The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (19-23) returned to Coca-Cola Park Tuesday night to begin a six-game homestand versus the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (28-11). The IronPigs are coming off a 1-5 record at Polar Park and are on a four-game losing streak.
Coming into this game, the RailRiders are in first place in the Northeast Division, up 1.5 games over the Worcester Red Sox. This year, the IronPigs are 5-7 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The starting pitchers for the game were David Parkinson (0-3, 4.59 ERA) for Lehigh Valley against Luis Gil (0-0, 9.00 ERA) of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
At the top of the first inning, with the bases loaded, RailRiders designated hitter Trey Amburgey brought home a run on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. The RailRiders added more runs in the top of the second inning. With a runner on first base and one out, RailRiders shortstop Andrew Velazquez hit a two-run home run over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead. Three batters later, RailRiders right fielder Ryan LaMarre’s RBI single made it 4-0.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre added another run at the top of the fifth inning when third baseman Armando Alverez’s opposite-field home run to right field made it 5-0. At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley made a pitching change with Brady Lail for David Parkinson. With one out and the bases loaded, RailRiders shortstop Andrew Velazquez grounded into a forceout, scoring a run making it 6-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out and runners on the corners, Iron Pig’s Ryan Cordell’s sacrifice fly ended the shutout 6-1. The RailRiders got the run back at the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by second baseman Derek Dietrich for a 7-1 lead.
At the top of the seventh inning, the IronPigs made another pitching change with Bryan Mitchell for Brady Lail. With two outs and a runner on second, RailRiders centerfielder Hoy Jun Park doubled on a sharp line drive to left field for an 8-1 lead. Three batters later, RailRiders designated hitter Trey Amburgey’s single to left field scored two more runs, and it was 10-1.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with runners on second and third and one out, IronPigs second baseman Scott Kingery’s sacrifice fly made it a 10-2 RailRiders lead.
At the top of the ninth inning, Jeff Singer was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. With two outs and runners on the corners, RailRiders third baseman Armando Alverez doubled to right field, scoring two runs for an 11-2 lead. Then, RailRiders first baseman Rob Brantly doubled to right field for a 13-2 lead. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre added one more run on an RBI single from shortstop Andrew Velazquez, and it was 14-2.
The game was out of reach for the IronPigs, but that didn’t stop them from making one last attempt. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the RailRiders brought in pitcher Albert Abreu. With runners on first and second and one out, IronPigs designated hitter Jake Elmore, who was signed nine days ago by the Phillies, singled to center field, scoring two runs that cut the RailRiders lead 14-4.
Then, IronPigs third baseman Austin Listi singled to right field, adding another run 14-5. RailRiders pitcher Albert Abreu struck out the last two batters that ended the game. Lehigh Valley suffered its fifth straight loss 14-5.
Lehigh Valley pitcher David Parkinson (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) was the losing pitcher. The win went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Braden Bristo (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB).
Both teams return to Coca-Cola Park for game two today at 7:05 pm with Matt Moore (0-2, 4.66 ERA) going for Lehigh Valley against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Brody Koerner (1-3, 4.46 ERA).
