The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (19-20) paid their first visit to Polar Park of the season on Tuesday night against the Worcester Red Sox (20-20). This was the second series meeting between the two teams. Last month, the IronPigs took four of six games from the Red Sox at Coca-Cola Park.
Coming into this game, Noah Skirrow (4-0, 3.52 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Garrett Whitlock (1-2, 6.19 ERA).
In the bottom of the second inning, Worcester third baseman Bobby Dalbec started the inning by hitting Noah Skirrow’s fastball for a solo home run to center field for a 1-0 lead. That was the only run Skirrow allowed. He picked up the three outs to retire the side.
The IronPigs responded at the top of the third inning. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Jhailyn Ortiz started the inning with a single to center field. However, catcher John Hicks was next and hit into a double play for two outs. Center fielder Jake Cave stepped up to the plate and hit a solo home run off Whitlock’s changeup out to center field, tying the game 1-1. It was Cave’s third home run of the season.
Simon Muzziotti followed up with a single and stole second base but Weston Wilson was called out on strikes which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning with one out, Red Sox’s shortstop David Hamilton hit a solo home run off Skirrow’s fastball over the wall at right-center field, putting Worcester up 2-1. Skirrow struck out Niko Goodrum and Wilyer Abreu to end the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Noah Skirrow walked Worcester catcher Jorge Alfaro, followed by a single to Bobby Dalbec. He struck out Ryan Fitzgerald but Greg Allen doubled to right field, scoring Alfaro for a 3-1 lead.
The inning got worse for Skirrow. He walked Daniel Palka before Nick Sogard singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Dalbec and Allen for a 5-1 lead. That was it Skirrow, who was replaced by Jake Jewell.
Skirrow finished the night pitching 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, two walks, and six strikeouts in 82 pitches, of which 49 were strikes. Jake Jewell walked Niko Goodrum before striking out Wilyer Abreu that retired the side.
The night kept getting worse for Lehigh Valley. After Jewell struck out Jorge Alfaro, he hit Bobby Dalbec. Then, Ryan Fitzgerald crushed Jewell’s fastball over the right field wall for a two-run home run. It was 7-1 Worcester with one out. Jewell got the other two outs to end the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning with two outs, Lehigh Valley right fielder Jordan Qsar hit Kutter Crawford’s breaking ball into the seats at right field for his seventh home run of the year. The score was now 7-2 Red Sox. Jim Haley had a chance to keep it going but struck out swinging.
Francisco Morales was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up a single Nick Sogard. During David Hamilton’s at-bat, Sogard stole second base, followed by third base after Morales threw a wild pitch. He did strike out Hamilton for the first out.
Niko Goodrum was next. Morales threw another wild pitch and Sogard scored for an 8-2 lead. Morales got Goodrum to line out to left fielder Simon Muzziotti before striking out Wilyer Abreu that retired the side.
At the top of the eighth inning, Cam Booser pitched for Worcester. He walked Simon Muzziotti and Weston Wilson to begin the inning. Then Jordan Qsar singled, moving everyone up a base with Jim Haley coming to bat. He had a golden opportunity to get Lehigh Valley back into the game but grounded into a double play but Muzziotti scored. It was 8-3.
After walking Vimael Machin, Booser was replaced by Andrew Politi and he got Scott Kingery to ground out for the final out of the inning.
Louis Head was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher to start the bottom of the eighth inning. He allowed back-to-back singles to Greg Allen and Daniel Palka as Allen went to third base on Palka’s single. Next, he struck out Nick Sogard with David Hamilton coming to the plate.
Hamilton grounded out toward Scott Kingery for a forceout at second base but Allen scored for a 9-3 Worcester lead with two outs. Louis Head struck out Niko Goodrum which ended the inning.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Jhailyn Ortiz hit a solo home run to center field. It was Ortiz’s third home run of the season but Lehigh Valley trailed 9-4. Andrew Politi got the final three outs of the game, and the IronPigs lose to the Red Sox by the final score of 9-4.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with ten hits, 1-8 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Lehigh Valley pitcher Noah Skirrow lost his first game of the season, while the win went to Kutter Crawford. It was his first win of the season.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game two on Wednesday at 12:15 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
