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Late Inning Offensive Explosion Powers WooSox to Third Straight

Hickey's Grand Slam the Exclamation Point in 13-4 Victory
By Ryan Sheahan
May 31, 2024

CHARLOTTE, NC –– Behind late-game offensive explosion, the Worcester Red Sox (26-29) defeated the Charlotte Knights (21-33) 13-4 in game four of their six-game series on Friday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Knights put the first run on the board in the second inning after Zach DeLoach lined an

CHARLOTTE, NC –– Behind late-game offensive explosion, the Worcester Red Sox (26-29) defeated the Charlotte Knights (21-33) 13-4 in game four of their six-game series on Friday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Knights put the first run on the board in the second inning after Zach DeLoach lined an RBI double to right field off of WooSox starter Jason Alexander. However, Worcester’s offense responded, tying the game on a Nathan Hickey grounder that bounced off the first base bag, scoring Chase Meidroth from second base.

With the game knotted at one in the bottom of the fourth, Colson Montgomery lined a two-run single into center to put the Knights ahead. Alexander finished the inning, but his night was done. The 31-year-old right-hander’s final line was 4 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.

Brian Van Belle relieved Alexander on the mound to begin the fifth and certainly did his job. In his third relief outing this season, the 27-year-old held the Knights scoreless in three innings of work while allowing just two hits.

With nine outs to work with, the WooSox offense started making some noise in the seventh inning. After a quick first out, the top of the order loaded the bases for Bobby Dalbec. Down in the count 1-2, Worcester’s right fielder rocketed a two-run double just out of DeLoach’s reach in left field to tie up the ballgame. The clutch hit continued a torrid run-producing stretch for Dalbec, who now has seven RBIs in four games this series.

After a scoreless bottom of the seventh, the WooSox offense exploded for 10 runs in the next two innings.

Meidroth (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R) began the outburst by lacing a two-run double in the left-center gap to give the WooSox their first lead of the game. Nick Sogard (2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI, 3 R) immediately followed with his second double of the game to score Meidroth, helping the WooSox to a three-run advantage. A bases-loaded walk and Niko Kavadas’ two-run single added to Worcester’s six-run eighth, turning the game on its head.

Carrying a 9-3 lead into the ninth inning, Hickey put the exclamation point on the night. The 24-year-old backstop blasted a grand slam to left, giving the WooSox a double-digit lead.

Though the Knights added a run in the ninth, the deficit was insurmountable as the WooSox won their third straight game in Charlotte by a final score of 13-4. With the win, Worcester finished the month of May with an even 14-14 record and will look to carry the momentum into June.

The WooSox and Knights will square off again on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. in the second to last game of their six-game series. Josh Winckowski (0-1, 3.72) will get the ball for Worcester and is scheduled to face Jonathon Cannon (2-3, 5.18) for Charlotte. Radio coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.