The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (53-69) concluded its final road game of the year Sunday night at Sahlen Field versus the Buffalo Bisons (75-47). In two of the last three games, the IronPigs had a lead late in the game, only to come away with a loss.
Connor Brogdon (3-1, 7.06 ERA) made a rehab start for the Phillies and was the starting pitcher. Anthony Kay (0-4, 9.62 ERA) started for Buffalo.
Connor Brogdon only threw twelve pitches (1.0 IP, 2 SO). Brady Lail replaced Brogdon in the second inning. The game was scoreless in the first three innings.
At the top of the fourth inning with IronPigs runners on second and third base, left fielder Simon Muzziotti grounded out to Bisons shortstop Kevin Smith, scoring a run for a 1-0 lead. Then, first baseman Darick Hall doubled on a line drive to right field, adding another run 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Braeden Ogle was the new IronPigs pitcher. With Bisons runners on the corners with two outs, third baseman Tyler White doubled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring a run that cut the IronPigs lead 2-1.
At the top of the fifth inning, with an IronPigs runner on first base, designated hitter Mickey Moniak hit a two-run home run out towards left field that extended the lead to 4-1.
Brian Marconi was the new IronPigs pitcher to begin the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bisons had runners on first and second base, second baseman Otto Lopez doubled to left field, scoring two runs that made it a one-run game 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with a Bisons runner on second base, catcher Rodrigo Vigil doubled on a ground ball to right field that tied the game 4-4. This was now three of the last four games the IronPigs have blown a late lead.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Damon Jones was the new IronPigs pitcher. The Bisons had runners on first and second base when third baseman Christian Colon doubled on a fly ball to left field to give the Bisons a 5-4 win. The IronPigs have now lost four straight games.
The win went to Bisons pitcher Bryan Baker (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Damon Jones (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 HR). It was Jones’s fifth loss of the season.
The IronPigs will have a couple of days off before returning to Coca-Cola Park to face the Worcester Red Sox on Wednesday at 7:05 pm for the final week of the season.
