WORCESTER – The Worcester Bravehearts managed to pull off a win in a close, one-run game on Friday night against the Brockton Rox.
The Bravehearts defeated the Rox 6-5 at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field after both teams scored all of their runs in the first six innings.
The Bravehearts got their scoring started in the bottom of the first inning. Mariano Ricciardi drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Jacob Sessa single. Mack Cheli, making his 2019 Bravehearts debut, doubled to score Ricciardi. An error would bring both Sessa and Cheli home, giving Worcester a 3-0 lead by the end of the inning.
The game was a strong one for Cheli. Coming off of a Division III championship at Chapman, Cheli got his Bravehearts season started with a two-double performance and an RBI.
Brockton scored two runs of their own with two outs in the top of the second inning.
BJ Murray singled, scoring when Marc Goulart hit a triple into the gap in right field. Goulart scored when Abraham Sequera singled him home, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Bravehearts.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Worcester grabbed a pair of runs after John Thrasher singled. After stealing second, he advanced to third on a passed ball. Thrasher scored on a Ricciardi double, and Ricciardi was singled home by Ben McNeill.
The Rox again cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth. Brockton loaded the bases on a Spenser Smith walk, a David Horgath single, and another walk to Anthony Calarco. Smith and Horgath both scored on a two-RBI single by JP Knight.
The game would be tied by Brockton in the sixth inning when a fielder’s choice scored Murray to make it 5-5.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Idelson Tavaras doubled, took third base, and scored on an error. It was the last run Worcester would need to seal the win.
Angelo Baez was brought in at the start of the eighth inning to close out the game for Worcester. Baez tossed two scoreless innings to preserve a 6-5 victory for the Bravehearts.
Christopher Macca got the win for the Bravehearts, while Scott Creedon took the loss for the Rox.
The Bravehearts stand at 5-5 overall this season and their next game is Saturday, June 15, against the Pittsfield Suns. The Bravehearts’ next home game will be Monday, June 17 against the Westfield Starfires.
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