The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (6-10) snapped a six-game losing streak on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park against the Worcester Red Sox (7-9) in game two of a six-game series.
Noah Skirrow (1-0, 4.15 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Worcester’s Taylor Broadway (0-0, 6.75 ERA).
Lehigh Valley batted around in the bottom of the third inning, scoring seven runs led by first baseman Weston Wilson’s three RBIs. Wilson hit a solo home run to start the inning and hit a two-run double. Scott Kingery, John Hicks, Esteban Quiroz, and Dalton Guthrie also scored for the IronPigs.
The IronPigs continued to pour it on the Red Sox in the bottom of the fourth inning. With a runner on first base and one out, designated hitter Jhailyn Ortiz hit a two-run home over the wall at left field to make it 9-0 IronPigs.
Then, Jordan Qsar tripled on a ground ball to the corner of right field. Next up was second baseman Esteban Quiroz. He singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring Qsar and it was now 10-0. Dalton Guthrie and Weston Wilson could not bring Quiroz home and the inning ended.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Noah Skirrow walked Ryan Fitzgerald at the top of the fifth inning with one out before being replaced by Jakob Hernandez. Skirrow did a good job on the mound pitching 4.1 innings, allowing two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts in 83 pitches, of which 45 were strikes. Hernandez walked Nick Sogard however then got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Lehigh Valley tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs and a runner on second base, left fielder Simon Muzziotti singled on a sharp line drive to center field, scoring John Hicks for an 11-0 lead. Two batters later with two outs, Jordan Qsar flies out to center field to end the inning.
Then, the Red Sox started to make a comeback. It started at the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded for Ryan Fitzgerald. Jakob Hernandez walked a couple of batters before Hans Crouse walked another batter. Fitzgerald singled out to center field, scoring two runs to make it 11-2. Hans Crouse struck out Nick Sogard to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the eighth inning, Hans Crouse was replaced by Ben Bowden. He gave up a single to Jorge Alfaro and walked Niko Goodrum and Greg Allen that loaded the bases for Marcus Wilson. Wilson grounded out toward first baseman Weston Wilson but a run scored. It was now 11-3. Later, Bowden walked two more batters, forcing in a run and it was now 11-4.
Worcester first baseman Bobby Dalbec was next with the bases loaded. He cleared them all with a grand slam over the wall at right field and suddenly, it was now 11-8. After a single by Wilyer Abreu, Jorge Alfaro grounded into a forceout that ended the inning.
The IronPigs would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jim Haley doubled with two outs for Dalton Guthrie. Guthrie doubled on a line drive to right field, scoring Haley for a 12-8. Weston Wilson was next. During his plate appearance, Guthrie stole third base but Wilson struck out to end the inning.
Jesus Cruz was the new IronPigs pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. After getting back-to-back groundouts, Cruz gave up a single to Greg Allen, followed by a Marcus Wilson two-run home run out to left-center field. It was now 12-10 and the fans at Coca-Cola Park were not happy and rightfully so. Luckily, Cruz got Nick Sogard to ground out, ending the game, and the IronPigs survived to beat the Red Sox by the final score of 12-10. They snapped a six-game losing streak.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen has been an issue so far this season. Together with the starters, they are ranked 12th in the International League, allowing 123 hits, 80 runs, 77 earned runs, 20 home runs, eight hit batsmen, and 63 walks in 136.2 innings.
On offense, Lehigh Valley had 17 hits, 6-13 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. Lehigh Valley pitcher Jakob Hernandez earned his first win of the season. He pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs, three walks, and two strikeouts in 35 pitches, of which 18 were strikes. Hernandez should be the IronPigs closer. The loss went to Worcester pitcher James Paxton.
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.
