SYRACUSE, NY — Thanks to a six-run third inning and a great start by Richard Fitts, the Worcester Red Sox (17-19)/(52-59) won their second straight victory over the Syracuse Mets (17-19)/(63-47) by a final score of 6-3 in the third of six games at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York, on Thursday night.

Triston Casas continued his rehab assignment on Thursday, getting a hit and a run in five at-bats while playing the entire game at first base. It was his seventh rehab game with Worcester and the sixth straight game in which he got a hit.

After a 90-minute rain delay, Luke Ritter put Syracuse on the scoreboard first by hitting a two-run shot to left-center field – his 23rd home run of the year and his fourth against the WooSox. Entering Thursday, the Mets third baseman leads the team with a .333 batting average and a 1.061 OPS in 13 games against Worcester this season.

Two innings later, Mickey Gasper continued his winning streak for the WooSox by hitting a two-run shot of his own. Gasper’s seventh home run at Worcester extended his hitting streak to nine games and marked the start of a big night for the 28-year-old at bat. Gasper reached base three times on Thursday, raising his Triple-A batting average to .392 and his on-base percentage to an astonishing .512. The WooSox’s third-inning scoring drive didn’t end with Gasper, however.

With one out, Casas hit a single to left and advanced to second base after Jamie Westbrook’s groundout, allowing Eddy Alvarez’s RBI single to center. After Bobby Dalbec’s walk put men on first and second base, Nathan Hickey stepped into the box to face his former teammate at the University of Florida, Brandon Sproat. Hickey won that matchup – hitting a three-pointer to right to cap Worcester’s six-run third.

With momentum on his side, WooSox starter Richard Fitts kept the Mets offense inactive for the rest of his outing. Since Ritter’s home run in the first inning, the Alabama native did an efficient job with the Mets, allowing five hits and striking out seven players over the course of six strong innings. The right-hander finished the game with 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K and threw just 79 pitches (57 strikes).

Greg Weissert was the first out of the bullpen for the WooSox, relieving Fitts on the mound after his fourth inning of a four-pitch sixth inning. In his first inning on Thursday, Weissert allowed a double but picked up a pair of strikeouts to prevent the Mets from cutting into Worcester’s four-run lead. The WooSox led 6-2 heading into the eighth inning.

After Weissert’s second scoreless inning, Wyatt Olds came in for the ninth to secure the WooSox victory. DJ Stewart opened the inning with a solo home run to make it a three-run game, but Olds settled down and struck out the next three Mets batters, ending the game.

In the WooSox’ 6-3 victory on Thursday night, Fitts (W, 6-5) earned his sixth win of the year, while Sproat (L, 0-1) suffered a loss in his Triple-A debut.

The WooSox and Mets will meet again Friday night at 6:35 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium for the fourth game of their six-game series. Brad Keller (1-1, 4.09) will start for Worcester and Blade Tidwell (0-4, 5.63) will start for Syracuse. Radio coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.