The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-61) played a doubleheader Saturday at Polar Park against the Worcester Red Sox (63-49). Both games were played in seven innings.
In game one, Jack Perkins (0-2, 5.40 ERA) started for Lehigh Valley versus Worcester’s Kyle Hart (6-7, 4.05 ERA).
Red Sox pitcher Kyle Hart gave up back-to-back singles before IronPigs second baseman C.J. Chatham singled on a soft line drive to center field, bringing home a run 1-0. Two batters later, IronPigs first baseman Darick Hall doubled to right field, scoring two more runs for a 3-0 lead.
Moving ahead to the top of the third inning with a runner on first base, IronPigs second baseman C.J. Chatham hit a two-run home run out towards center field to take a commanding 5-0 lead. It was Chatham’s second home run of the season and third RBI of the game.
Three batters later, with a runner on third base, a sacrifice fly by IronPigs third baseman T.J. Rivera made it 6-0. In the bottom of the third inning, Red Sox left fielder Frenchy Cordero hit a solo home run to center field, cutting the IronPigs lead 6-1.
At the top of the fifth inning, the Red Sox made a pitching change with Colton Brewer for Kyle Hart. On the first pitch, IronPigs second baseman C.J. Chatham hit his second home run of the day out towards left field for a 7-1 lead. Three batters later, with runners on second and third base, Red Sox pitcher Colton Brewer threw a wild pitch, scoring a run for the IronPigs 8-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the IronPigs made a pitching change with Tyler Guerrieri in for Jack Perkins. Perkins finished the afternoon throwing 74 pitches and went (4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, and 1 HR).
Two batters later, Red Sox designated hitter Joey Meneses hit a solo home run out towards left field to cut the IronPigs lead 8-2. Three batters later, the Red Sox made the game interesting when first baseman Josh Ockimey hit a two-run home run on a fly ball to center field to make it an 8-4 game.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Mike Adams was the new pitcher for the IronPigs. The Red Sox had runners on first and second base when designated hitter Joey Meneses doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring two runs to make it a two-run game 8-6. Not long after that, Jeff Singer replaced Mike Adams as the new IronPigs pitcher.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, IronPigs pitcher Jeff Singer got the last three outs to end the game. The IronPigs defeated the Red Sox in game one 8-6.
The win went to IronPigs pitcher Jeff Singer (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO), while the loss went to Red Sox pitcher Kyle Hart (4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO).
The game two starters were Hans Crouse (0-0, 0.00 ERA), making his IronPigs debut against Worcester’s Matthew Kent (1-0, 5.19 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, with a runner on first base, the Red Sox struck first when first baseman Josh Ockimey singled on a soft fly ball to left field for a 1-0 lead. The IronPigs tied the game 1-1 at the top of the second inning when designated hitter T.J. Rivera hit a solo home run to center field.
Moving ahead to the top of the fourth inning with a runner on second base, IronPigs first baseman Darick Hall singled to center field that broke the tie 2-1. A throwing error allowed Hall to move to second base.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the game was tied 2-2 after Red Sox’s second baseman Jeremy Rivera hit a solo home run out towards right field. With Red Sox runners on first and second base, the IronPigs made a pitching change with Seranthony Dominquez. IronPigs starts Hans Crouse finished the night throwing 81 pitches (4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR).
Two batters later, Red Sox left fielder Frenchy Cordero drove in a run with an RBI single to right field, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, with a runner on first base, the Red Sox added an insurance run when center fielder Tate Matheny doubled to left field for a 4-2 lead.
Austin Brice was the new Red Sox pitcher to begin the top of the seventh inning. After a single by IronPigs third baseman Nick Maton, IronPigs shortstop followed up with a two-run home run out towards right field that tied the game 4-4.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, Red Sox second baseman Jeremy Rivera ended the game with an RBI single to left field to give the Red Sox a 5-4 win.
The win went to Red Sox pitcher Austin Brice (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 SO, 1 HR), while the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Damon Jones (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB).
The six-game series concludes today at 1:05 pm. Adonis Medina (3-5, 5.05 ERA) starts for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Daniel Gossett (6-3, 4.40 ERA).
