WooSox Clipped by IronPigs in 10 Innings, 5-4

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (65-73/30-33) scored five of the final six runs of the game as the Worcester Red Sox (70-63/34-28) dropped their second straight in heartbreaking fashion 5-4 in 10 innings on Tuesday night in the series opener at Coca-Cola Park. With the loss the WooSox drop to 3.0 games back of first-place Rochester in the International League second-half standings with 11 to play.

For the sixth straight game the WooSox scored in the top of the 1st inning to take an early lead. Braiden Ward hit a triple down the right field line to start the ballgame and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly to center field by Franklin Arias to give the WooSox a 1-0 lead.

The WooSox added onto their lead in the top of the 5th. Ward doubled to start the frame and scored on the very next pitch when Arias hit a bloop single down the right field line to double the Worcester advantage to 2-0. After Arias stole second base he advanced to third on a single to left field by Anthony Seigler, and with two outs Mikey Romero singled to right field to score Arias from third base, making it 3-0.

Otto Kemp got Lehigh Valley on the board with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 6th inning off WooSox reliever Patrick Halligan to cut the Worcester advantage to 3-1, and the IronPigs crept closer plating another run in the 7th. Dylan Moore singled to left field off WooSox reliever Hobie Harris and advanced to second base when Christian Cairo drew a walk. Kemp then hit a sharp groundball to third base that caromed off Romero into foul ground for an error, allowing Moore to score from second base to make it 3-2.

The IronPigs struck again in the bottom of the 8th to pull even. The inning started with back-to-back walks, and Colby Thomas reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Moore then lined a sacrifice fly to left field to score Keaton Anthony from third base to tie the game 3-3.

After both teams failed to score in the 9th, the WooSox took the lead in the top of the 10th. With Romero, who started the inning at second base, standing at third and one out, Allan Castro lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to give Worcester the lead again at 4-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, however, Lehigh Valley rallied to win the game against WooSox reliever Osvaldo Berrios. Two walks and a strikeout loaded the bases with one out for Carter Kieboom who lined a single through the left side to drive in two runs to end the ballgame and give the IronPigs a 5-4 victory.

Lehigh Valley reliever Kirby Snead (6-2) got the win allowing just an unearned run in 1.2 innings, while Berrios (2-2) suffered the loss allowing the two runs (one earned) while recording just one out in the 10th.

Following back-to-back losses, the WooSox will look to even the series in game two at Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday night. Right-hander Jedixson Paez (0-1, 2.92) is scheduled to make the start for Worcester, while the IronPigs turn to right-hander Brian Keller (1-5, 6.09). First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm and radio pregame coverage begins at 6:25 pm on the WooSox Radio Network.