WORCESTER — It was a packed house at Polar Park on Thursday night, as almost nine and a half thousand fans filled the seats, the berm and every spot in between for the Fourth of July celebration. Although the game on the field wasn’t much to cheer about, but the place was still packed for fireworks as the crowd celebrated the nation’s birthday.
Check out photos from the holiday at the ballpark:
The berm was packed full for the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Joely Rodriguez plays with his daughter after the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd chats with former teammate Rich Gedman at the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
The WooSox donned American-themed jerseys during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
A young fan waves a flag during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Roberto the Rocket shows off his dance moves during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd throws out the first pitch at the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans smile for the camera during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Catcher Mickey Gasper listens to the national anthem before the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
A young fan holds a sign for Bobby Dalbec during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Fans packed the berm during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
A young fan shows off her dance moves during the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd throws out the first pitch at the WooSox game on July 4, 2024 at Polar Park. (Katie Morrison-O’Day / MassLive)Katie Morrison-O’Day
Mets 9, WooSox 1
The bats were silenced by the Mets in front of the packed Polar Park crowd, with the WooSox managing just four hits, all of them singles. Mets starter Joey Lucchesi allowed six baserunners in his seven innings of work, with the WooSox getting to him for a run in the fifth thanks to a Mickey Gasper RBI single. Jamie Westbrook vied for the team’s first extra-base hit in the seventh, but was thrown out trying to stretch a single to a double.
Richard Fitts went four innings, getting touched for three runs on five hits and a pair of walks. He fanned six, racking up 13 swings and misses. Chase Shugart had a tough outing, giving up six runs (five earned), getting tagged for two home runs. Joely Rodriguez (1.2 IP, two strikeouts) and Jorge Benitez (one inning, one walk) both turned in solid relief performances.
Notes
– While celebrating his 39th birthday, manager Chad Tracy shared his thoughts on his former WooSox outfielder, Jarren Duran, and his All-Star chances.
“He’s a no-brainer for me with what he’s done this year,” Tracy said. “Triples, doubles, homers, steals, I know at a point there he was leading the league in DRS in center field. For a guy that was getting crushed pretty good, if everybody remembers, like a year, year and a half ago, he’s fought on a lot of levels. I don’t see how he doesn’t make it, honestly. I think it would be kind of crazy if he doesn’t.”
What’s Next
The WooSox and Mets continue their short three-game series at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night at Polar Park. Grant Gambrell (3-6, 4.72) will get the start on the mound for Worcester opposite Blade Tidwell (0-2, 5.12) for Syracuse.
