The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (5-10) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night against the Worcester Red Sox (7-8) for a six-game homestand. Lehigh Valley was coming off a dreadful 1-5 in Durham last week and hoped to get back on the winning track.
James McArthur (0-2, 17.36) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Bryan Mato (0-1, 6.43 ERA).
Lehigh Valley pitcher James McArthur pitched two scoreless innings until getting into trouble at the top of the third inning. McArthur allowed back-to-back singles to Caleb Hamilton and Ryan Fitzgerald. Next, David Hamilton moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Jim Haley.
Then, Bobby Dalbec drove Hamilton home with a ground out toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz. It was 1-0 Worcester with two outs. Wilyer Abreu was next for the Red Sox and he flies out to right fielder Dalton Guthrie which ended the inning. McArthur pitched five innings, allowing one run, and six strikeouts in 62 pitches, of which 41 were strikes.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, the IronPigs took the lead. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Jordan Qsar started the inning with a walk. Then, first baseman Jim Haley tripled on a fly ball to center field, scoring Qsar that tied the game 1-1.
Two batters later with one out, IronPigs’ second baseman Vimael Machin singled on a ground ball past first baseman Daniel Palka and into right field, scoring Haley for a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, Machin got caught stealing second base and Weston Wilson struck out to end the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley could not hold the lead. Jeff Hoffman was the new IronPigs pitcher. He gave up a double to Greg Allen, followed by walking Caleb Hamilton with nobody out. Two batters later, he walked Bobby Dalbec with two outs then Wilyer Abreu was up. However, Hoffman was replaced by Louis Head.
Louis Head walked Abreu and tied the game 2-2. Then, former Phillie Jorge Alfaro cleared the bases with a three-run double off the wall at right field. It was now 5-2 Red Sox. Next, Head got Daniel Palka to ground out which ended the inning.
At the top of the ninth inning with one out, Wiley Abreu crushed a solo home run out to right field for a 6-2 lead. Worcester led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Lehigh Valley had to face Chase Shugart in the bottom of the ninth inning. They were unable to get a hit off of Shugart and the IronPigs lost their sixth consecutive game by the final score of 6-2.
The loss went to IronPigs pitcher Jeff Hoffman. It was his second loss of the season and the win went to Andrew Politi. Lehigh Valley was 2-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
The two teams meet again for game two at 6:45 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
