The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (20-21) and the Worcester Red Sox (21-21) played game three on Thursday night from Polar Park. Coming into this game, the series was tied 1-1.
Lehigh Valley went with a bullpen game. Jake Jewell (1-1, 5.06 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Shane Drohan (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
It was a forgettable couple of innings to begin the game for Lehigh Valley as they gave up seven runs, four of the runs came from Bobby Dalbec and Ryan Fitzgerald. All of the seven runs were scored with two outs.
Jake Jewell pitched the bottom of the first inning, allowing four hits, five runs, two walks, and two strikeouts in 34 pitches, of which 19 were strikes.
In the bottom of the second inning, Hans Crouse faced seven batters, allowing two hits, two runs, three walks, and two strikeouts in 34 pitches, of which 16 were strikes. Jeremy Walker replaced Crouse with two outs and got Daniel Palka to ground out, ending the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Worcester pitcher Shane Drohan walked Jhailyn Ortiz to start the inning. Two batters later with one out, Scott Kingery hit Drohan’s fastball for a two-run home run over the wall at right field, cutting Worcester’s lead to 7-2. After Jordan Qsar grounded out for the second out, Drohan walked John Hicks as Jim Haley stepped up to the plate.
Haley hit Drohan’s fastball for the second two-run home run in the inning over the wall at left field. It was now 7-4 Worcester. Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia grounded out which ended the inning.
Worcester got one of the runs back in the bottom of the third inning when Lehigh Valley pitcher Jeremy Walker threw a fastball at catcher Jorge Alfaro before he crushed a 109 mph off the ball and into center field. It was now 8-4 Worcester. After the home run, Walker picked up the three outs without giving up another run.
Lehigh Valley shortstop Weston Wilson started the top of the fifth inning by obliterating Dohan’s fastball which hit the scoreboard at left field and suddenly it was a three-run game, 8-5 for Worcester. That was the only run scored in the inning as Dohan got the three outs without allowing another hit.
Moving ahead to the top of the seventh inning, Joe Jacques pitched for Worcester and he faced Weston Wilson. Jacques walked Wilson, Jake Cave, and Jhailyn Ortiz, loading the bases for newcomer third baseman Drew Ellis. Ellis grounded toward Worcester shortstop David Hamilton with Ortiz out at second but beat Hamilton’s throw at first base for a forceout. Meanwhile, Weston Wilson scored and it was now 8-6 Worcester.
Jordan Qsar was next with two outs. During his at-bat, Ellis stole second base. Qsar hit the ball toward David Hamilton and he overthrew the first baseman Bobby Dalbec as Jake Cave and Drew Ellis scored, tying the game 8-8. John Hicks grounded out for the third out.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Brennan Bernardino was the new pitcher for Worcester. With one out, Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia hit a single. Then, Bernardino walked Weston Wilson as Jake Cave approached the plate. He doubled on a ground ball to left field, scoring Garcia, and Lehigh Valley took their first lead of the night 9-8.
After Bernardino walked Jhailyn Ortiz, the IronPigs had a chance to blow the game open. Unfortunately, Drew Ellis struck out and Scott Kingery grounded out, ending the inning.
Francisco Morales pitched for the IronPigs in the bottom of the eighth inning. He gave up a home run to David Hamilton that tied the game 9-9. Three batters later, Jorge Alfaro doubled to right field and was replaced by Marcus Wilson as a pinch-runner. Bobby Dalbec was next. He brought Wilson home with a double to center field, putting Worcester back up 10-9. Morales struck out Ryan Fitzgerald which retired the side.
Lehigh Valley had one more shot to either tie or take the lead at the top of the ninth inning. They had to face Andrew Politi. The IronPigs could not score against Politi and lost the game to the Red Sox by the final score of 10-9.
The IronPigs finished the night with seven hits, committed one error, went 5-14 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Lehigh Valley pitcher Francisco Morales lost his first game of the season, Worcester pitcher Brennan Bernardino won his first game of the year, and Andrew Politi earned his first save.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game four on Friday 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.
