'It's a little bit of Sour Patch power': WooSox boosted by popular candy this season

WORCESTER — Sour Patch power.

That’s what Jason Alexander showed in his latest outing with the WooSox.

In a 7-0 win over the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park Wednesday, the right-handed pitcher allowed two hits and struck out 11 across seven innings to pick up his sixth victory of the season.

It marked Alexander’s sweetest start of the season.

“It was lights out,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said postgame. “That was by far his best start.”

“It was just kind of everything clicking,” Alexander said.

Then, following a postgame interview with NESN reporter Natalie Noury, Alexander grabbed a handful of Sour Patch Kids — a well-liked, sugar-coated candy — from WooSox team photographers before retreating into the home clubhouse.

Nothing like the sweet taste of victory.

“You know, everyone has their little things,” Alexander, 31, said. “For us, it’s Sour Patch Kids, and it’s fun.”

Having Sour Patch Kids readily available near the Worcester dugout dates back to the end of last year.

During the final homestand of 2023, WooSox team photographer Ashley Green bought a pack of the popular candies from one of the Polar Park concourses.

As a pregame pick-me-up of sorts.

When Green walked by the WooSox dugout prior to their game, she decided to share some of her Sour Patch Kids with WooSox hitting coach Rich Gedman.

“Geddy was like ‘Ashley, what you did for me, I would never give anyone my blue Sour Patch Kids,’ ” Green recalled. “It spiraled from there.”

This season, Green and Tayla Bolduc — the WooSox coordinator of digital media and content creator — have upped their candy game in the Canal District.

Before each first pitch at Polar Park, the two photographers grab a handful of Sour Patch Kids and deliver them to WooSox players and coaches.

A boost for the ballclub. Courtesy of sugar.

“Sharing is caring,” Bolduc said.

Amid one of the many rain delays in Worcester this summer, Bolduc and Green remember rushing to find cover for their camera gear in the “photo pit” located near the home dugout.

Lost in the shuffle, however, was their bag of Sour Patch Kids.

“So, Jason Alexander screamed, ‘Save the kids’ to us so we could shield them from the rain,” Bolduc recalled. “We’re here for so long and so many hours a day, that we just try to find ways to have fun.”

Between rain delay entertainment, home run celebrations and pregame pitcher snacks, the Sour Patch Kids have played a significant role with the 2024 Worcester Red Sox.

“I love them,” WooSox pitcher Zach Penrod said. “I think it’s fun keeping it lighthearted.”

“They’re awesome,” WooSox bench coach Jose Flores said. “Absolutely love them.”

Yet, the biggest candy connoisseur this season is Alexander. The WooSox right-hander has a sweet tooth, after all.

And Jason Alexander has also enjoyed the sweet taste of victory with the Triple-A club — who have won six straight games.

“We’ve just been winning, and we’ve been playing good baseball on both sides of the (ball), so it’s been working,” Alexander said. “I’d say it’s a little bit of Sour Patch power.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox boosted by Sour Patch Kids this season