WooSox Game Information
IL Worcester Red Sox

WooSox Game Information

Published on August 8, 2026 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


The game is live on NESN+. Thank you.

AUGUST 8th LEHIGH VALLEY (17-20)/(52-60) at WORCESTER (23-13)/(59-48) 4:05 pm

Lehigh Valley IronPigs RHP Brian Keller (0-2, 3.32) vs. Worcester Red Sox RHP Gage Ziehl (NR)

The Beat Goes On - The Worcester Red Sox - now a season-high 11 games over .500 for the first time since they ended the 2023 season - have won their last three games to take a 3 games to 1 lead in this 6-game series vs. the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA-Philadelphia). The WooSox will attempt to win the series outright when they play game five today at 4:05 pm at Polar Park. A victory either today or tomorrow would give Worcester their 5th straight "extended" series victory in a row. The Sox did lose both games of an abbreviated 2-game set at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 17 & 19 but before and after that they have won 4 of 6 at Syracuse from June 30 - July 5, took 4 of 6 vs. Rochester from July 8-12, swept a 6-game series from Jacksonville from July 22-26, and went 5-1 at Norfolk from July 28 - August 2. Today's game is live on NESN+ and can be heard on NASH 98.9 FM.

WooSox & Red Sox Nation Rejoice - We just state the facts here at WooSox Game Notes. The WooSox have won 14 of their last 16 games, they are 23-7 in their last 30 games since June 28, and currently a season-high 11-games over .500 (59-48). The Boston Red Sox have presently won 9 straight games, they are 27-3 in their last 30 games since July 3, 32-5 in their last 37 games (which might be one of the best stretches ever in Major League Baseball), and thus a season-best 13-games over .500 on the year at 64-51. Furthermore, the WooSox have pulled to within a 1/2-game of 1st-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA-Yankees) for the best overall record in the International League's 2nd half while the Boston Red Sox are a 1/2-game behind the New York Yankees for the top American League Wild Card spot.

Where Things Stand - This impressive run (and their 23-13 record in the 2nd half) has put the WooSox just a 1/2-game out of 1st-place in the 20-team International League as they fight for the top spot and the 2nd half playoff spot.

New Heights - At 59-48 on the year, Worcester is 11-games over .500 for the first time since they ended the 2023 season with a 79-68 record. The WooSox are bidding for their 6th winning season in this their 6th year in Worcester.

Adding Adley - Recently-acquired Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman will make his Red Sox organizational debut today when he begins an injury rehab assignment with the WooSox. Adley is expected to catch and play 5-innings. The WooSox will be hosting the Lehigh Valley IronPigs today at 4:05 pm at Polar Park and tomorrow at 1:05 pm. Rutschman was placed on Baltimore's 10-day Injured List on July 20 with left wrist inflammation and had not played with the Orioles since July 18.

On Monday at the trade deadline, the Red Sox acquired the three-time All-Star catcher from the Baltimore Orioles, along with catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations, in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, minor league right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Rutschman, 28, has been selected as an American League All-Star in three of the last four seasons (2023-24, 2026), while winning a Silver Slugger Award and being selected to the All-MLB First Team in 2023.

The switch-hitter has played in 67 games for Baltimore this season, batting .251 with a .331 on-base percentage, .764 OPS, 30 runs scored, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, and 47 RBI while making 49 starts as the catcher and 16 as the designated hitter. He has thrown out 14 of 34 runners attempting to steal (41%), tied for the most in the Majors this season, while ranking fifth among catchers in FanGraphs' WAR (2.3) and strikeout rate (14.1%, minimum 200 plate appearances).

Adley was most-recently placed on the 10-Day Injured List with left wrist inflammation on July 20 and has also been on the IL this season with left ankle inflammation (April 11-20) and with a concussion (from June 18-27).

Selected by the Orioles with the 1st overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft (KC All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. was the #2 pick), Rutschman has hit .254 with 69 HR and 277 RBI in 572 career Major League games, all with Baltimore (2022-26).

Rutschman, an Oregon native, had an outstanding collegiate career at Oregon State University where he led the Beavers to the 2018 College World Series Championship and was named CWS Most Outstanding Player with 17 hits and 13 RBI during the series. In 2019 he hit .411 with 17 HR & 58 RBI to earn the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top player along with the Dick Howser Trophy and the Buster Posey Award given to the nation's best catcher. In addition, during his freshman year of 2017, Adley was the placekicker for the Oregon State football team.

A Zeal for Pitching - RHP Gage Ziehl, promoted from Double-A Portland to Worcester this past Tuesday, will make his WooSox and Triple-A debut on the mound at Polar Park today. Ziehl becomes the third member of the current WooSox starting staff who has been promoted from Portland in the last two and a half weeks following RHP Blake Wehunt (July 21) and RHP John Holobetz (July 28). Ziehl, 23, has spent all of this season with Portland going 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 17 starts - 81 IP, 91 H, 42 R, 39 ER, 18 BB, 96 SO. He was tied for 9th in the Eastern League among qualifying pitchers in ERA, 8th in strikeouts, and 6th in WHIP (1.35). The 6'0", 223 lbs. righty was born in Hilton Head, SC and grew up in New York. He was acquired by the Red Sox on February 1, 2026 for pitchers David Sandlin, Jordan Hicks, and two players to be named later.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics

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International League Stories from August 8, 2026


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