WooSox come back to town to pack Polar Park during 13-game homestand starting Tuesday
WORCESTER — It is never too early in the baseball season to start thinking about records.
The WooSox are back at Polar Park starting Tuesday. They are scheduled to play 13 games at home before heading out of town. That would tie a team record set in 2021, when they played 13 games at home from Aug. 10-21. Worcester was 4-9 in those games.
This homestand is extended by one game as the WooSox make up a game from a weather-shortened series in Buffalo earlier this month. The first six games of the homestand will be against the Yankees' Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate, then the Bisons are in for seven, including a doubleheader on May 4.
What to look for?
On the field, the WooSox have not been as successful as at the gate at Polar Park. They are 3-6 at home but have been playing to packed houses and head into the homestand as one of the top-drawing teams in Triple A, and throughout all of minor league baseball.
Worcester has averaged 8,109 for those nine home games. Through nine home dates last season, the WooSox were averaging 7,245, that figure including a pair of single-admission doubleheaders. It is an increase of about 12 percent.
The week that was
∎ Infielder Enmanuel Valdez made his major league debut with Boston on April 19. He is the 15th player to make his first big-league appearance after playing in Worcester. The first was Connor Wong on June 22, 2021. The most recent before Valdez was Frank German on Sept. 17, 2022.
∎ Southpaw reliever Brennan Bernadino, picked up on waivers from the Mariners, had an impressive WooSox debut by throwing two innings of hitless relief in Friday’s 4-3 loss at Lehigh Valley.
∎ Infielder David Hamilton continued the scorching start to his Triple-A career. Saturday night’s game at Lehigh Valley was rained out, so his hitting streak was at 11 games heading into Sunday’s doubleheader, and his 11 steals were among the best in the minors. He is on a pace for 90 steals and the team on a pace for more than 280. Worcester had 34 stolen bases through 18 games. The WooSox didn’t get to 34 last year until their 43rd game.
∎ Catcher-DH Jorge Alfaro had his 14-game hitting streak, which started on Opening Day, snapped. He was 20 for 61 (.328) during the streak. Alfaro has 47 major league homers and 78 in the minors heading into Sunday but oddly was one of just three WooSox hitters without one this season.
∎ Matt Dermody should make at least a couple of starts during the homestand. He has made two to date and is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in those games. Dermody has allowed eight hits and three earned runs over the two starts.
Next week’s promotions
∎ Tuesday is Taco and Tequila Night, presented by Tequila Herradura. Fans get three tacos and a margarita for $12 at A Taste of Worcester on Summit Street. It is also Portuguese Night, the first of 10 Heritage Nights.
∎ Wednesday is Woof Woof Night. Fans can bring their dogs to the game; and First Responder Night presented by National Grid, when first responders receive four free tickets to the Simply Orthodontics Berm when showing their credentials. It is also the Shrewsbury Town Takeover.
∎ Thursday includes a throwback appearance by radio and NESN color analyst Lou Merloni, a Framingham native and former Red Sox and PawSox player. It is the Framingham Town Takeover.
∎ Friday is UniBank Fireworks Night; also Surfin' in Margaritaville!; Deaf and Hard of Hearing Night, when WooSox players will wear special jerseys that spell "WooSox" using American Sign Language.
∎ Saturday is Autism Acceptance Day and Sunset Catch on the Field, presented by Dunkin'.
∎ Sunday is Fallon Health Funday. That includes the Fallon Health's Future Starters program, when youngsters take the field with the WooSox and receive an autographed baseball; Kids Run the Bases, presented by H.P. Hood and Grafton Town Takeover.
—Contact Bill Ballou at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillBallouTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox, Polar Park start hosting 13-game homestand Tuesday
