The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (65-76) returned home to Coca-Cola Park to begin the final week of the regular season on Tuesday night against the Worcester Red Sox (77-68). Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (3-11, 5.92 ERA) was on the mound against Worchester’s Jason Alexander (6-6, 4.44 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Worcester had runners on first and second base when Mickey Gasper hit an RBI single to right field scoring Roman Anthony for a 1-0 lead. Next, Kyle Teel hit a two-run RBI double to left field scoring Chase Meidroth and Mickey Gasper for a 3-0 lead. Then, Abel was called for a balk and Kyle Teel scored for a 4-0 lead with two outs. A groundout by Bobby Dalbec ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Worcester had the bases loaded when Chase Meidroth grounded into a 4-6-3 double play but Tyler McDonough scored for a 5-0 lead. A flyout by Michael Gasper to center fielder Ryan McKenna ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Worcester had runners on the corners when Jamie Westbrook hit an RBI single to right field scoring Kyle Teel for a 6-0 lead. Next, Bobby Dalbec hit an RBI single to center field scoring Vaughn Grissom for a 7-0 lead. After Tyler McDonough grounded out for the first out, Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel was replaced by Jonah Dipoto.
Two batters later with two outs, Worcester center fielder Roman Anthony hit a two-run RBI single to second baseman Jim Haley. A throwing error by Haley scored Jaime Westbrook and Bobby Dalbec for a 9-0 lead. A flyout by Chase Meidroth to right fielder Carlos De La Cruz ended the inning. Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (2.1 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) threw 59 pitches, of which 34 were strikes, and Dipoto (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K) threw 47 pitches, of which 30 were strikes.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with one out, Lehigh Valley right fielder Carlos De La Cruz hit an RBI single to left field scoring Otto Kemp and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 9-1. It was Cruz’s 18th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Freddy Tarnok was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the fifth inning. Tarnok (1.1 IP, 2 K) threw 18 pitches, of which 12 were strikes. Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when catcher Rafael Marchan grounded into a forceout at second base scoring Scott Kingery and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 9-2. It was Marchan’s 10th RBI of the season.
Three batters later, Lehigh Valley had runners on second and third base when left fielder David Dahl hit a two-run RBI double to right field scoring Rafael Marchan and Darick Hall and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 9-4. It was Dahl’s 39th RBI of the season.
Two batters later, Lehigh Valley third baseman Otto Kemp hit an RBI single to right field scoring David Dahl and the IronPigs cut the deficit to 9-5. Carlos De La Cruz struck out swinging and the inning was over.
Griff McGarry was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the seventh inning. McGarry walked three players to load the bases and he was replaced by Nick Nelson. Nelson hit Tyler McDonough and Vaughn Grissom scored for a 10-5 lead.
Two batters later with one out, Roman Anthony hit an RBI single to center field scoring Jaime Westbrook for an 11-5 lead. Next, a wild pitch by Nick Nelson scored Bobby Dalbec for a 12-5 lead. Two batters later, Mickey Gasper hit a two-run RBI single to center field scoring Tyler McDonough and Chase Meidroth for a 14-5 lead. Nelson struck out Kyle Teel to end the inning. McGarry (0.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB) threw 12 pitches, of which none were strikes, and Nelson (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 28 pitches, of which 16 were strikes.
Tyler McKay was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. McKay (1.0 IP, 1 K) threw nine pitches, of which seven were strikes to get three outs. McKay returned to pitch at the top of the ninth inning. McKay (2.0 IP, 3 K) threw 25 pitches, of which 16 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley third baseman Otto Kemp was hit by Brendan Cellucci. Next, Lehigh Valley right fielder Carlos De La Cruz hit a single to move Kemp up to second base. Lehigh Valley pinch-hitter Trevor Schwecke worked a four-pitch walk and the bases were loaded for designated hitter Carson Taylor.
Taylor worked a four-pitch walk and Otto Kemp scored. The IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 14-6. The Red Sox replaced Cellucci with Wyatt Olds. He struck out Rafael Marchan and got Darick Hall to pop out to third baseman Jamie Westbrook for two outs. Next, Lehigh Valley center fielder Ryan McKenna hit a two-run RBI single to left field scoring Carlos De La Cruz and Trevor Schwecke and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 14-8. It was McKenna’s 25th RBI of the season.
Then, Lehigh Valley left fielder David Dahl hit an RBI single to center field scoring Carson Taylor and it was now 14-9 Red Sox. It was Dahl’s 40th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley second baseman Jim Haley had a chance to keep the game going, but he was called out on strikes and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Red Sox 14-9.
The IronPigs finished the night with 13 hits and committed two errors. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel for his 12th loss of the season, and the win went to Worcester starter Jason Alexander.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game two on Wednesday at 6:45 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo.
