Worcester, MA – The Worcester Red Sox batted around in both the 1st inning (scoring 5 runs) and again in the 4th inning (scoring 6 runs) in a 19-0 rout of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday afternoon in front of a season-high 9,130 fans at Polar Park. Worcester – who set a new season-high with 19 hits and matched their season-most 19 runs in the game - won for the 15th time in their last 17 games and reached 12-games over .500 (at 60-48) for the first time since September 12th of the 2023 season.
WooSox 2B Mikey Romero led the attack going 6-for-6 with four singles, a double, and a 2-run HR good for 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. Romero, the 22-year-old former 1st round pick of the Red Sox in 2022, became the first player in Worcester Red Sox history to have 6 hits in a game and the first Red Sox Triple-A player to do so since Pawtucket Red Sox outfielder Michael Coleman had 7 hits for the PawSox on June 4, 1999. Romero’s season average rose from .225 to .239 and his homer was his team-leading 11th of the year.
Recently-acquired Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman made his Red Sox organizational debut on an injury rehab assignment with the Worcester Red Sox on Saturday going 1-for-2 with a 2-run double, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored while catching 5-innings of shutout ball.
Here is Rutschman’s post-game interview…
Rutschman, a three-time American League All-Star who was dealt to Boston last Monday, had been on Baltimore’s injured list since July 20 with left wrist inflammation. The 28-year-old switch-hitter walked to lead-off the bottom of the 1st inning and eventually scored the game’s first run when he alertly scampered home on an RBI single by Romy Gonzalez. Adley flew out to left field to end the 2nd inning and walked again in the 3rd inning. He batted for the fourth time in the first four innings and ripped a 2-run double to rightfield that was 104 MPH off the bat.
Rutschman also threw out a runner attempting to steal 2nd base to end the 1st inning and worked in tandem with starter Gage Ziehl to guide the rookie hurler through 5 scoreless innings in Ziehl’s Triple-A debut.
The WooSox scored 5 runs while batting around in the 1st inning. Worcester has scored a total of 98 runs in the 1st inning this season – most in the league – and the opening frame has been far and away their most productive inning all season. Their 1st inning onslaught on Saturday knocked former WooSox righty Brian Keller from the box after just 1/3 of an inning giving up 5 runs on 4 this and 3 walks.
The game also marked the WooSox and Triple-A debut of 23-year-old righty Gage Ziehl who started on the mound for the WooSox and earned the victory. Ziehl, who had spent all of this season with Double-A Portland going 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA, was outstanding going 5.2 shutout innings on just 2 hits and no walks with 8 strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches, 54 for strikes. Devin Sweet (1.1 innings), Tyler Samaniego (1 inning), and usual first baseman but sometimes reliever Nathan Hickey (a 1-2-3 9th inning) combined to close out Worcester’s 5th shutout victory of the season.
Everyone in the WooSox starting lineup had at least one hit and 8 of 9 had at least one RBI as well. In addition to Romero’s 6 hits, others with a multi-hit game included Gonzalez (3 hits, RBI, run), Allan Castro (3 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 4 runs scored), and Nate Eaton (2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 runs). Vinny Capra (4 walks) singled in his final at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 13 straight while Braiden Ward had a hit and was hit by a pitch twice to raise his season total HBP to 28 to lead all of Minor League Baseball.
Worcester has won 4 straight games, 8 of their last 9 overall, 11 of their last 12 home games, has gone 15-2 since July 22, and they are 24-7 since June 28. This impressive run (and their 24-13 record in the 2nd half) has put the WooSox on the verge of 1st-place in the 20-team International League as they fight for the top spot and the 2nd half playoff spot.
The finale of this 6-game series (and the first half of this 12-game WooSox homestand that continues next week & weekend vs. Buffalo) will be tomorrow (Sunday) at 1:05 pm at Polar Park. RHP Blake Wehunt (1-1, 3.86) makes his fourth start for the WooSox since his promotion from Portland while RHP Alan Rangel (3-5, 4.22) gets the nod for the IronPigs. The game is live on NESN+ and can be heard on NASH 98.9 FM.
The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Ceddanne Rafaela Gold Glove Bobblehead, compliments of Worcester Regional Airport. Kids (of all ages) Run the Bases post-game as well.