The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (6-11) and the Worcester Red Sox (8-9) played game three of a six-game series at Coca-Cola Park on Thursday night.
Coming into this game, the series was tied 1-1. Lehigh Valley was 3-7 in their last ten games. Nick Allgeyer (0-0, 4.26 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Chris Murphy (0-1, 20.77 ERA).
Worcester struck first at the top of the second inning when Ronaldo Hernandez hit a two-run home run into the berm at left field for a 2-0 lead with two outs. Three batters later with runners on first and second base, Worcester second baseman David Hamilton singled on a sharp line drive to right field, scoring Narciso Cook for a 3-0 lead.
That was it for Nick Allgeyer. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, one walk, and two strikeouts in 50 pitches, of which 32 strikeouts. Jeremy Walker was the new pitcher. He got Bobby Dalbec to fly out for the final out of the inning.
Worcester center fielder Wilyer Abreu started the top of the third inning with a single. Two batters later, Daniel Palka drove Abreu home with an RBI single to the corner of left field. It was 4-0 Worcester with one out. Walker walked Niko Goodrum before getting Ronaldo Hernandez to ground into a double play that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, the IronPigs got on the board thanks to catcher Vito Friscia’s solo home run into the berm at left field. It was now 4-1 Worcester. Lehigh Valley could not follow up and trailed 4-1 after three innings.
At the top of the fourth, the Red Sox had runners on first and second base with one out for Bobby Dalbec. Dalbec singled to right field, scoring Ryan Fitzgerald for a 5-1 lead. Then, Wilyer Abreu grounded toward second baseman Jim Haley for the second out but David Hamilton scored for a 6-1 lead. Worcester catcher Jorge Alfaro grounded out which ended the inning.
IronPigs’ left fielder Simon Muzziotti started the bottom of the fifth inning with a single. Later, he stole second base. Two batters later, first baseman Weston Wilson singled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring Muzziotti. It was now 6-2 Worcester. Two batters later with the runners on the corners, Jhailyn Ortiz grounded out to the first baseman, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, IronPigs’ catcher Vito Friscia hit his second home run of the night, clearing the right field wall. It was now 6-3 Worcester. Lehigh Valley was unable to add any more runs in the inning.
Trey Cobb was the new IronPigs pitcher for the top of the eighth inning. With a runner at first base and two outs, Ryan Fitzgerald doubled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring Niko Goodrum for a 7-3 lead. Then, Cobb got David Hamilton to ground out which ended the inning.
With one chance to get back into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, the IronPigs had to face Chase Shugart. IronPigs’ second baseman Jim Haley doubled to left field. Then, Haley went to third base on a wild pitch.
Left fielder Simon Muzziotti ground toward second baseman David Hamilton and Haley scored. Lehigh Valley now trailed 7-4. Four batters later with runners on first and second base, Esteban Quiroz was called out on strikes to end the game.
The IronPigs lost to the Red Sox by the final score of 7-4. Lehigh Valley had 37 men at-bat, 1-10 with runners in scoring position, and left eight runners on base.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Allgeyer lost his first game of the season, while Worcester starter Chris Murphy won his first game of the season.
Lehigh Valley and Worcester play game four on Friday at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fantatics.com.
