Nathan Hickey rounds first base on a double during the WooSox’ 2025 Opening Day at Polar Park on March 28, 2025.Katie Morrison-O’Day
Behind a two-out, sixth-inning grand slam from Nathan Hickey to erase an earlier three-run deficit, it seemed like the Worcester Red Sox might earn their third comeback win in four days against the IronPigs on Friday night.
Lehigh Valley said otherwise, though, as Erick Brito countered with a run-scoring single in the bottom half to even the score. Three innings later, Garrett Stubbs laid down a sacrifice bunt, which caused a throwing error by Worcester relief pitcher Wyatt Millis.
Robdolfo Castro ultimately scored the game-winning run to lead the IronPigs to an eventual 5-4 win at Coca-Cola Park.
Hickey drove in all four of Worcester’s runs, while Marcelo Mayer recorded two of his team’s six hits in a losing effort.
Complete game statistics can be found here.
On the mound, meanwhile, starting pitcher Brian Van Belle allowed three hits, two earned runs, three walks, and struck out six in four innings as Worcester moved to 18-18 on the season.
Relief pitchers Brendan Cellucci allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), and fanned three in 1.1 innings, while Mills relinquished one unearned run and struck out two.
Worcester stranded 11 runners on base, while Lehigh Valley left 12. The Red Sox, meanwhile, went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors.
After a scoreless top of the first inning, the IronPigs didn’t waste their time, as Garrett Stubbs singled home Van Belle to ensure their team scored first. But the fun wasn’t over, as Oscar Mercado earned a bases-loaded walk to double Lehigh Valley’s lead to 2-0 through one.
Almost four scoreless innings later, Buddy Kennedy drove in Justin Crawford with a line drive toward third base to make it a three-run game. The momentum was short-lived, though, as Hickey responded with his fourth-season blast against IronPigs reliever Austin Schulfer (three earned runs and three walks) to momentarily move Worcester ahead 4-3.
Nate Eaton, Yasmani Grandal, Mayer, and Hickey scored on the play. Before that at-bat, though, Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Alan Rangel (5.2 innings, two hits, one earned run, three walks, and nine strikeouts) was replaced with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to not earn a decision.
Despite that moment, Stubbs ensured Lehigh Valley improved to 25-12 with that successful bunt. Worcester will look to bounce back against those same IronPigs on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
