Pair of Comeback Wins Give Worcester a Doubleheader Sweep

ALLENTOWN, P.A. — Two comeback victories pushed the Worcester Red Sox (14-9) to a doubleheader sweep of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (13-10) on Saturday. In the first twin bill of the season, the WooSox delivered sixth and seventh inning rallies to grab a pair of 4-2 wins at Coca-Cola Park.

In game one, Lehigh Valley took the lead in the third on an RBI single from Ruben Tejada before Worcester answered right back. In the top of the fourth, Franchy Cordero—playing in his second game with the WooSox—came to the plate with Michael Chavis on base. Cordero blasted the first pitch over the right field wall to put the road team up 2-1.

The IronPigs tied it in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Sal Gozzo, and the score held 2-2 entering the final inning of the seven inning game. Chris Herrmann singled to lead off the top of the frame and one out later, Josh Ockimey crushed a two-run job to the same spot as Cordero's long ball. That was the game-winning swing, and the WooSox took game one 4-2, despite being outhit 6-5.

Good Evening⚾ https://t.co/WfAUEMwsOI pic.twitter.com/ijkOSwDD9A

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) May 29, 2021

Lehigh Valley began game two the way it began the first: jumping out to an early advantage. In the second, Ryan Cordell hit a solo homer to left center. One batter later, C.J. Chatham singled and got to second on a wild pitch from WooSox starter Daniel Gossett. The right-hander got two outs, but Edgar Cabral doubled to left to make it 2-0.

Worcester had three total hits entering the sixth, but three straight walks to Marcus Wilson, Yairo Munoz and Cesar Puello began the biggest threat of the night for the WooSox. Lehigh Valley brought Damon Jones in to the game, who promptly walked Michael Gettys. Jack Lopez delivered a sac-fly to tie it, and with Jett Bandy up next, Puello and Gettys stole third and second, respectively. Jett Bandy hit a sharp single to right to score both, capping off a four-run sixth that gave Worcester its second comeback of the day.

Kaleb Ort entered in the sixth and put together a scoreless inning for the ninth time this season. The right-hander has not allowed an earned run over 10 innings of work with Worcester. Kevin McCarthy followed Ort and did not allow a run in the seventh to close out the two-win day.

The WooSox conclude the six-game series in Allentown on Sunday against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at 6:35 p.m. Radio coverage starts at 6:15 on 100 FM The Pike and the WooSox Radio Network. Lehigh Valley’s David Parkinson (0-1, 5.52) faces Stephen Gonsalves (1-1, 5.12).