on August 12, 2022 and tied by Daniel Palka on May 27, 2023. All three six-RBI efforts have occurred at PNC Field.

Worcester's offense also featured the second-straight three-hit night from top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela, who went 3-for-4 with two triples and a double. Bobby Dalbec (2-for-5, RBI), David Hamilton (2-for-5, 2B), Hernandez (2-for-5, HR) and Crook (2-for-3, 2B, 3B, BB, HBP) also produced multi-hit nights.

Dinelson Lamet (Dee-NELSON Luh-MET) was sharp in his third WooSox appearance (second start), but Scranton took advantage of his only two mistakes: a solo home run from Pereira in the first inning, and a two-run shot from Jake Bauers on Lamet's final pitch that tied the game 3-3 in the fourth. He left the game after 4.1 innings with three runs allowed on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. His patented slider yielded a season-high seven swings and misses.

Worcester had a 3-1 lead at the midway point of the game thanks to RBI singles from Dalbec and Hamilton along with a run-scoring wild pitch. All three runs were charged to Scranton starter Randy Vasquez, who went four innings while allowing five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The game stayed tied at 3-3 until a Chaparro RBI single in the seventh. It was the first run allowed by WooSox reliever Cam Booser since June 6.

The back-and-forth affair saw six lead changes and was tied at 1-1, 3-3, 4-4, and 7-7.

The WooSox will continue the six-game series in Scranton through Sunday before returning home to start a six-game homestand at Polar Park next Tuesday. Friday night's game is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m. with radio coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the 98.9 NASH Icon WooSox Radio Network.

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International League Stories from July 20, 2023


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