By PAUL GOTHAM
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Gage Ziehl didn’t hesitate when evaluating his performance, Thursday night.
“That’s just one of the games I flush,” he said after the Worcester Red Sox dropped a 5-0 decision to the host Syracuse Mets in International League action at NBT Bank Stadium.
And the ability to put a single outing in the perspective of an entire season is just part of the reason why the second-year pro is one step away from the majors.
Ziehl started and allowed four runs (three earned) over four innings in his third appearance at the Triple-A level.
His command betrayed him in the first.
The former Penfield standout, who had walked 19 batters in 91-plus innings of work heading into action, issued free passes to three of the first five hitters he faced.
“It’s a tough game as you saw tonight,” he said. “Uncharacteristic for me. But at the end of the day, it’s just one day at a time. I’m trying not to reflect too much. Trying to do that after the season.”
Despite the early control problems, Ziehl induced a routine ground ball that should have ended the first. An error on the play brought in the only run of the frame.
It was the first of two errors committed behind him. There was also a miscommunication on a delayed steal that resulted in another free base for Syracuse.
That runner also came home and yet there was no mention or an intimation of Ziehl being let down.
Instead he shouldered responsibility.
“I walked a lot of guys, which isn’t like me. That can’t happen.”
He finished with two strike outs. He gave up six hits.
In his first start with the WooSox, Ziehl struck out eight without issuing a walk over 5.2 shutout innings.
Thursday was the third game this season that Ziehl has pitched in his home state. Something he hasn’t been able to do since playing in high school.
While in the Double-A level with the Portland Sea Dogs, Ziehl made starts at Binghamton in late May and then in late July.
More than 30 friends and family made the trip to the Salt City to support Ziehl on Thursday.
“It was very special. I’m just fortunate they were all able to make it tonight. It was awesome just seeing everybody there.”
Ziehl is 7-5 on the season with a 4.12 ERA in 107 innings pitched over 20 starts. For the last 28 days, he is 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA.
The 6-foot right-hander went 5-0 with a 0.17 ERA in leading Penfield to the 2021 Section V Class AA championship.
The Chicago Cubs selected him in the 11th round of the MLB Draft later that year. He chose to honor his commitment to the University of Miami where he pitched three season for the Hurricanes.
The New York Yankees chose him in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. New York traded him to the Chicago White Sox in July of 2025.
He started 2025 in the Class A Florida State League and finished the year in the Eastern League.
An off-season deal moved Ziehl to Boston. The Red Sox sent him to Double-A to start the year.
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