The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (52-57, 17-17) visited Polar Park on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Worcester Red Sox (56-48, 20-13). Kolby Allard was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Blake Wehunt of Worcester.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings. At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base with one out when left fielder Felix Reyes hit an RBI single to shortstop, scoring Paul McIntosh to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead. With two outs, a flyout by Dylan Moore ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with two outs when Felix Reyes hit a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Carter Kieboom and Christian Cairo for a 3-0 lead. Right fielder Tommy Pham followed up by hitting a two-run RBI double to center field, scoring Kameron Misner and Felix Reyes for a 5-0 lead. A lineout by Otto Kemp ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Worcester had runners on first and second base with one out when Allan Castro hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Nathan Eaton, and it was now 5-1. Brett Harris followed up by hitting an RBI single to center field, scoring Andrew Knizner.
It was now 5-2. A sacrifice fly by Kristian Campbell scored Allan Castro, and it was now 5-3. With two outs, a flyout by Jason Delay ended the inning. Lehigh Valley starter Kolby Allard went five innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, three walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 92 pitches, of which 57 were strikes.
Moving to the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base with two outs when Felix Reyes hit an RBI double to left-center field, scoring Paul McIntosh for a 6-3 lead. A flyout by Tommy Pham ended the inning.
Ryan Cusick pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the sixth inning. Worcester had runners on the corners with two outs when Andrew Knizner hit a two-run RBI single to right field, scoring Franklin Arias and Mikey Romero. It was now 6-5. Cusick was replaced by Alex McFarlane. A flyout by Brett Harris ended the inning. Cusick allowed two hits, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout, throwing 22 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
Alex McFarlane went 1.1 innings, allowing a hit, two walks, and one strikeout, throwing 29 pitches, of which 15 were strikes. Kirby Snead pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Snead threw 13 pitches, of which eight were strikes, to get three outs.
Lehigh Valley picked up some insurance runs at the top of the ninth inning. They had the bases loaded when Otto Kemp worked a four-pitch walk, scoring Keaton Anthony for a 7-5 lead. Two batters later with one out, Carter Kieboom hit a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Felix Reyes and Tommy Pham for a 9-5 lead. A sacrifice fly by Robert Moore brought home Kemp for a 10-5 lead. With two outs, Paul McIntosh struck out swinging.
Grant Holman pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. He allowed a hit, throwing 10 pitches, of which seven were strikes, to the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs beat the Red Sox 10-5.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 13 hits, committed one error, went 5 of 13 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Felix Reyes went 4 for 4 with a double, a walk, and four RBIs, and Tommy Pham went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Kolby Allard (3-3), and the loss went to Worcester starter Blake Wehunt (1-1).
The IronPigs and Red Sox play game two on Wednesday at 6:45 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Chuck King (7-6, 4.18 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against John Holobetz (6-3, 4.15 ERA) of Worcester.
