The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (6-2) returned to PNC Field Thursday night in game three of six against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (6-2). The IronPigs were looking to win two in a row after winning 3-2 Wednesday night. The starting pitchers for this game were Nick Green of the RailRiders and David Parkinson for the IronPigs.
IronPigs third baseman Luke Williams started the top of the first inning, hitting a single to center field. The next batter-up was shortstop Ronald Torreyes. RailRiders pitcher Nick Green walked Torreyes. Centerfielder Micky Moniak was up next and struck out. IronPigs designated hitter Austin Listi was next to bat, and he walked to load the bases.
Lehigh Valley had two chances to bring home runs. However, IronPigs first baseman Derick Hall struck out swinging, and second baseman C.J. Chatham grounded out to end the inning. IronPigs pitcher David Parkinson struck out two players and another to ground out to end the bottom of the first inning.
IronPigs right fielder Ryan Cordell started the top of the second inning with a single to left field. Left fielder Cornelius Randolph was next and grounded out to first base moving Cordell to second base. The next man up was catcher Edgar Cabral; he walked.
Luke Williams came to the plate. He grounded to shortstop Andrew Velazquez, who tossed the ball to second baseman Derek Dietrich. Dietrich’s throw to first base was low to Chris Gittens, allowing Cordell to score for a 1-0 lead.
Ronald Torreyes was up for the IronPigs and lined out to right field for the third out. In the bottom of the second inning, David Parkinson was able to retire the side.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the third inning, David Parkinson retired two batters before Micky Moniak missed an easy catch turning a third out into a double for Armando Alvarez. RailRiders right fielder Greg Allen was next, and he too flies out to right field as the ball went in and out of the glove of Ryan Cordell, scoring Alvarez to tie the game at one apiece.
Parkinson got Derek Dietrich to strike out to end the inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Ryan Cordell led off with a single before Cornelius Randolph grounded into a double play. IronPigs catcher Edgar Cabral was up; next, he singled to right field. Luke Williams was the next man up and walked. This led the RailRiders to make a pitching change putting in Reggie McClain for Nick Green.
IronPigs shortstop Ronald Torreyes singled to center field to bring Cabral home as Lehigh Valley regained a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, RailRiders first baseman Chris Gittens doubled to left field to start the inning. David Parkinson got the next two batters out, then gave up a two-run home run to Robinson Chirinos for Scranton to retake a 3-2 lead.
The IronPigs made a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth inning, substituting Kyle Dohy for David Parkinson. Parkinson finished the night going four innings, allowing three hits, three runs, and eight strikeouts.
Dohy got Max McDowell to fly out for the first out. Then Dohy walked Armando Alverez, followed by hitting Greg Allen to put runners on first and second. He then threw a wild pitch moving the runners to second and third before walking Derek Dietrich to load the bases.
Dohy struck out Chris Gittens for the second out. RailRiders center fielder Ryan LaMarre was next to bring home two more runners with a single to right field to extend their lead to 5-2.
The IronPigs were unable to generate scoring positions for the rest of the game. In the top of the ninth inning, the RailRiders brought in former Phillies pitcher Luis García to finish it off. He was able to retire the side as the RailRiders defeated the IronPigs 5-2.
The win went to Reggie McClain (2-0), while Garcia earned his second save. IronPigs pitcher David Parkinson suffered his first loss of the season. Lehigh Valley relief pitchers finished the night pitching 3.3 innings, two hits, two earned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts.
The IronPigs return to PNC Field for game four today at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tomorrow’s starting pitchers will be Cristopher Sanchez for the IronPigs to counter Brian Keller of the RailRiders.
