The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (60-41, 14-13) started a six-game series on Tuesday night against the Worcester Red Sox (52-50, 11-17) at Polar Park. Gabe Mosser (3-3, 6.38 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against José De León (0-3, 7.41 ERA) of Worcester.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on second and third base with nobody out. Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs grounded out to second baseman Nick Sogard, and Cal Stevenson scored for a 1-0 lead. It was Stubbs’s 41st RBI of the season.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony hit Leon’s cutter for a solo home run at 344 feet to right field. The IronPigs extended its lead to 2-0. It was Anthony’s second home run of the season.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cal Stevenson grounded into a forceout at first base. Donovan Walton scored, and it was now 3-0. It was Stevenson’s 36th RBI of the year. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Worcester first baseman Kristian Campbell hit Mosser’s sinker for a two-run home run at 396 feet to center field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now 3-2.
That would be it for Mosser. He pitched five innings, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks, and five strikeouts throwing 97 pitches, of which 53 were strikes. Brett de Geus pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the sixth inning. Geus loaded the bases with two outs, and Michael Mercado replaced him.
Worcester center fielder Jhostynxon Garcia cleared the bases by hitting a three-run RBI double to center field. Worcester took a 5-3 lead. Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cal Stevenson hit an RBI single to left field. Rafael Lantigua scored, and it was now 5-4.
Then, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony hit an RBI single to right field. Cal Stevenson scored, and the game was tied 5-5. With two outs, a lineout by designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. ended the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Worcester center fielder Jhostynxon Garcia hit Josh Walker’s curveball for a two-run home run at 417 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs trailed the Red Sox 7-5. Lehigh Valley had one more chance at the top of the ninth inning. Oscar Mercado and Donovan Walton grounded out, and a flyout from Rodolfo Castro ended the game. The IronPigs lose to the Red Sox 7-5.
Lehigh Valley finished the game with 13 hits, went 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. The bullpen pitched five innings, allowing five hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. The loss went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Josh Walker. He pitched one inning, allowing four hits, two runs, and one strikeout throwing 30 pitches, of which 21 were strikes. The win went to Worcester relief pitcher Isaiah Campbell.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game two on Wednesday at 12:05 pm.
