The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (43-52) returned to Coca-Cola Park Tuesday night against their in-state rivals Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (55-37).
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (0-0,0.00 ERA) started the game in a rehab assignment versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Luis Gil (3-0, 5.64 ERA).
The IronPigs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly to left field by center fielder Mickey Moniak. At the top of the second inning, the IronPigs replaced Jose Alvarado (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) with Mark Appel.
Then, at the top of the third inning, with a runner on first base, RailRiders left fielder Greg Allen hit a two-run home run to right field, putting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre up 2-1.
At the top of the fourth inning, with a runner on second base, RailRiders catcher Max Burt doubled on a fly ball to center field, scoring a run that extended the RailRiders lead to 3-1. After giving up the run, the IronPigs made a pitching change with Damon Jones in for Mark Appel (2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR).
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley went to its fourth pitcher of the night with Mike Adam in for Damon Jones (0.2 IP, 2 SO). Mike Adams got the IronPigs out of the inning, still trailing 3-1.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a runner on third base, Lehigh Valley pulled within one 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by second baseman CJ Chatham.
Another Phillies pitcher started his rehab assignment was Seranthony Dominguez who went in for Mike Adam (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) at the top of the seventh inning. With a runner on third base, Dominguez threw a wild pitch, adding another run for the RailRiders 4-2. Dominguez struck out RailRiders third baseman Armando Alvarez to end the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley went with its sixth pitcher of the night; this time it was Taylor Guerrieri in for Seranthony Dominguez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 SO). Guerrieri got the three outs to keep the game 4-2.
At the top of the ninth inning, Braeden Ogle was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. He loaded the bases when RailRiders designated hitter Trey Amburgey hit a sacrifice fly to right field, adding another run 5-2. Lehigh Valley finished the inning with Austin Ross on the mound.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Sal Romano was the new pitcher for the RailRiders. He got the last three outs that ended the game. The IronPigs lost to the RailRiders 5-2.
Lehigh Valley went through eight pitchers in the game. The win went to RailRiders starter Luis Gil (6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Mark Appel, his fourth loss of the season. The save went to RailRiders pitcher Sal Romano (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 SO).
Game two of the six-game series continues today at 7:05 pm. David Parkinson (1-9, 6.99 ERA) is on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 2.70 ERA).
