By Darryl Harding Sr-
Threatening to rain out, the dark clouds cleared just enough so that a possibly canceled game became only a rain delay. Commanding the rubber for the Woosox is RHP Justin Hagenman entering with a 2-5 record.
Woosox bats have been quiet lately and although not lighting up the scoreboard were able to pull off a win yesterday. Unfortunately today met with more of the same but with a different outcome.
Hagenman spun a solid game pitching for four innings and except for a third inning rally by Lehigh, chalking up 3 runs, Woosox stayed within striking distance. Tallying 5 strikeouts, Hagenman managed to hold the Ironpigs in check with a 3-1 deficit into the 7th inning.
Woosox, 3B Chase Meidroth scored off a DH Triston Casas double in the bottom of the third which was unfortunately the only action posted. RHP Kyle Tyler on the mound for the Ironpigs allowed only that one run in five innings.
With only 3 hits racked up Woosox struggled to produce RHP Nick Nelson relieved Tyler in what was considered a save in the sixth, due to an additional rain delay that eventually ended the game after six and a half innings played. Lehigh notched one more run in the 7th off of RHP Naoyuki Uwasawa relieved Hagenman and threw for 2.2 innings.
Still with a reasonable margin to make up the weather foiled any changes of a Woosox comeback. Woosox manager Chad Tracy commented on Tyler’s performance, “Tyler threw the ball well, threw strikes, good cutter, good curveball. We still have a chance to win…a few innings to face their bullpen but lost the last 3 innings.”
Optimistically looking forward to getting back on the winning track Woosox face the Ironpigs three more times this series. Next game is Friday at 645pm.