Valdez, Contreras Go Deep in 8-4 Victory Over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

WORCESTER, M.A. — The Worcester Red Sox (19-21) opened the series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (27-12) with 11 hits and a win on Tuesday night, an 8-4 victory at Polar Park.

The WooSox scored eight times in their first five offensive innings, beginning with a three-run bottom of the second.

Down 1-0, Niko Kavadas tied the game with an RBI groundout, plating Nathan Hickey from third. Mark Contreras came through with an RBI double in the right-centerfield gap, and Eddy Alvarez followed with a run-scoring single to make it 3-1. The four-hit inning was the start of what was ultimately an eight run, 11 hit and four extra-base-hit offensive night for Worcester.

It was 3-2 in the third when Enmanuel Valdez stepped up with no one on and smashed a solo shot to center. Valdez now has four home runs in 11 games since being optioned to Triple-A.

Another big swing helped Worcester take command of the game in the fourth—with a man on, Mark Contreras clobbered his second home run of the year and his second in three days.

In the fifth, Hickey walked and Bobby Dalbec doubled, part of a two-hit night for the 28-year-old. One batter later, Kavadas made it a two-RBI game to up his season total to 25.

On the mound, Jason Alexander earned his second win of the season, posting the following line: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Chase Shugart tossed the sixth and seventh, allowing one run, while Lucas Luetge went two scoreless.

Luetge has now notched six consecutive scoreless outings, a stretch of 10.2 innings with 10 strikeouts.

The WooSox continue the six-game series on Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, affiliate of the New York Yankees. On the mound, Red Sox rehabber Garrett Whitlock gets the start, facing Clayton Beeter (3-1, 2.89). Television coverage is on NESN, while radio coverage begins at 10:45 a.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.