After Wednesday night’s game was rained out, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (51-63) were back at Coca-Cola Park Thursday night against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (65-48).
Cristopher Sanchez (5-6, 4,46 ERA) started for the IronPigs versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Deivi Garcia (3-7, 6.78 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, IronPigs center fielder Charlie Tilson and left fielder Adam Haseley hit back-to-back singles. Then, with both runners on the corners, IronPigs third baseman Luke Williams hit a sacrifice fly to left field that put the IronPigs up 1-0.
The IronPigs added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. On a 2-0 count, IronPigs first baseman Darick Hall crushed a solo home run out towards right field for a 2-0 lead. It was Hall’s 14th home run of the year. Three batters later, the IronPigs had runners on second and third base when second baseman Arquimedes Gamboa’s single to right field made it 3-0.
At the top of the third inning, with RailRiders runners on first and second base and two outs, IronPigs killer Chris Gittens tied the game 3-3 with a three-run home run on a fly ball to right field. It was Gittens’s 13th home run of the year.
IronPigs catcher Rafael Marchan put the IronPigs back up 4-3 with an RBI double to left field, scoring Luke Williams and Darick Hall at third base. However, the IronPigs were unable to add another run.
Cristopher Sanchez loaded the bases at the top of the fifth inning, leading manager Gary Jones to make a pitching change. Tyler Alexander was the new pitcher. Cristopher Sanchez finished the night, throwing 85 pitches (4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR). A sacrifice fly by RailRiders first baseman Chris Gittens tied the game 4-4.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, with a runner on third base, IronPigs third baseman Luke Williams got his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field that put the IronPigs back up 5-4.
At the top of the eighth inning, RailRiders shortstop Andrew Velazquez doubled to right field before stealing third base. Then, RailRiders catcher Donny Sands singled to right field that tied the game again 5-5.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the IronPigs had enough of the RailRiders. First, IronPigs second baseman Arquimedes Gamboa doubled to left field. Next, IronPigs center fielder Charlie Tilson was hit, moving Gamboa to second base. Then, Gamboa and Tilson successfully stole second and third base after a throwing error by RailRiders catcher Donny Sands.
IronPigs center fielder Adam Haseley singled to left-center field that put the IronPigs back in the lead 6-5. Then, a wild pitch by RailRiders pitcher Nick Nelson added another run 7-5, followed by a double by IronPigs third baseman Luke Williams making it 8-5. It was Williams’s third RBI of the night. Two batters later, IronPigs first baseman Darick Hall doubled to right field, scoring another run 9-5.
At the top of the ninth inning, Jeff Singer closed the game for the IronPigs. He got a flyout, a pop-out, and a strikeout to end the game. The IronPigs won 9-5.
The win went to IronPigs pitcher Jeff Singer (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO), his third win of the year. The loss went to RailRiders pitcher Nick Nelson (0.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 SO).
Game three of the six-game series continues today at 7:05 pm. Jack Perkins (0-2, 4.38 ERA) starts for Lehigh Valley versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 3.00 ERA).
