The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (21-28) were back at Trenton Thunder Ballpark for game two against the Buffalo Bisons (28-19) Wednesday night. The IronPigs were looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Chase Anderson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Buffalo’s Thomas Hatch (0-1, 1.88 ERA).
At the top of the third inning, with the bases loaded and one out, IronPigs shortstop Didi Gregorius reached first base on a fielding error, scoring two runs for a 2-0 lead.
Buffalo responded in the bottom of the third inning. First, a sacrifice fly by Bisons catcher Alejandro Urena cut the IronPigs lead 2-1. Then, Bisons first baseman Rowdy Tellez’s single tied the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Bisons third baseman Christian Colon hit a three-run home run out towards left field for a 5-2 lead.
An opposite-field home run at the top of the fourth inning by IronPigs first baseman Darick Hall cut the Bisons lead 5-3. However, the Bisons would get the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Kevin Smith 6-3.
Lehigh Valley started to battle back at the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, IronPigs designated hitter Ryan Cordell doubled to center field that cut the Bisons lead 6-4. Then, catch Rafael Marchan’s groundout brought home another run 6-5. Finally, IronPigs second baseman Dalton Guthrie tied the game 6-6 with an RBI double.
Lehigh Valley center fielder Charlie Tilson put the IronPigs up 7-6 with an RBI double to right field. But, when the game was going the IronPigs way, Buffalo took a 9-7 lead on a three-run home run by center fielder Logan Warmoth over the signs of left field.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bisons added one more run on a solo home run by shortstop Kevin Smith 10-7. Then, at the top of the ninth inning, with a runner on first and one out, IronPigs Matt Vierling tripled to right field, scoring a run that cut the Bisons lead 10-8.
Two batters later, IronPigs left fielder Mickey Moniak hit an RBI single to right field that cut the Bisons lead to one 10-9. Bisons pitcher Bryan Baker struck out the last two batters that ended the game. The IronPigs lose their fourth in row 10-9.
The winning pitcher went to Bisons relief pitcher Hobie Harris (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 SO), while the loss went to Mauricio Llovera (1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 SO) of Lehigh Valley.
Both teams will return to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for game three today at 7 pm with Mark Appel (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on the mound for Lehigh Valley versus Zach Logue (1-0, 3.00 ERA) of Buffalo.
