After being rained out Thursday night at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (21-29) played game one of a doubleheader Friday afternoon versus the Buffalo Bisons (29-19). The IronPigs dropped the first two games and were looking to even the series. Mark Appel (1-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley to counter Connor Overton (1-0, 1.30 ERA) of Buffalo.
With a runner on second and one out, IronPigs left fielder Matt Vierling doubled to left field, scoring a run that put Lehigh Valley up 1-0. After Mark Appel walked the first three batters to load the bases, Bisons catcher Danny Janson grounded into a double play, scoring a run that tied the game 1-1.
The IronPigs would get the lead back at the top of the second inning when shortstop Daulton Guthrie hit an RBI single to right field for a 2-1 lead. Buffalo tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning with the bases load when left fielder Kevin Smith singled to shortstop, scoring the tying run.
Buffalo left fielder Kevin Smith started the bottom of the fifth with a triple. Then, first baseman Rowdy Tellez’s RBI single put Buffalo up 3-2. Two batters later, Bisons designated hitter Tyler White’s sacrifice fly extended the lead 4-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bisons first baseman Rowdy Tellez’s solo home run added another run 5-2. At the top of the seventh inning, Jon Axford came in for Buffalo. He got all three outs that ended the game. The IronPigs have now lost five straight games while the Bisons have won five straight.
Lehigh Valley starting pitcher Mare Appel finished the game (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 1 SO). The win went to Buffalo’s Connor Overton (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO), and David Paulino (3.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) of Lehigh Valley suffered the loss. Game two of the doubleheader started thirty minutes after game one.
