The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (9-5) returned to NBT Bank Stadium for game three against the Syracuse Mets (2-12). The IronPigs won the opening two games, including a 16-1 win Wednesday night. The starting pitchers for this game were Cristopher Sanchez for the IronPigs and former Lehigh Valley pitcher Jerad Eickhoff for the Mets.
The game was scoreless in the first inning. At the top of the second inning, the IronPigs struck first on a solo home run to center field by Cornelius Randolph, his third of the year. Randolph now has six RBIs in the last two games, raising his batting average to .341, and his slugging percentage to .636.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Cristopher Sanchez singled to right field. Second baseman Luke Williams was up next for the IronPigs and popped out. IronPigs right fielder Ryan Cordell was next and crushed a two-run home run out towards left field to put the Lehigh Valley up 3-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Mets started to chip away at the IronPigs lead. Former IronPigs pitcher Jerad Eickhoff singled to center field. Cristopher Sanchez got the next two batters out. Then Mets third baseman David Thompson hit a two-run homer to cut the IronPigs lead to 3-2.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, the IronPigs made a pitching change. Substituting for Cristopher Sanchez was Enyel De Los Santos. Sanchez finished the game going four innings, three hits allowed, two runs, three walks, and four strikeouts. Santos got the first two batters out before giving up two straight walks. Mets first baseman Sebastian Elizalde singled to center field, bringing one runner home to tie the game at three apiece.
Mets catcher Nick Meyer was next. He hit a single out towards left field that scored two runners, which put the Mets up 5-3. The IronPigs offense was quiet for the rest of the game.
In the top of the ninth innings, Mets pitcher Stephen Nogosek got all three outs to end the game with the Mets defeating the IronPigs 5-3.
The winning pitcher went to Mets Jerad Eickhoff (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, and 7 SO). The loss went to Enyel De Los Santos (1.0 inning, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, and 1 SO). Stephen Nogosek earned his first save of the year.
The IronPigs return to NBT Bank Stadium for game four today at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com
