The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (32-38) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night to begin a 12-game homestand against the Worcester Red Sox (34-32) in a six-game series. Tucker Davidson (3-3, 6.50 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Jackson Anderson of Worcester.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings. At the top of the third inning, Worcester had a runner on second base with two outs when Mikey Romero hit an RBI single to right field. Anthony Seigler and Romero were caught reaching second base for the final out of the inning. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base when left fielder Felix Reyes hit Anderson’s splitter for a two-run home run at 376 feet to left field to give the IronPigs a 2-1 lead. It was Reyes’s 16th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 98.5 mph. With two outs, a groundout by Keaton Anthony ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Worcester second baseman Tsung-Che Cheng hit Davidson’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run to center field. The Red Sox trailed the IronPigs 3-2. It was his sixth home run of the season. Later, Worcester had runners on the corners when Anthony Seigler stole second base, and Vinny Capra stole home plate.
With two outs, Tucker Davidson was replaced by Michael Mercado. A groundout by Allan Castro ended the inning. Davidson went 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs, four walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 92 pitches, of which 52 were strikes. Mercado went 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and three strikeouts, throwing 29 pitches, of which 22 were strikes.
Kirby Snead pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. He allowed a hit and struck out one, throwing 10 pitches, of which eight were strikes, to get three outs. Nolan Hoffman pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning.
Worcester had runners on first and second base when Anthony Seigler hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Braiden Ward for a 4-3 lead. With two outs, Mikey Romero hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Vinny Capra for a 5-3 lead. A flyout by Allan Castro ended the inning. Hoffman allowed two hits, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout, throwing 25 pitches, of which 12 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley shortstop Christian Cairo worked a four-pitch walk. Designated hitter Carter Kieboom grounded out to pitcher Angel Bastardo, moving Cairo to second base. With two outs, a wild pitch by Bastardo moved Cairo to third base. Center fielder Dylan Carlson worked a four-pitch walk. Catcher Rene Pinto struck out on a foul tip, and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Red Sox 5-3 for their third straight loss.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with six hits, went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Felix Reyes went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Nolan Hoffman (1-2), while the win went to Tyler Samaniego (1-0), and Angel Bastardo earned his first save of the season.
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game two on Wednesday at 6:45 pm on the MLB App. Alan Rangel (3-4, 3.74 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while Worcester has yet to name a starter.
