IL Worcester Red Sox

Duran Delivers Walkoff Three Run Homer to Beat IronPigs, 5-2

Published on June 20, 2021 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, M.A. - The Worcester Red Sox (28-14) and Lehigh Valley IronPigs (19-23) were tied at two entering the bottom of the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon. With an automatic runner on second, Lehigh Valley opted to walk pinch-hitting Franchy Cordero. That brought Jarren Duran to the plate with runners on first and second-the 22-year-old worked a 3-1 count, then sent the next pitch over the left field wall for a walkoff, three-run home run to give the WooSox a 5-2 victory.

The long ball marked the first walkoff home run in Polar Park history, a celebration that ended with Duran's jersey on the grass and an Uncle Sam hat atop his head.

Nine innings earlier, Lehigh Valley grabbed an early run against Marcus Walden, who began a planned bullpen day for Worcester. The first inning began with a hit-by-pitch and a single in the first-Walden then got consecutive strikeouts before Darick Hall singled home Scott Kingery to put the IronPigs up 1-0.

Two innings later, Worcester responded in a big way with its first hit of the day. With none on and one out, Josh Ockimey crushed a 1-0 pitch 409 feet to center for a solo shot. The swing tied the game, gave Ockimey his seventh homer and his second in three games.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the fifth, when Lehigh Valley jumped back ahead on a Ryan Cordell homer. The blast went 425 feet to a similar spot as Ockimey's for Cordell's third long ball in as many games. But down 2-1, the WooSox answered again: Chad De La Guerra-in his Polar Park debut-walked to begin the threat in the sixth. The next batter, Jack Lopez, cranked a 1-1 pitch deep towards left center. It bounced off the glove of the centerfielder, Corbin Williams, and by the time it was retrieved, De La Guerra had scored to make it 2-2. Lopez' RBI double marked the 12th RBI in the month of June for the 28-year-old.

WooSox manager Billy McMillon turned to Kaleb Ort in the eighth to keep the game tied, and Ort delivered. The right-hander turned in his 14th scoreless outing of the year, posting a scoreless eighth and ninth with three strikeouts. Caleb Simpson entered in the top of the tenth and, despite an automatic runner on second, kept the IronPigs off the board. Duran's homer pushed Worcester to its 11th win in 12 games.

The WooSox are off Monday and begin a six-game series Tuesday in Rochester at 7:05 p.m. Radio coverage starts live from Frontier Field at 6:45 p.m. on 100 FM the Pike and the WooSox Radio Network. Sean Nolin (0-1, 4.15) gets the start for the Red Wings.

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International League Stories from June 20, 2021


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