By Darryl Harding Sr –
On a drizzly dreary afternoon in Polar Park, with the threat of being rained out, the Worcester Redsox take on Lehigh Valley Ironpigs in the last game of the homestand. RHP Richard Fitts commands the mound for the Sox coming to with a 3.91 ERA.
Having already taken four games out of five, the Sox look to improve their record to an even 16-16. On the flipside RHP Max Castillo started for the Ironpigs making it scoreless until the bottom of the second when Bob Dalbec blasted a solo bomb to left center.
The 1-0 Woosox lead did not last long due to a Lehigh rally in the third. Jim Haley singled and stole second, then later scored off a Simon Muzziotti hit. Now tied at 1-1 Worcester again took the lead off of Chase Meidroth solo dinger to left center.
Woosox increased their lead to 3-1 when Niko Kavadas sacrifice ground out, scored double hitting Enmanuel Valdez. Fitts relieved by RHP Luis Guerrero, went 3.2 innings with four strikeouts and 56 pitches thrown, 42 for strikes.
RHP Tyler McKay replaces Castillo after 92 pitches. Woosox open up the lead posting 6 run fourth inning, highlighted by a Kavadas three run homer. Losing 9-1 Lehigh Valley puts RHP Griff McGarry on the rubber.
As for Worcester with a 9-1 cushion it was easy to get relief pitchers in without their backs against the wall. “ No pressure, you can get some guys out there and low leverage spots to work through some things,“ said Woosox manager Chad Tracy after the game.
LHP Bailey Horn came in for one scoreless inning and RHP Melvin Adon closed up the last two, striking out four batters in those innings and not allowing a run. Lehigh Valley managed to allow another crooked number in the 7th now making the lead 11-1. Two runs tacked on to RHP Zac Houston who replaced McGarry.
All in all Worcester fired on all cylinders, a perfect 4-4 for Valdez, 2-4 for Meidroth and 3-5 from Gonzales. With four batters OPS higher than .900 and only one run allowed, it’s safe to say that the Worcester Red Sox slaughtered the Ironpigs. Now headed to Buffalo, Worcester standing at .500 will try to continue their winning ways having won six out of the last seven.