WORCESTER — Over the last two weeks, the WooSox have seen two rehabbing MLB starting pitchers, debuts of three of their top prospects (with one more coming on Sunday), visits from a World Series champion and a Red Sox Hall of Famer, and seven wins over the first 11 games of their 12-game homestand.
Check out photos from the double homestand and catch up on all the happenings at Polar Park over the last couple weeks.
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Bisons 5, WooSox 3
The WooSox had to deal with 2020 American League Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber making his second rehab start with the Bisons and his sixth overall as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Bieber was solid, but the WooSox made loud contact a few times, with Nick Sogard doubling in Seby Zavala after Zavala also doubled, and Nathan Hickey snuck a solo home run just over the line on the Worcester Wall that tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning.
Richard Fitts had a rocky outing, only getting through four innings, yet striking out eight. He ran into a lot of three-ball counts, but only walked a pair. He gave up two runs on five hits.
David Sandlin made his second relief appearance for the WooSox and tossed a 1-2-3 sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh, giving up the go-ahead run on three hits, including a leadoff double. With runners on second and third and two outs, Sandlin got a gift from center fielder Trayce Thompson, who literally pulled a home run off the bat of Brandon Valenzula out of the bushes atop the wall in dead center.
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Jhostynxon Garcia manufactured a run in the eighth to tie the game. He reached on a leadoff walk and chose that spot to attempt his first stolen base as a WooSox, forcing an errant throw from the catcher and allowing him to get to third. He came home with the tying run on a balk from pitcher Adam Kloffenstein.
Jovani Moran, who had been lights out for the WooSox over the last few weeks, was finally touched for a couple of runs, giving up a pair in the top of the ninth. The WooSox couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the inning.
What’s Next
Top Red Sox pitching prospect Payton Tolle will make his WooSox debut on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m.
Read the original article on MassLive.