Bravehearts

Worcester, MA – A grand slam off the bat of Gabe Giosso in the sixth inning broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Rox all the runs they would need as Brockton pulled away and took down the Bravehearts 15-6 Saturday night.

Nick Shumski singled and Spenser Smith and BJ Murray both walked to load the bases with one out. Relief pitcher Chris Keenan struck out Gaby Cruz to get within one out of working out of the jam, but Giosso launched one way out of Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field to give Brockton another lead that Worcester had worked hard to eliminate.

Brockton (23-19) scored three runs in the second inning off of starter Jack Steele and another in the fifth thanks to an Evan Sleight solo shot to deep right, but Worcester (21-20) chipped away. John Thrasher singled home Ben McNeill in the third inning, and McNeill scored one inning later on a wild pitch.

Brockton’s All-Star starter Nick Sinacola did not make it out of the fifth inning, leaving with Jakob Sessa at first and one out. Connor Linchey replaced and proceeded to hit Mack Cheli. Both Sessa and Cheli would score on a Ben Rice RBI-single and a Jack Gardner sacrifice fly, respectively. That tied the game at four apiece.

After the Giosso answer in the sixth, Brockton did not stop adding onto the lead. The Rox scored one run in the seventh and eighth innings, capping the scoring with a five-run ninth inning. Worcester did score two runs in the seventh, which at the time brought the ‘Hearts within three runs.

Worcester relief pitching allowed 12 of the 15 runs. Keenan, Brian Roberston, Ethan Texiera, and Travis Owens combined to surrender 12 hits and five walks. Matt Svanson picked up the win in relief for the Rox, pitching the final four frames.

Brockton as a team piled up 20 hits, lead by a 5 for 5 showing from Nick Shumski, who batted out of the nine hole. Lead-off batter Smith was nearly as impressive, finishing 4 for 5 with a RBI. Rice finished with three hits for the Bravehearts.

Worcester, having now dropped two in a row, looks to bounce back Sunday afternoon against Westfield. First pitch is at 4:05pm.