On Wednesday night, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (80-64, 44-27) and the Worcester Red Sox (77-67, 38-32) played game two of a six-game series from Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs lead the series 1-0.
Before the game, there were a couple of transactions. The IronPigs transferred RHP Shaun Anderson to the Development List and RHP Christian McGowen was assigned to the IronPigs from the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
Christian McGowen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his first start of the season. McGowen went 0-1, with a 4.30 ERA in games for the Phillies Rookie League, Clearwater Threshers, and the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
McGowen allowed 22 hits, 12 runs, one home run, two hit batsmen, seven walks, and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. He is working back from Tommy John surgery. Worcester started Brian Van Belle (5-3, 6.19 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, McGowen gave up a single to Corey Rosier to start the game. Next, Nick Sogard moved Rosier to second base with a ground out toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz. Quiroz bobbled the ball a bit, preventing the double play but did make the throw to first baseman Darick Hall for the first out.
Ronaldo Hernandez was next. He put the ball down for a base hit to right field. Matt Kroon saw Rosier getting the wave around at third base to score and threw a dart toward catcher Rafael Marchan, who tagged Rosier out at home plate. A ground out by Stephen Scott ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Weston Wilson reached first base on a throwing error by third baseman Nick Sogard with Darick Hall up to bat. During his at-bat, Wilson stole second base and Hall moved him to third base with a ground out to first baseman Niko Kavadas. A ground out by Matt Kroon ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the third inning, Christian McGowen walked Tyler McDonough and Corey Rosier. Next, Nick Sogard moved both runners up a base with a groundout toward catcher Rafael Marchan, who made the throw to first baseman Darick Hall.
After McGowen struck out Ronaldo Hernandez, Lehigh Valley replaced him with Hans Crouse. McGowen finished the night pitching 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts in 51 pitches, of which 22 were strikes. Crouse got Stephen Scott to line out toward center fielder Cal Stevenson, who made the catch which ended the inning. That was it for Crouse, who threw eight pitches, of which seven were strikes.
Orion Kerkering was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the fourth inning making his Triple-A debut. He gave up a single to Niko Kavadas with one out with Christian Koss up to bat. During his at-bat, Kerkering threw a wild pitch advancing Kavadas to second base. Next, Koss put the ball down for a base hit to center field moving Kavadas to third base.
Kerkering kept his compose to strike out Bradley Zimmer and get Tyler McDonough to ground out toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz, who made the throw just in time to Darick Hall to get McDonough out which ended the inning. Kerkering finished the night pitching one inning, allowing two hits, and one strikeout in 14 pitches, of which 10 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley busted the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning. Worcester pitcher Brian Van Belle walked Cal Stevenson and Jim Haley with one out with Esteban Quiroz up to bat. Next, Quiroz hit a ground ball past a diving second baseman Tyler McDonough and into right field scoring Stevenson which made it 1-0 Lehigh Valley. It was Quiroz’s 59th RBI of the year.
Two batters later with two outs, Weston Wilson worked a four-pitch walk which led to Worchester changing pitchers replacing Brian Van Belle with Oddanier Mosqueda. Darick Hall was up to bat with the bases loaded. He worked a four-pitch walk which forced in a run. Jim Haley scored for a 2-0 Lehigh Valley lead.
Matt Kroon was next. He put the ball down for a base hit to center field clearing the bases for a three-run triple for a 5-0 lead. It was Kroon’s second triple of the season. He now has 12 RBIs and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. A ground out by Simon Muzziotti ended the inning.
Michael Plassmeyer was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the fifth inning. Plassmeyer got the first two outs before walking Ronaldo Hernandez. Next, Stephen Scott hit a high fly ball toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti. He chased the ball but it bounced off the ground and over the wall for a ground-rule double. Then, Plassmeyer struck out Narciso Crook to end the inning.
Lehigh Valley’s offense continued where they left off in the bottom of the fifth inning. Worchester pitcher Oddanier Mosqueda walked Rafael Marchan and Cal Stevenson with nobody out. Two batters later with one out, Esteban Quiroz hit the ball that hit Mosqueda’s butt cheek and everyone was safe. Mosqueda had the medical team check on him but he stayed in the game.
Kody Clemens stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. He put the ball down for a base hit to left field scoring Marchan and Stevenson that made it 7-0 Lehigh Valley. It was Clemens’s 52nd RBI of the year.
Next, Weston Wilson put the ball down for a base hit to left field reloading the bases for Darick Hall. Hall brought Quiroz home with a sacrifice fly to center field which made it 8-0 Lehigh Valley. It was Hall’s 58th RBI of the season. Then, Matt Kroon worked a four-pitch walk before Simon Muzziotti was called out on strikes that ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning, Zack Kelly was the new Worcester pitcher. Rafael Marchan singled on a line drive to right field with Cal Stevenson due up to bat.
With the count 3-2, Stevenson hit Kelly’s changeup for a two-run home run over the wall at center field for a 10-0 lead. It was Stevenson’s eighth home run of the season with 30 RBIs. Lehigh Valley did add not any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bryan Mata was the new pitcher for Worcester. Weston Wilson started the inning by working a four-pitch walk. Next, Darick Hall moved Wilson to second base with a single to right field.
Three batters later with two outs, Rafael Marchan drew a walk which loaded the bases for Cal Stevenson. However, before Stevenson could bat, Worchester made another pitching change with Logan Gillaspie replacing Bryan Mata. Cal Stevenson worked a four-pitch walk to force in a run. Rafael Marchan scored for an 11-0 lead. It was Stevenson’s third RBI of the night. He now has 31 RBIs on the season.
Jim Haley was next. He hit a ground ball toward third baseman Nick Sogard. Sogard threw the ball toward first baseman Niko Kavadas but bobbled the ball and Haley was safe. Darick Hall scored which made it 12-0. A flyout by Esteban Quiroz ended the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Michael Plassmeyer gave up a double to Narciso Crook. Next, Niko Kavadas followed up with a double of his own to left field scoring Crook that ended the shutout. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now 12-1. Three batters later with two outs, Tylor McDonough reached first base on a catcher interference by Rafael Marchan. A groundout by Corey Rosier ended the inning.
Michael Plassmeyer returned to close out the game at the top of the ninth inning. He got back-to-back groundouts from Nick Sogard and Ronaldo Hernandez before Stephen Scott flew out toward center fielder Cal Stevenson, who made the catch, and the game was over.
The IronPigs defeated the Red Sox by the final score of 12-1. Unfortunately, the Durham Bulls won their game on Wednesday which means the IronPigs are still two games back behind Durham for first place in the second-half standings.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 13 hits, committed one error, went 6 for 20 with runners in scoring position, and left 14 men on base. Orion Kerkering won his first game for Lehigh Valley, Michael Plassmeyer earned his first save of the season, and Bryan Van Belle lost his fourth game of the year for Worcester.
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.
