The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (68-78) concluded the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon from Coca-Cola Park against the Worcester Red Sox (79-71). Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel (1-2, 4.81 ERA) was on the mound against Worchester’s Jason Alexander (7-6, 4.59 ERA).
The game was scoreless through the first four innings. At the top of the fifth inning, Worcester had a runner on second base with two outs when Max Ferguson hit an RBI single to left field scoring Bobby Dalbec for a 1-0 lead. Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel struck out Mark Kolozsvary to end the inning. Rangel (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K) threw 68 pitches, of which 48 were strikes.
Spencer Turnbull was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the sixth inning. Turnbull (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 16 pitches, of which 10 were strikes to get three outs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with two outs when center fielder Ryan McKenna worked a four-pitch walk scoring Austin Hays, and the game was tied 1-1. It was McKenna’s 25th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley right fielder Ethan Wilson struck out swinging and the inning was over.
At the top of the seventh inning, Worcester had a runner on first base with one out when second baseman Tyler McDonough hit Turnbull’s sweeper for a two-run home run clearing the wall at right field for a 3-1 lead. Worcester did not score any more runs in the inning. Turnbull (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 34 pitches, of which 23 were strikes.
Michael Mercado was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. Mercado (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) threw 12 pitches, of which nine were strikes to get three outs.
Max Lazar was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Worcester had a runner on third base with one out when Tyler McDonough grounded to third baseman Otto Kemp scoring Bobby Dalbec for a 4-1 lead. A ground out by Max Ferguson ended the inning. Lazar (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 30 pitches, of which 19 were strikes.
Jose Adames was the new pitcher for Worcester in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lehigh Valley center fielder Ryan McKenna and right fielder Ethan Wilson both grounded out. With two outs, Lehigh Valley third baseman Otto Kemp worked a four-pitch walk.
Next, shortstop Jim Haley reached first base on a throwing error by Bobby Dalbec scoring Kemp and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 4-2. Then, left fielder Austin Hays worked a four-pitch walk with still with two outs. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Carson Taylor hit an RBI single to left field scoring Jim Haley and the IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 4-3.
It was Taylor’s second RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley second baseman Buddy Kennedy worked a four-pitch walk and the bases were loaded for first baseman Darick Hall. Hall hit Adames’s sinker for a game-ending grand slam clearing the wall at right field for a 7-4 win.
It was Hall’s 16th home run of the season and 72nd RBI of the season. The grand slam went 418 feet with an exit velocity of 114.5 mph. This was a way to go out for the season. Lehigh Valley started the regular season with a walk-off grand slam and ended the season with a walk-off grand slam.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with six hits and committed one error. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Max Lazar for his fourth win of the season, and the loss went to Worcester pitcher Jose Adames.
The next time the IronPigs take the field will be on Friday, April 28, 2025, against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders from Coca-Cola Park.
