The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (20-20) played game two against the Worcester Red Sox (20-21) on Wednesday afternoon from Polar Park. Coming into this game, the IronPigs aimed to get back on the winning track after losing 9-4 on Tuesday night.
Cristopher Sanchez (0-2, 6.14 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Matt Dermody (1-1, 4.34 ERA).
Sanchez did not get off to a good start in the bottom of the first inning. He gave up a triple to David Hamilton to start the inning before getting two outs with Jorge Alfaro coming to the plate. Sanchez tried to get Alfaro to chase his slider and Alfaro got all of it for a two-run home run over the wall at right-center field. It was 2-0 Worcester. Greg Allen was next and Sanchez struck him out to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fourth inning, Sanchez walked Greg Allen. During Ronaldo Hernandez’s plate appearance, Allen stole second base but Sanchez got Hernandez to ground out to shortstop Scott Kingery with Allen moving to third base with one out.
Nick Sogard was next and he brought Allen home with an RBI single to center field for a 3-0 lead. Sanchez came back to get the last two outs that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley finally got going at the top of the fifth inning. It started when third baseman Vimael Machin reached first base on a fielding error by Bobby Dalbec when he bobbled the ball. Two batters later with one out, Worcester pitcher Matt Dermody walked Vito Friscia, followed by a Weston Wilson single which loaded the bases for Simon Muzziotti.
This was the golden opportunity for Lehigh Valley to drive in runs. Unfortunately, Muzziotti struck out. Jhailyn Ortiz was next. He singled to right field off Dermody’s fastball and scored Machin and Friscia. It was now 3-2 Worcester. Jake Cave had a chance to keep the inning going but he struck out swinging which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Cristopher Sanchez gave up a hit to Niko Goodrum with two outs. His afternoon was over as McKinley Moore replaced him. Sanchez pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, two walks, and four strikeouts in 90 pitches, of which 55 were strikes. Moore got the final out to retire the side.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Scott Kingery singled with one out. Vimael Machin was next and he tied the game with an RBI double to the corner of right field, scoring Kingery. It was now 3-3. Aramis Garcia and Vito Friscia could not bring Machin home and the inning ended.
The IronPigs bullpen did a good job not allowing any more runs in regulation and the game went to extra innings. Moore, Ben Bowden, Luis Ortiz, and Yunior Marte combined allowing one hit and three strikeouts.
Jhailyn Ortiz went to second base for Lehigh Valley to start the top of the tenth inning. However, Jordan Qsar replaced him as a pinch-runner. Chase Shugart was pitching for Worcester. Jake Cave was up first and drove Qsar home with an RBI double to the corner of left field for a 4-3 lead.
Jim Haley was next. During his plate appearance, a passed ball on catcher Caleb Hamilton moved Cave to third base. Haley drove Cave home with an RBI single to left field for a 5-3 lead. Scott Kingery was next and he moved Haley to second base with a single with Vimael Machin headed to the plate.
Machin doubled on a sharp line drive to right field, scoring Haley for a 6-3 lead. The IronPigs were cooking. That was it for Worcester pitcher Chase Shugart, who was replaced by Oddanier Mosqueda. The pitching change did not help.
With one out, Mosqueda walked Vito Friscia and the bases were loaded for Weston Wilson. Wilson singled past a diving shortstop David Hamilton and into center field, scoring Kingery and Machin for an 8-3 lead with one out.
Simon Muzziotti was next and he grounded out softly toward second baseman Niko Goodrum for the second out but Vito Friscia scored for a 9-3 lead. Jordan Qsar was next and he scored the final run of the game with an RBI single to left field, scoring Wilson for a 10-3 lead. Jake Cave was next but he flew out to center fielder Greg Allen which ended the inning.
Jesus Cruz closed out the game for the IronPigs in the bottom of the tenth inning. He easily got the final three outs of the game and the IronPigs defeated the Red Sox by the final score of 10-3.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with 14 hits, 8-20 with runners in scoring position, and left ten men on base. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Yunior Marte, who pitched one inning, allowing one hit and two strikeouts in 14 pitches, of which 10 were strikes. It was Marte’s first win of the season. The loss went to Worcester pitcher Chase Shugart for his first loss of the season.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game three on Thursday at 6:45 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
