Fitts Retires 17 Straight, WooSox Pound Seven Doubles in 12-5 Win Over IronPigs

WORCESTER, M.A. — A seven double night powered the Worcester Red Sox (12-15) to a dominant series-opening victory on Tuesday night, a 12-5 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (11-14).

Richard Fitts turned in another quality start for the WooSox, posting the following line: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. The right-hander allowed the first three batters he faced to reach, then proceeded to retire 17 straight and 18 of his final 20.

Over his first five Triple-A starts, Fitts has a 3.76 ERA with 24 strikeouts, including a career-best seven on Tuesday night.

The IronPigs scored twice in the first on a single and sac-fly, and after Fitts got out of the inning, the WooSox offense answered immediately.

Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Jamie Westbrook, who socked a game-tying double to left, plating two before an out was recorded. After a groundout, Niko Kavadas doubled off the wall in center, scoring two more to make it 4-2.

Ultimately, Worcester would score in each of its first four offensive innings and eight total times. A Corey Rosier double set up a Nathan Hickey sac-fly in the second, while three consecutive two-baggers from Mark Contreras, Kavadas and Tyler McDonough extended the lead to 7-2. Westbrook doubled again in the fourth, scoring on a Contreras RBI single.

Altogether, Worcester recorded seven doubles for the second time in the four-year history of Polar Park (9/4/22 vs. SYR). They also hit seven balls tracked at over 100 miles-per-hour against Lehigh Valley pitching.

In the eighth, Nathan Hickey scored on a wild pitch, and with two men on, Karson Simas stepped to the plate.

In his third Triple-A game, the 22-year-old delivered his first home run at the level, a three-run shot to left to make it 12-2. Simas began the year with Single-A Greenville and did not play in Double-A before debuting with Worcester last week.

Out of the bullpen, Vladimir Gutierrez turned in a three-inning save, the first of his professional career. The IronPigs scored three times in the ninth, but Gutierrez got a popup to Simas to finish off the win.

The WooSox continue the six-game series on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. On the mound, Grant Gambrell (0-3, 5.04) faces Mick Abel (1-1, 5.60). Television coverage is on NESN, while radio coverage begins at 11:55 a.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.