-By Darryl Harding Sr
MiLB baseball is in full swing in the second half of this minor league season. A scorchingly beautiful 92° summer day finds the Worcester Redsox hosting the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, in this first game of the series.
Tossing from the stripe to begin the game is Woosox right handed starter Jose De Leon. Coming in with forty-six strikeouts, De Leon unfortunately has an 0-3 record.
Pitching himself into immediate trouble, De Leon gave up a single and a double, putting men in scoring position for the Ironpigs. Lehigh catcher Garrett Stubbs recorded an RBI ground out and the Ironpigs quickly were up 1-0.
The Ironpigs began the game with RHP Gabe Mosser, who has struck out ninety-three batters in seventeen games played. Mosser fired through four scoreless innings squelching all Worcester bats and helping the Ironpigs increase their lead.
De Leon pitched well but to the dismay of Woosox fans continued to relinquish runs. Scoring in the first, third and fourth innings the Ironpigs capitalized off a 1B Keaton Anthony solo homer and a LF Cal Stevenson RBI out.
A solid 3-0 lead was then diminished as Woosox 1B Kristian Campbell lined a two run, 396 ft rope over the centerfield wall. Shortening the lead to 3-2 Campbell finally broke Mosser and registered a crooked number.
Responsible for the three runs, De Leon lasted 3.2 innings, throwing eighty pitches, fourty-two for strikes. Replaced by southpaw Jovani Moran, Woosox relievers locked in and locked down Ironpigs hitters.
Mosser spun through five innings ending with a ninety-seven pitch count and five KOs. Lehigh’ s RHP Brett de Geus came to the mound and was unsuccessful holding the Woosox at bay.
Loading the bases the Woosox cashed in on a CF Jhostynxon “the password” Garcia double that cleared the bases and gave Worcester a 5-3 advantage. Moran and righty reliever Zack Kelly breezed through to the eighth inning, maintaining the lead.
The Ironpigs managed to knot up the score when the usual suspects, Stevenson and Anthony both chalked up RBIs, with Woosox pitcher Isaiah Campbell on the mound. But Woosox proved that “the password” is correct as Garcia, nicknamed the password, blasted a two run homer.
Answering back instantly and breaking the tie, Garcia’s heroics gave the advantage 7-5 to the Woosox. Lehigh lefty Josh Walker was given the loss as Campbell remained in the game to finish up grabbing the Woosox win.
With an amazing five RBI day, “the password” Garcia showed the strength of the Woosox lineup. Club manager Chad Tracy commented, “the first four hitters had nine hits and seven RBIs… so the top of our lineup was absolutely awesome tonight.”
Next game is slated for Wednesday at 6.45pm where Worcester wishes to stay with its winning ways.