On Sunday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (25-23) finished their six-game homestand against the Worcester Red Sox (23-25).
Colton Eastman (0-4, 4.26 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Red Sox started Brayan Bello (6-2, 1.97 ERA).
IronPigs’ starter Colton Eastman pitched two scoreless innings before the Red Sox erupted at the top of the third inning. Red Sox’s center field Jarren Duran was up at-bat with a runner on first base. He tripled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring a run that put Worcester up 1-0. Then, a wild pitch by Colton Eastman scored a run for a 2-0 Red Sox lead.
Three batters later, Red Sox’s right fielder Rob Refsnyder was up at-bat with runners on the corners. He grounded into a forceout but not before adding another run, 3-0 with one out.
The Red Sox added two more runs. Red Sox’s designated hitter Ronald Hernandez was up at-bat with runners on second and third base. He singled on a soft fly ball to left field, scoring two more runs for a 5-0 lead.
That would be it for Colton Eastman. He pitched 2.2 IP, allowing six hits, five runs, three walks, and two strikeouts.
The IronPigs finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. IronPigs’ left fielder Jorge Bonifacio was up at-bat with the bases loaded. He doubled on a sharp ground ball to left field, scoring two runs that cut the Red Sox’s lead 5-2. After that, the IronPigs bats went quiet for the rest of the game.
At the top of the seventh inning, the Red Sox pulled away. First, Red Sox’s right fielder Rob Refsnyder hit a solo home run over the A.D. Mayer Lumber sign at left field for a 6-2 lead. Then, Red Sox’s left fielder Christin Stewart hit a solo home run out to right field for a 7-2 lead. Two batters later, Red Sox’s designated hitter Ronald Hernandez was up at-bat with a runner on first base. He crushed a two-run home run out, hitting the Iron Hill Brewery sign at left field for a 9-2 lead.
Finally, the Red Sox added one more run at the top of the eighth inning. Red Sox’s left fielder Christin Stewart was up at-bat with runners on first and second base. He singled on a line drive to left field, adding another run 10-2.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Red Sox’s relief pitcher Frank German closed out the game. He got the last three outs, and the Red Sox beat the IronPigs 10-2. The Red Sox win the series four games to two. Meanwhile, the IronPigs have lost three-straight games.
The win went to Red Sox’s starter Brayan Bello (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs’ starter, Colton Eastman.
On Monday, the IronPigs are off before starting a 12-game road trip, beginning Tuesday night at PNC Field against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
