The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (80-66, 44-29) and the Worcester Red Sox (79-67, 40-32) played game four of a six-game series on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs lead the series 2-1.
Four transactions took place before the game. First, the Philadelphia Phillies called up RHP Orion Kerkering and sent RHP Yunior Marte to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Next, they designated infielder Drew Ellis for assignment. Lastly, the RHP Mick Abel was assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Mick Abel (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his Triple-A debut. This year in Reading, Able went 5-5, with a 4.14 ERA, allowing 73 hits, 53 runs, 50 earned runs, 15 home runs, five hit batsmen, 62 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 108.2 innings playing 22 games for the Fightin’ Phils. Brandon Walter (2-5, 4.75 ERA) was on the mound for Worcester.
At the top of the first inning, Mick Abel gave up a single to Ronaldo Hernandez with two outs for Stephen Scott. Next, Scott put the ball down for a base hit to right field with Narciso Crook up to bat. Abel struck out Crook with a sinker to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning with two outs, Darick Hall grounded toward second baseman Tyler McDonough. The ball bounced off McDonough’s glove and Hall was safe at first base. An error was charged to McDonough. Next, Dustin Peterson put the ball down for a base hit to right field moving Hall up to second base. A ground out by Rafael Marchan ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the second inning, Jim Haley hit a single to left field with one out. Two batters later with two outs Scott Kingery was up to bat. During his at-bat, Haley stole second base. Then, Kingery hit a soft fly ball to right field scoring Haley that put Lehigh Valley up 1-0. It was Kingery’s 47th RBI of the season. A ground out by Weston Wilson ended the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Worcester third baseman Nick Sogard started with a triple to center field. Next, Mick Abel hit Ronaldo Hernandez with Stephen Scott up to bat. Scott grounded into a 6-4-3 double play but Sogard scored which tied the game 1-1. After walking Narciso Crook, Abel struck out Niko Kavadas which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the fifth inning, Mick Abel gave up a double to Nick Sogard with one out for Ronaldo Hernandez. Next, Abel hit Hernandez with Stephen Scott up to bat. Scott grounded into a force out at second base. Then, Able loaded the bases when he hit Narciso Crook with Nika Kavadas coming to the plate.
Unfortunately, Abel walked Niko Kavadas which forced in a run and the Red Sox went ahead 2-1. The IronPigs replaced Abel with Jeremy Walker. Walker got Christian Koss to ground out toward him and tossed the ball to first baseman Darick Hall which ended the inning.
Mick Abel finished the night pitching 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts in 82 pitches, of which 48 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kaleb Ort was the new Worcester pitcher. He gave up a single to Dustin Peterson with two outs. Next, he hit Rafael Marchan on the kneecap and Marchan was down for several minutes before getting up and gingerly walking to first base and staying in the game.
Then, Ort loaded the bases when he walked Simon Muzziotti with Jim Haley up to bat. Haley battled Ort but struck out chasing Ort’s slider which ended the inning.
Tyler McKay was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the seventh inning. He walked Nick Sogard to start the inning. Next, Ronaldo Hernandez moved Sogard to second base with a groundout toward second baseman Jim Haley. Then, Sogard went to third base when Stephen Scott grounded out toward second baseman Jim Haley.
Narciso Crook was next to bat. He hit McKay’s sinker for a soft ground ball toward second baseman Jim Haley scoring Sogard for a 3-1 lead. A groundout by Niko Kavadas ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley had another chance to score in the bottom of the seventh inning. Scott Kingery put the ball down for a base hit to left field with one out for Weston Wilson. Next, Wilson draws a four-pitch walk but Matt Kroon grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Joely Rodriguez was the new pitcher for Worcester. Darick Hall put the ball down for a base hit to right field but Dustin Peterson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. A flyout by Rafael Marchan ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth inning. Luis Guerrero was pitching for Worcester. Simon Muzziotti struck out swinging and Jim Haley popped out toward foul territory which was caught by Niko Kavadas for the second out.
Next, Esteban Quiroz worked a four-pitch walk with Scott Kingery up to bat. During Kingery’s at-bat, Quiroz advanced to second base on a defensive indifference call. Kingery draws a walk with Weston Wilson up to bat.
Wilson put the ball down for a base hit to left field scoring Quiroz that made it 3-2 Worcester with Matt Kroon up to bat. It was Wilson’s 86th RBI of the season. Kroon struck out swinging and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Red Sox by the final score of 3-2.
In Gwinnett, the Durham Bulls shut out the Stripers 3-0 to clinch the second-half division, and the IronPigs are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits, went 2 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Mick Abel lost his first game of the year for Lehigh Valley, Brandon Walter won his third game of the season for Worcester, and Luis Guerrero earned his first save of the year for the Red Sox.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
