On Saturday, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (3-2) played a doubleheader at Coca-Cola Park against the Columbus Clippers (2-3). Game one was a regular game, but game two was a makeup game due to Thursday’s rainout. Both games went seven innings each.
Ricardo Sanchez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley. He did not play in 2021 due to an injury. Sanchez was also making his Triple-A debut. Meanwhile, on the mound for Columbus was Tobias Myers (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Moving into the bottom of the first inning. IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall was up at-bat with runners on first and second base. Hall crushed Myers’ two-seamer fastball out towards right field for a three-run home run, putting Lehigh Valley up 3-0.
After a scoreless second inning, the IronPigs added another run in the bottom of the third inning. The IronPigs had runners on the corners for Darick Hall. However, Columbus pitcher Tobias Myers threw a wild pitch that brought home a run, and the IronPigs led 4-0.
Lehigh Valley starter Ricardo Sanchez finished the game in three innings with no hits, runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Mark Appel took over for Sanchez at the top of the fourth inning.
While the IronPigs relief pitchers did their jobs. Mark Appel pitched two innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and no strikeouts. Jeff Singer pitched the last two innings, getting the final six outs of the game as the IronPigs took game one 4-0. He did not give up any hits or runs but walked three batters and made two strikeouts. Mark Appel was the winning pitcher, and the loss went to Tobias Myers (3.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO).
In-game two, the IronPigs started Hans Crouse (0-0, 0.00 ERA), while the Clippers started Tanner Tully (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Moving ahead to the bottom of the third inning, IronPigs shortstop Nick Maton was up at-bat with a runner on first base. Maton doubled on a fly ball to right-center, scoring a run that put the IronPigs up 1-0. Then, catcher Donny Sands singled on a soft fly ball to right field, scoring Maton to take a 2-0 lead.
Hans Crouse got off to a good start. He only gave up one walk in the first three innings. At the top of the fourth inning, Crouse hit a brick wall.
Crouse was on a roll with two outs until Clippers’ right fielder Oscar Gonzalez hit a solo home run on a line drive to left field that cut the IronPigs’ lead to 2-1. Then, the Clippers’ first baseman David Fry hit a solo home run out towards left field that tied the game 2-2.
Afterward, Crouse walked Clippers’ shortstop Mitchell Tolman. He was responsible for the runner on first base. Andrew Bellatti replaced Hans Crouse. Crouse went 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, three RBIs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
After the pitching change, Clippers’ catcher Gavin Collins singled on a live drive to center field, scoring a run for a 3-2 lead. The run was charged to Crouse.
Finally, the Clippers had runners on the corners for designated hitter Alex Call at the top of the fifth inning. Call hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring an insurance run 4-2.
The IronPigs bats went quiet after the third inning. Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Clippers’ closer Nick Mikolajchak struck out IronPigs designated hitter Yairo Munoz to end the game. The Clippers beat the IronPigs 4-2 in game two.
The winning pitcher went to Clippers starter Tanner Tully (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs starter Hans Crouse. Clippers’ closer Nick Mikolajchak (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) earned the save.
The IronPigs conclude the six-game series against the Columbus Clippers today at 1:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
