The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (26-36) battled back after trailing 5-2 to tie the game but would lose 6-5 to the Buffalo Bisons (36-26) in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lehigh Valley IronPigs starting pitcher Mark Appel (2-0, 1.54 ERA) was on the mound against Buffalo’s Jacob Waguespack (3-2, 3.43 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, Bisons shortstop Kevin Smith put Buffalo on the board 1-0 after hitting a solo home run out towards left field. Then, in the bottom of the second inning, with a runner on first base, Bisons right fielder Breyvic Valera doubled to right field, scoring a run for a 2-0 lead.
After walking the first Bisons batters in the bottom of the third inning, IronPigs pitcher Mark Appel threw a wild pitch, moving both runners to second and third. Two batters later, Bisons second baseman Richard Urena doubled on a line drive to right field, bringing two more runs home for a 4-0 lead. Mark Appel (2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) would exit the game.
Jacob Hernandez was the new pitcher for the IronPigs and got the last two outs. Then, at the top of the fourth inning, with a runner on second base, IronPigs left fielder Mickey Moniak hit a two-run home run to cut Buffalo’s lead in half, 4-2.
The Bisons would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With a runner on second base, right fielder Breyvic Valera singled to left field, scoring a run for a 5-2 lead. Then, at the top of the sixth inning, with one out and a runner on first base, Lehigh Valley first baseman Darick Hall crushed the ball over the scoreboard in right field to bring the IronPigs down one run 5-4.
At the top of the eighth inning, with runners on the corners and one out, IronPigs catcher Tyler Heineman’s bunt single tied the game at five apiece. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the IronPigs brought in Ramon Rosso.
After giving up a single to Bisons right fielder Breyvic Valera, Bisons shortstop Kevin Smith doubled on a line drive to left field that ended the game. Lehigh Valley’s comeback attempts fall short 6-5. The IronPigs have now lost three straight games.
The win went to Bisons relief pitcher Bryan Baker (1.0 IP, 2 SO), and IronPigs pitcher Ramon Rosso (0.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) picked up his second loss of the season.
Game four of the six-game series continues today at 7 pm from Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
