WooSox Win on Friday Night at Polar Park
IL Worcester Red Sox

WooSox Win on Friday Night at Polar Park

Published on August 7, 2026 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


Worcester WooSox on game night
Worcester WooSox on game night
(Worcester Red Sox, Credit: Ashley Green)

Worcester, MA - Franklin Arias, the #2 rated prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, continued to thrive in his first two weeks in Triple-A as his 2-run double in the 5th inning was the key hit in Worcester's 5-4 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Friday night at Polar Park.

In front of a season-high crowd of 8,797, the WooSox, under manager Iggy Suarez, won for the 14th time in their last 16 games and reached 11-games over .500 (at 59-48) for the first time since they ended the 2023 season with a 79-68 record.

Meanwhile, 45 miles to the east, the Boston Red Sox, under manager Chad Tracy, routed the Athletics, 13-1 at Fenway Park to win their 9th straight and improve to 27-3 since July 3rd while also going 13-games over .500 for the first time this season.

And then after the game, Trace announced that recently acquired Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman will head to Worcester on Saturday to make his Red Sox organizational debut on an injury rehab assignment with the WooSox. Adley is expected to catch and play 5-innings when the WooSox host Lehigh Valley at 4:05 pm at Polar Park.

Back to Worcester...The IronPigs scored twice in the 1st inning off WooSox starter Alec Gamboa getting two out RBI doubles from both Keaton Anthony and former Red Sox Tommy Pham. Gamboa would go 2-innings allowing those 2 runs.

The WooSox got on the board in the 2nd when 2B Mikey Romero (2 hits) demolished a solo HR over everything in right field. The blast, Romero's team-high 10th HR of the year, went 433 feet and 108 MPH off the bat.

Worcester tied things in the 4th. Romy Gonzalez, in his first game since being optioned from Boston earlier in the week, walked to begin the inning. Mickey Gasper (2 hits) followed with a double and Gonzalez (0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) scored the tying run on a sac fly by Allan Castro.

Noah Song was tremendous in relief of Gamboa going 3.1 scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit with 3 strikeouts. Song (2-2) became the winner when the Sox scored 2 runs in the 5th inning on a clutch, 2-run double by Arias. The 20-year-old infielder, who was used as the DH on Friday, has now hit in 9 straight games and is batting .319 in his first 11 games with the WooSox after hitting .318 with 19 HR & 52 RBI in 75 games for Double-A Portland.

After the Pigs pulled to within a run by scoring in the 7th inning, the Sox added a big insurance run in the 8th when Gasper singled and came across on an RBI fielder's choice by Brett Harris. Lehigh Valley got a solo HR from Paul McIntosh with 2 outs in the 9th inning, but Angel Bastardo (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 SO) closed out the 5-4 win for his 2nd save of the season.

Credit also to the WooSox defense who turned three double plays and although they made an error, have now committed just two errors total in their last 12 games.

Worcester has won 3 straight games, 7 of their last 8 overall, 10 of their last 11 home games, has gone 14-2 since July 22, and they are 23-7 since June 28. 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.

Game 5 of this 6-game series will be tomorrow (Saturday) at 4:05 pm at Polar Park. In addition to the rehab appearance of catcher Adley Rutschman, it will also be the WooSox debut of 23-year-old RHP Gage Ziehl on the mound for the WooSox. Ziehl, who has spent all of this season with Double-A Portland going 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA, will oppose veteran Lehigh Valley righty Brian Keller (0-2, 3.32). The game is live on NESN+ and can be heard on NASH 98.9 FM.

The afternoon begins with the Larry Lucchino Writers Series featuring writer Teddy Tannenbaum in the DCU Club from 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Pre-game ceremonies will be highlighted by Military Appreciation Day; game time is 4:05 pm; and then after the game fans can partake in a Sunset Catch on the Field (weather permitting). The night (and next morning) conclude with a Scout Sleepover, presented by Convenient MD (also weather permitting).

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Images from this story

Worcester WooSox on game night
Worcester WooSox on game night
(Ashley Green)		   



International League Stories from August 7, 2026


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