Syracuse, NY - The Worcester Red Sox used four home runs to beat the Syracuse Mets, 5-4, on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Worcester (64-49) scored quickly in the top of the first inning. Chad De La Guerra hit a leadoff ground-rule double. Connor Wong followed with a single to score De La Guerra and give an early 1-0 lead to the Woo Sox.
Syracuse (44-67-1) took the lead in the bottom of the third. Mark Payton hit a one-out triple, and Wilfredo Tovar followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game at one. Khalil Lee then came to the plate and hit a two-out double. José Peraza followed with a double to score Lee and give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
Syracuse added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Chance Sisco led off the frame with a triple, and then David Thompson hit a one-run single to increase the Syracuse lead to two, 3-1.
Worcester cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth when Jeter Downs led off the inning with a solo home run to make it a 3-2 game with Syracuse still in front.
The Red Sox tied the game in the top of the sixth thanks to another home run, this time a solo shot off of Johan Mieses’s bat to make it a 3-3 contest.
Syracuse starting pitcher Vance Worley delivered six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two batters.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mark Payton delivered a one-out solo home run to give Syracuse back the lead, 4-3. It was Payton’s first home run with Syracuse.
Worcester tied the game yet again, this time in the top of the eighth when Connor Wong hit a solo homer to make it a 4-4 game.
Wong struck again in the top of the ninth, delivering a two-out, go-ahead solo home run to give the Woo Sox a 5-4 lead.
With Worcester still leading by one going into the bottom of the ninth, Eduard Bazardo returned to the mound for a second inning of relief work. The Woo Sox reliever delivered a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save.
The Mets and Red Sox return to NBT Bank Stadium on Wednesday night for the second game of their six-game series. Right-hander Zack Godley takes the mound for Syracuse against Worcester right-hander Kutter Crawford. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.