WooSox’ Eight-Game Win Streak Snapped in Loss to Lehigh Valley

WORCESTER, M.A. — The Worcester Red Sox (62-48) lost for just the second time in 20 days, falling to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (49-60) by a score of 4-0 on Friday night at Polar Park.

Lehigh Valley began the scoring in the third inning, working against WooSox starter Kutter Crawford. Andrew Knapp walked with two outs, and the next batter, Major League-rehabbing Matt Joyce, golfed a 3-2 curveball over the Worcester Wall in right to put the IronPigs up 2-0.

That was the lone mistake made by Crawford, who was making his first Triple-A appearance since his MLB debut on Sunday in Boston. The right-hander gave up those two runs over five innings, tying a Worcester career-high with nine strikeouts.

The IronPigs put up another two spot in the sixth against Seth Blair, the first man out of the pen following Crawford. Blair loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch, got one out, then allowed the runs on an RBI fielder’s choice and a Charlie Tilson RBI single.

They added one more versus Jose Adames after Knapp drew a walk, got to third and then scored on a passed ball. After seven, the IronPigs led 5-0 on three total hits.

In the eighth, Lehigh Valley scratched out one more on an RBI groundout by Tilson.

Durbin Feltman added a scoreless ninth, extending a stretch of 13 innings in which the right-hander has allowed just one run.

In his Worcester debut, Taylor Motter had the home team’s lone hit, a single through the left side in the second inning.

The WooSox continue the six-game series Saturday at 2:05 p.m. against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Polar Park. Television coverage is on NESN+ tape delay, while radio coverage starts live at 2:00 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network. Worcester’s Kyle Hart (6-7, 4.05) is expected to start.