The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (53-72) lost their sixth straight game Thursday night 10-9 at Coca-Cola Park against the Worcester Red Sox (71-54).
Jack Perkins (0-2, 4.50 ERA) started for Lehigh Valley versus Worcester’s Kutter Crawford (3-4, 5.04 ERA).
After a scoreless first inning, Red Sox catch Connor Wong hit a solo home run out towards left field for a 1-0 lead at the top of the second inning.
At the top of the third inning with a Red Sox player on third base, first baseman Danny Santana reached first base after IronPigs pitcher Jack Perkins attempted to throw the ball to third baseman Luke Williams and missed him, scoring a run for a 2-0 Red Sox lead.
Two batters later, left fielder Franchy Cordero doubled on a sharp line drive to right field, adding another run to 3-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, with the bases loaded for the IronPigs, a sacrifice fly to left field by third baseman Luke Williams cut the Red Sox’s lead to 3-1. Then, shortstop Bryson Stott hit an RBI single to center field, scoring another run, making it a one-run game 3-2.
At the top of the fourth inning with Red Sox’s players on second and third base, shortstop Jeter Downs doubled on a line drive left field, getting the two runs back 5-2. That would be all for Jack Perkins. He threw 58 pitches (3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR). Jakob Hernandez was the IronPigs pitcher.
Jakob Hernandez gave up a single Red Sox right fielder Tate Matheny for a 6-2 lead. Two batters later, IronPigs catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s throw to second base went wide, and the Red Sox scored another run 7-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with an IronPigs runner on second base, catcher Logan O’Hoppe doubled on a ground ball to right field that scored a run, now trailing 7-3.
At the top of the sixth inning with Red Sox’s runners on first and second base, designated hitter Triston Casas doubled on a sharp fly ball to right field, adding to the Red Sox’s lead 8-3.
Moving to the top of the seventh with Red Sox’s players on the corners, shortstop Jeter Down’s sacrifice fly to left field made a 9-3 lead.
Then, the IronPigs started a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. With IronPigs runners on first and second base, third baseman Luke Williams singled on a line drive to left field that scored a run 9-4.
Two batters later, designated hitter Mickey Moniak hit an RBI groundout to Red Sox first baseman Josh Ockimey, scoring another run now 9-5. Then, IronPigs right fielder Jorge Bonifacio drove in another run with an RBI single to right field, now trailing 9-6.
At the top of the ninth inning, JD Hammer was the new IronPigs pitcher. With one out and Red Sox’s runners on the corners, right fielder Tate Matheny singled on a ground ball to center field for a 10-6 lead.
The IronPigs made the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning. After three straight singles from Simon Muzziotti, Luke Williams, and Bryson Stott to load the bases. Designated hitter Mickey Moniak grounded into a double play, scoring a run trailing 10-7. Then, right fielder Jorge Bonifacio crushed a two-run home run out towards left field to make it a one-run game 10-9. Unfortunately for the IronPigs, first baseman Darick Hall struck out to end the game. The IronPigs lost by the final score of 10-9.
The win went to Red Sox pitcher John Schreiber (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs starter Jack Perkins. Perkins is now 0-3 on the season.
Game three at Coca-Cola Park is today at 7:05 pm. Francisco Morales (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Josh Winckowski (0-1, 3.00 ERA).
