The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (12-15) played game three of a six-game series against the Worcester Red Sox (13-16) on Thursday night from Polar Park. Lehigh Valley pitcher Michael Mercado (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound against Worchester’s Nick Pivetta (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Weston Wilson hit a two-run single to left field scoring Kody Clemens and Jordan Luplow for a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Worcester catcher Mark Kolozsvary hit an RBI double to left field scoring Mark Contreras cutting the IronPigs lead down to 2-1.
Moving ahead to the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when catcher Aramis Garcia hit Jorge Benitez’s changeup for an RBI ground ball to center field scoring Matt Kroon for a 3-1 lead. Two batters later, third baseman Kody Clemens hit an RBI single to center field scoring Esteban Quiroz making it 4-1 Lehigh Valley.
With two outs, Lehigh Valley first baseman Darick Hall hit Benitez’s cutter for a three-run home run over the wall at right field blowing the game open 7-1. It was Hall’s fourth home run of the season and 21st RBI of the year.
That was all the runs Lehigh Valley needed and they went on to defeat the Worcester Red Sox by the final score of 7-1 for their first win in this series.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Michael Mercado pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, one run, five walks, and two strikeouts throwing 63 pitches, of which 32 were strikes. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler McKay (0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB) throwing 22 pitches, of which nine were strikes, and the loss went to Worcester pitcher Nick Pivetta (3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 5 K) throwing 62 pitches, of which 36 were strikes.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game four on Friday at 6:05 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics and Rally House.
