WooSox Eliminate IronPigs with 3-2 Win Friday Night

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Worcester Red Sox (40-32, 79-68) put together another phenomenal pitching performance in a 3-2 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (44-29, 80-66) on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park.

Worcester’s win eliminates Lehigh Valley from playoff contention, as first-place Durham now has a four-game lead with two games remaining in the second half. The Durham Bulls will visit the Norfolk Tides for a three-game International League Championship Series next Tuesday – Thursday.

Nick Sogard led the way with a 3-for-4 night, delivering a triple, a double, and scoring all three WooSox runs. He ripped a leadoff three-bagger in the third and scored on a double play ball from Stephen Scott. Next time up, he lined a leadoff double in the fifth and came home on a bases-loaded walk by Niko Kavadas four batters later. In the seventh, he drew a leadoff free pass and scored on an RBI single from Narciso Crook, which proved to be the game-winning run.

Brandon Walter (W, 3-5) was dominant in his final WooSox start of 2023, holding Lehigh Valley to one run on three singles – including a second-inning RBI base knock from Scott Kingery – with four strikeouts and no walks.

The bullpen was just as effective, as Kaleb Ort (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K), Justin Garza (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K), Joely Rodriguez (1 IP, 1 H), and Luis Guerrero (1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K) combined to allow just one run over the final four innings of the game.

Guerrero earned his first Triple-A save, striking out Matt Kroon to end the ballgame with the tying run at second base.

Garza delivered one of the most important pitches of the night, striking out Jim Haley on a 95 mile-per-hour fastball with the bases loaded to end the sixth and preserve a 2-1 WooSox lead.

Phillies top pitching prospect Mick Abel (L, 0-1) allowed two runs on five hits in this Triple-A debut, striking out six batters while walking three and hitting three.

The final two games of the regular season are scheduled for Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park.