After being rained out Thursday night, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (49-60) were back at Polar Park Friday against the Worcester Red Sox (62-48).
Cristopher Sanchez (4-6, 4.81 ERA) started for Lehigh Valley versus Worcester’s Kutter Crawford (2-3, 5.52 ERA).
The game was scoreless in the first two innings. At the top of the third inning, with a runner on first base, IronPigs left fielder Matt Joyce hit a two-run home run out towards right field that put the IronPigs up 2-0.
Moving ahead to the top of the sixth inning, Red Sox pitcher Seth Blair loaded the bases. IronPigs second baseman Arquimedes Gamboa grounded on a forceout to Red Sox second baseman Taylor Motter, scoring a run for a 3-0 lead. Then, IronPigs center fielder Charlie Tilson followed up with a bunt single to Seth Blair, adding another run for a 4-0 lead.
Before the bottom of the sixth inning began, the IronPigs put Mauricio Llovera in for Cristopher Sanchez. Sanchez finished the night throwing 86 pitches and went (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, and 7 SO).
At the top of the seventh inning, Jose Adames was the new pitcher for the Red Sox. With a runner on third base, Adames’s ball went by Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, allowing a run to come home for the IronPigs 5-0.
At the top of the eighth inning, Geoff Hartlieb was now pitching for the Red Sox. After IronPigs second baseman Arquimedes Gamboa moved C.J. Chatham to third base, IronPigs center fielder Charlie Tilson grounded out to third baseman Chad De La Guerra, scoring a run for a 6-0 lead. It was Tilson’s second RBI of the game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Kyle Dohy closed out the game for the IronPigs. After Dohy walked Red Sox’s first baseman Josh Ockimey, he struck out the next three batters to end the game. The IronPigs shut out the Red Sox 6-0. The win ends the Red Sox’s eight-game winning streak. The IronPigs pitchers only allowed one hit.
The win went to IronPigs starter Cristopher Sanchez. It was Sanchez’s fifth win of the season, while the loss went to Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford (5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR).
Both teams will play a doubleheader today, starting at 2:05 pm. Game two will start 30-40 minutes after game one. Both teams will announce their pitchers later.
