On Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (25-22) were looking for retribution after being annihilated Friday night against the Worcester Red Sox (22-25). The game was supposed to start at 6:35 pm, but the weather moved in, delaying the game. The game would get underway at 7:36 pm.
Ricardo Sanchez (1-1, 5.20 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Red Sox started Silvino Bracho (0-2, 3.54 ERA).
The game was scoreless through nine innings. IronPigs’ starter Ricardo Sanchez pitched a good game, going five innings, allowing three hits, no runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
Meanwhile, IronPigs’ relief pitchers Nick Duron, Jonathan Hennigan, and Michael Kelly combined for three shutout innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts.
The Red Sox’s pitchers shut out the IronPigs batters. Lehigh Valley’s best chance to score came in the bottom of the seventh inning, when they had runners on first and second base. After IronPigs’ designated hitter Jorge Bonifacio struck out, IronPigs’ shortstop Yairo Munoz got caught stealing third base for the second out.
IronPigs’ left fielder Dustin Peterson singled to right field, putting runners on first and second. But, unfortunately, IronPigs’ third baseman Drew Maggi grounded out to Red Sox’s shortstop Jonathan Arauz for the third out.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, IronPigs’ relief pitcher Francisco Morales was the pitcher and got the three outs. In minor league baseball, extra innings begin with a runner on second base.
Morales ran into trouble at the top of the tenth inning. Red Sox’s catcher Connor Wong was up at-bat with the bases loaded. He singled on a ground ball to IronPigs’ second baseman Scott Kingery, who tried to shovel the ball to Maggi but missed and a run scored for a 1-0 Red Sox lead. That was it for Morales, and Zach Warren was the new pitcher for the IronPigs.
Red Sox’s third baseman Ryan Fitzgerald was up at-bat. He grounded out to IronPigs’ second baseman Scott Kingery for the second out, but the Red Sox added another run, 2-0. The IronPigs got the last out a batter later.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Kaleb Ort closed out the game for the Red Sox. He got the last three outs, and the Red Sox shut out the IronPigs 2-0. The only positive about the game was the IronPigs did not give up 16 runs.
The win went to Red Sox’s relief pitcher Zack Kelly (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs’ relief pitcher Francisco Morales (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 SO).
The six-game homestand concludes tomorrow at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
