MAY 24th WORCESTER (19-23)   at   LEHIGH VALLEY (23-19)        7:05 pm          

Worcester Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (1-0, 3.00) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs RHP Corey Oswalt (0-0, 12.00)  

On the Road – The Worcester Red Sox play a road game for the first time in 16 days when they begin a 6-game series in Allentown, PA against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA-Philadelphia) tonight at 7:05 at Coca-Cola Park (live on NASH Icon 98.9 FM, The Pike 100.1 FM, and the WooSox Radio Network).  The WooSox – coming off a 4-8 homestand – have not played an away game since Sunday, May 8 in Toledo.  They will play their next six games in Allentown against the IronPigs – all-night games this week/weekend (tonight through Friday at 7:05 pm and Saturday & Sunday both at 6:35 pm).  The WooSox will return to action at Polar Park one week from tonight when they host the Syracuse Mets for a 6-game set from May 31 – June 5.

Pitcher’s Mound – The series opener tonight features 23-year-old WooSox RHP Brayan Bello looking to build off his impressive Triple-A debut last Wednesday.  Bello (Brian BAY-oh), who turned 23-years-old on May 17, made his much-anticipated Triple-A debut last Wednesday night vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Polar Park and was superb, allowing just 2 runs over 6 strong innings with 10 strikeouts to earn the 5-2 victory. Bello has been outstanding for Double-A Portland this season, going 4-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 6 starts, including a 7-inning no-hitter in Game 2 of a doubleheader on May 5 vs. Reading.  At the time of his promotion to Worcester on May 17, he was among the Eastern League leaders in a host of pitching categories, including 2nd in ERA, tied for 2nd in Wins, 7th in Strikeouts (42), 8th in Innings Pitched (33.2), 1st in Batting Average Against (.138), and 2nd in WHIP (0.83).  Brayan came into this season ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’s number 5 prospect. 

Past Homestand – The WooSox finished 4-8 on their recently concluded homestand that started on May 10.  It began with the Sox getting swept in a 6-game series by Rochester from May 10-15 followed by the WooSox taking 4 of 6 from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from May 17-22 (although Worcester did lose the final two games against the RailRiders this past weekend after winning the first four last week). 

The Road Home – The WooSox will return to Worcester after their Sunday night affair in Allentown.  They will take Memorial Day Monday off and then welcome former Pawtucket manager Kevin Boles and his Syracuse Mets to Polar Park for a 6-game series from May 31 – June 5.

WooSox Player Moves – The WooSox today placed 1B Triston Casas and RHP Connor Seabold on the 7-day injured list (both retroactive to Sunday, May 22). 

Casas suffered a right ankle sprain on May 17 and has not played since.  He is batting .248 with 6 HR & 22 RBI in 36 games this season.  

Seabold, who strained his pec muscle during a side session last week, is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 7 starts this season.  His 2.45 ERA is 7^th best in the league and his WHIP of 0.93 is 3^rd best in the IL.

The WooSox also today reinstated catcher Roldani Baldwin from the Development List.  Baldwin has not played since April 24 and in 6 games is 3-for-17 with 1 HR & 2 RBI. 

The International League today placed RHP Eduard Bazardo on the Suspended List (four games) for his involvement in an on-field skirmish with Scranton/WB OF Aramando Alvarez following the top of the 6^th inning on Saturday at Polar Park.  Bazardo is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 relief appearances this season.     

And the WooSox have added reliever Frank German today from Double-A Portland.  German (JUR-min), 24, has been effective for Portland this season going 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 relief appearances – 11.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R 4 ER, 3 BB, 18 SO.  He was acquired from the Yankees in January of 2021 in the deal that brought reliever Adam Ottavino to Boston as well.  Frank was originally a 4^th round selection by New York in the 2018 June draft.

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