After a rainout postponed Thursday’s game, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (4-6) and the Worcester Red Sox (8-2) played a doubleheader on Friday at Polar Park.
In game one, Ricardo Sanchez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) started for the IronPigs against Worcester’s Josh Winckowski (0-0, 1.80 ERA).
The Red Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run to center field by shortstop Jeter Downs.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Red Sox had runners on first and second for right fielder Ryan Fitzgerald. He singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring a run that extended the Red Sox’s lead 2-0.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fourth inning with a runner on second base, Red Sox right fielder Ryan Fitzgerald tripled to left field, scoring another run for a 3-0 lead.
Then, the IronPigs made a comeback at the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded for IronPigs designated hitter Dalton Guthrie, he singled on a ground ball to left field, scoring two runs that cut the Red Sox lead 3-2.
At the top of the sixth inning, with a runner on first base, the IronPigs took a 4-3 lead on a two-run home run out to right field by shortstop Nick Maton.
Moving to the top of the seventh inning, the IronPigs pulled away. With a runner on first base, IronPigs second baseman Ronald Torreyes doubled to center field, scoring a run for a 5-3 lead. Two batters later, IronPigs designated hitter Dalton Guthrie doubled to center field, scoring another run for a 6-3 lead.
Dalton Guthrie advanced to third base on a flyout by IronPigs center fielder Roman Quinn. Then, Red Sox pitcher Durbin Feltman threw a wild pitch, scoring Guthrie for a 7-3 lead.
IronPigs closer Nick Duron closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Duron got Red Sox designated hitter Ronald Hernandez to ground out into a double play that ended the game. The IronPigs won game one 7-3.
The win went to IronPigs relief pitcher Tyler Cyr (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO), and the loss went to Red Sox relief pitcher Durbin Feltman (2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 SO).
In game two, the starters were Hans Crouse (0-1, 7.36 ERA) of the IronPigs and Bran Keller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) of Worcester.
In the bottom of the first inning, with runners on the corners, Red Sox right fielder Rob Refsnyder hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring a run that put Worcester up 1-0.
Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Red Sox catcher Ronaldo Hernandez doubled on a line drive to left field, clearing the bases for a 4-0 lead. Then, Red Sox’s first baseman Roberto Ramos hit a two-run home run out to right-center field for a 6-0 lead.
At the top of the second inning, with a runner on second base, IronPigs third baseman Yairo Munoz singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring a run that cut the Red Sox lead 6-1.
However, the Red Sox got that run back in the bottom of the third inning. With a runner on second base, Red Sox center fielder Franchy Cordero doubled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring a run for a 7-1 lead.
Moving ahead to the top of the fifth inning, the IronPigs started to make a comeback. With runners on first and second base, IronPigs center fielder Dalton Guthrie singled on a ground ball to left field, scoring a run that cut the Red Sox lead 7-2. Two batters later, IronPigs catcher Donny Sands hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring another run 7-3.
Then, at the top of the seventh inning, with two outs. The IronPigs had runners on second and third base for catcher Donny Sands. He doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring two runs that made it 7-5. Unfortunately, Red Sox pitcher Kaleb Ort got the last out that ended the game, and Red Sox won 7-5.
The win went to Red Sox relief pitcher Eduard Bazardo (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs starter Hans Crouse (0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 SO).
Game five of the six-game series continues today at 4:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
