Cup of Coffee: Koss records two hits; Kelly and Ort make rehab appearances for Worcester

9/17 Cup of Coffee: With Greenville preparing for the South Atlantic League Championship and Portland dealing with the aftereffects of some pretty severe weather, Worcester was the only affiliate in action on Saturday. Christian Koss (pictured) had a strong day at the plate and Rio Gomez strung together an impressive outing on the mound, but the WooSox ultimately fell to Syracuse by a final score of 7-2 at Polar Park. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 7, Worcester Red Sox 2

Corey Kluber was originally scheduled to make a rehab start for Worcester on Saturday but was instead scratched as a result of being shut down for the remainder of the season. In his place, Rio Gomez put forth a solid effort. The 28-year-old lefty allowed only two earned runs on six hits (one home run), two walks, and five strikeouts over five innings of work. He finished with 86 pitches (56 strikes) and induced nine swings-and-misses. In relief of Gomez, the rehabbing duo of Zack Kelly and Kaleb Ort each made appearances out of the WooSox bullpen. The former took the loss after serving up a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. The latter retired the only three batters he faced in a scoreless top of the eighth. Additionally, Chase Shugart was tagged for three runs in the seventh inning while Ryan Fernandez put up a zero in the ninth.

On an otherwise quiet afternoon for the WooSox lineup, Christian Koss stood out by going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored out of the nine-hole. Nick Sogard accounted for his side's lone RBI by going 1 for 4 with a run-scoring infield single in the bottom of the fifth. He also scored on a wild pitch in the same inning. Enmanuel Valdez reached base three times on a single and two walks. Ronaldo Hernandez and Stephen Scott drew walks as well, though Hernandez showed off his wheels by stealing his second base of the year. Niko Kavadas was responsible for the hardest-hit ball of the contest, as he ripped a 108-mph base hit off William Woods in the ninth inning.

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Hartford Yard Goats (COL), Portland Sea Dogs (Cancelled)

Portland's penultimate game of the season was cancelled on Saturday due to the effects from post-tropical cyclone Lee. It will not be made up, meaning the Sea Dogs will wrap up their season at Hadlock Field on Sunday afternoon.

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Player of the Day: Christian Koss is putting together a solid September. Following Saturday's multi-hit performance, the versatile 25-year-old is now batting .289/.341/.500 with five doubles, one home run, two RBIs, six runs scored, and one walk in 12 games (41 plate appearances) this month. In that stretch, he has seen playing time at second base, third base, shortstop, and in right field.  

Photo Credit: Christian Koss by Kelly O'Connor

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