The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (20-24) were back at Coca-Cola Park for game three Thursday night against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (29-12). The IronPigs were looking to build momentum after ending a five-game losing streak Wednesday night 3-2.
In the lineup for Lehigh Valley was the return of Didi Gregorius, starting another rehab assignment. Didi played shortstop. The starting pitchers for the game were Lehigh Valley’s Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 3.45 ERA) and Nick Nelson (0-0, 1.99 ERA) of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Gregorius singled to left field on a 0-1 count. Two batters later, IronPigs center fielder Charles Tilson brought Gregorius home with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
At the top of the second inning, with the bases loaded and one out, RailRiders center fielder Estevan Florial grounded into a forceout, scoring a run that tied the game 1-1.
The RailRiders started to pull away at the top of the fourth inning when center fielder Estevan Florial singled to left field, scoring another run that gave Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, RailRiders first baseman Christ Gittens singled toward IronPigs third baseman Austin Listi. The ball bounced over the glove of Listi, adding another run for the RailRiders 3-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, Lehigh Valley shortstop Didi Gregorius doubled to center field, bringing home a run that cut the RailRiders lead 3-2. But, unfortunately, this was as close as the IronPigs got to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
At the top of the sixth inning, the IronPigs brought in pitcher Zach Warren. Then, with two outs and runners on first and second, RailRiders designated hitter Trey Amburgey doubled to left field, scoring two runners that extend the lead to 5-2. Next, RailRiders right fielder Socrates Brito brought in another run for a 6-2 lead.
Moving to the top of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on first and second, RailRiders right fielder Socrates Brito singled to right field, scoring two more runs for an 8-2 lead. Two batters later, RailRiders third baseman Derek Dietrich singled to center field, bringing home two more runs for a 10-2 lead.
Lehigh Valley’s offense struggled for the rest of the game and would lose 10-2 to the RailRiders, dropping them to 20-25 on the season. Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez went (1.0 IP, 1, H, and 1 BB).
The win went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Nick Nelson (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Julian Garcia (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO).
Both teams will name their starting pitchers later when they go at it again for game four at Coca-Cola Park today at 7:05 pm on MiLB.com.
