The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (7-11) and Worcester Red Sox (8-10) played game four of a six-game series on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs were known as the Space Savers for this game. Michael Plassmeyer (0-1, 7.94 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Matt Dermody (1-0, 5.00 ERA).
At the top of the first inning with runners on first and second base. Worcester third baseman Niko Goodrum hit an RBI single to center field, scoring David Hamilton for a 1-0 lead with two outs. The inning ended when Greg Allen grounded out.
Lehigh Valley tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning on a Weston Wilson solo home run into the seats at left field. It was Wilson’s fifth home run of the season. Then, the IronPigs had runners on second and third base with two outs but Vimael Machin lined out to end the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Michael Plassmeyer hit Bobby Dalbec with one out. Then, Worcester second baseman Enmanuel Valdez tripled out to center field, scoring Dalbec for a 2-1. Plassmeyer escaped the inning when he struck out Jorge Alfaro and got Niko Goodrum to fly out for the third out.
Down by one, the IronPigs fought back. IronPigs’ first baseman Weston Wilson got hit to start the bottom of the third inning. During Esteban Quiroz’s at-bat, Wilson stole second base. Then, Quiroz moved Wilson over to third base with a ground out for John Hicks. Hicks hit the ball just deep enough out to center field to score Wilson, tying the game 2-2 with two outs. The inning ended when Scott Kingery struck out swinging.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning, the IronPigs took their first lead of the game. Catcher John Hicks started the inning with a double, followed by a Scott Kingery sacrifice bunt that moved Hicks to third base with one out for Vimael Machin. Machin singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Hicks for a 3-2 lead. Lehigh Valley was unable to bring Machin home and the inning ended.
Jake Jewell replaced Lehigh Valley pitcher Michael Plassmeyer at the top of the seventh inning. Plassmeyer pitched six innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts in 87 pitches, of which 63 were strikes.
Jewell loaded the bases with one out for David Hamilton. He tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center fielder Scott Kingery as Caleb Hamilton scored. It was now 3-3. Jewell struck out Bobby Dalbec which ended the inning. The game remained tied heading to extra innings.
In the bottom of the eleventh inning, Norwith Gudino pitched for the Red Sox against Scott Kingery with John Hicks at second base. Gudino walked Kingery before striking out Vimael Machin. Machin did not agree with the call and was ejected.
With Jhailyn Ortiz set to bat, the IronPigs elected to go with Simon Muzziotti as a pinch-hitter. During his at-bat, John Hicks stole third base. Finally, Muzziotti brought Hicks home to end the game after center fielder Greg Allen dropped the ball. Lehigh Valley won their first walk-off of the season by the final score of 4-3.
Lehigh Valley had 36 plate appearances, one for twelve with runners in scoring position, and left ten men on base. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Trey Cobb. He pitched one inning with one walk and one strikeout in 11 pitches, of which six were strikes. The loss went to Worcester pitcher Norwith Gudino.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
